Restoring a tired old Kawasaki

Monkeypump
Monkeypump Posts: 1,528
edited September 2014 in The cake stop
First tip - move it off of the lawn, and onto something less likely to be ruined by oil/grease/petrol/etc.

Second tip - winter is coming, find somewhere warm to work. I remember a Mancave thread on here which might offer some ideas.

Comments

  • gethinceri
    gethinceri Posts: 1,677
    Ace bike the GT, what size motor?
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    Full nut n bolt resto, or just a renovation/re-commission?
  • carrock
    carrock Posts: 1,103
    You will be getting a lawson paint job, obviously
  • team47b
    team47b Posts: 6,425
    What you need is paint stripper containing "Dichloromethane " and "Phenol".

    Both of these chemicals have been removed from nitromors (I assume that's what you used) a few yrs ago by EU rules, so it takes longer than it used too! (Try starchem paint stripper)


    BTW have you boiled those carbs in lemon juice yet? Medium heat 20 minutes :D
    my isetta is a 300cc bike
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,869
    Good luck. Have a trawl through BikeEXIF for inspiration.
    I really should finish my Triumph one day.
    Kinesis Pro6
    Marin Nail Trail
    Cotic Solaris
  • monkimark
    monkimark Posts: 1,952
    Did you use the jigsaw to disassemble it?

    Definitely move it off the lawn, ideally into somewhere warm & dry with a kettle. Take loads of pictures of everything as you go along for reference when you're putting it all back together again.

    is there an overall plan or just make it up as you go alog?
  • gethinceri
    gethinceri Posts: 1,677
    Well, if you're going for the café racer look I am very jealous and I will watch with great interest, good luck!
  • debeli
    debeli Posts: 583
    The GT550 is one of the unsung heroes of the latter years of the courier industry.

    What a thorough and thoroughly nice, rideable motorcycle.

    I used one for a while (my first contact with self-cancelling indicators) and it simply did what it did with no drama, no breakdowns and no frights. If it were a car it would be a Series 2 VW Golf. To me, that is a compliment.

    Have fun with the restoration. Lurking inside every GT550 is a ton of fun.
  • woolwich
    woolwich Posts: 298
    Top tips for bike restorations.
    Get hold of a impact driver. Doesn't have to be a power tool, the old type that you whack with a hammer work a treat on rusted bolts and screws and can save a bucket of time and frustration with stubborn parts.

    Be as diligent with the electrics as with the rest of the bike. Particularly check black wires. Sounds crazy but something in the black plastic from bikes of this period used to react and break down the copper. A cheap multi meter would be good to source if you don't have one.

    Have fun. :)
    Mud to Mudguards. The Art of framebuilding.
    http://locksidebikes.co.uk/
  • motogull
    motogull Posts: 325
    madasahattersley wrote:
    Finally got my new Kawa back home and I've set about restoring her.

    Oh I like this sort of stuff. Keep the pics coming.
  • declan1
    declan1 Posts: 2,470
    Looking good - can't wait to see this finished!

    Road - Dolan Preffisio
    MTB - On-One Inbred

    I have no idea what's going on here.
  • team47b
    team47b Posts: 6,425
    Pistons will clean up ok, here was mine, needed a bit more than polish :D

    DSC04121.jpg
    my isetta is a 300cc bike
  • team47b
    team47b Posts: 6,425
    It's the modified BMW R25 engine used in the Isetta, single cylinder 300cc.

    Just needed a new piston, rings, rebore, new valves and after the head of the valve had cut it's way round the hemi head for a few laps it went through the top of the piston :D
    my isetta is a 300cc bike
  • gethinceri
    gethinceri Posts: 1,677
    Did exactly the same to my GN400 many years back, scrapped the whole bike.

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