Restoring my 72 Z1, Well maybe some day!

[Davy Doherty]

It's like varnishing an antique oak table.

Don't you start Chris i'm having enough hassell..

[paul doran]

ed is correct this has be covered before,

I totally agree with gez in every respect, and have pondered over this very subject long and hard for a few years now, but here's the thing,
This bike is for sale and unfortunatly i believe it will fetch more if restored, i would gladly sell it as it is but there are probably only a few who would appreciate it for what it is, A true survivor,

Every nut and bolt is original and unmolested, every date code is correct and it's got quite a few of the very "dare i say it" rare items still there and all working as they should,

For now at-least the engine is with our very own guru Iain Marshall who will be doing a full engine strip and rebuild using all original Kawasaki part's which i've sent to him via GBH, George in Japan who has been an enormous help in both supplying most of the parts and loads of sound advice over the years.

what can I say but Engineless

[Iain marshall]

The engine No 850 ,we had removed it early one Sunday morning while a few of us were staying at Davys for the NW200,he has the pics?Arrived with me June 06.


A friend of mine,Richard, brought the engine over.



First job was to check the engine over externally for any damage,not too bad just a broken fin on the outer edge of the barrels,pic to follow.Then degrease and steam clean.Next was to strip engine down,a few horrors were found on the way,mainly due to a cylinderhead change carried out in the distant past.More about that later.


top crankcase with number


top c/case where chain had been rubbing due to broken guide


oil pump strainer with lots of bits of rubber bits from camchain wheels


Crankshaft was in very good condition,as were most parts below the crankcase mouth


and just to let you see what an early sump is like on the inside,can you see the difference?if not i'll post a pic later of a later one.




Camshafts themselves were in excellent condition with hardly any sign of ware.Notice the cams are hollow,think they were like that a fair bit into Z1A production


more to follow with some technical bulletins

[Iain marshall]

Hope Davy dosen't mind but this is how the bike spent a good few years of its life



can you spot it?

[davejames]

Great pics and info Iain, keep them coming.

Looks like the Zed far left, some of others would be good to salvage

[ludders]

need more pic's

[Pigford]

Q.A. Sump hasn't got the little 'gate' bits
Keep them photo's comin'

[Davy Doherty]

Here she is from the otherside.

[GEZ635]

I have a genuine Kawasaki nos rear light(minus the lens) still in the original box if you want one? make an offer. Great for a restoration!!

[Rich]

Well Davy! I certainly didn't think you'd go down the route of money grabbing capitalist!! Who have you been talking to!!!
You should keep it as originally intended with the patina of age clearly showing its routes - you could brush some of the sand off occasionally though

[kz900B1]

Davy,Grab the money and run!
This bike Is a nice piece of Z history and a sympathetic restoration will only enhance it.
Its like a dinasaur because its in very good condition despite its age.That said its also very much what Ebay buyers will pay .Will they realise the rarity and originality of this bike ?
Make it functional and then test what the market place will pay.
That way you get a second bite .
Cheer's
Colin

[Davy Doherty]

Don't know about the sand rich. but this is what i found, and left for Iain to clean up!!!
You might have an idea there KZ.

[shrekward]

Have just been reading and viewing the pictures of your restoration Davy, and find it both exciting and sad, for all the reasons outlined by other contributors to this thread.
I'd just like to wish you luck with it (I'm sure you won't need it!) and can't wait to see further pics.
Chris.

[Rich]

He'll only blast it out with a jet wash! Is that an original Kawasaki mouse nest or the start of a birds nest ! you could use it to rewire the bike.

[paul doran]

or make some bird's nest soup