Topic: Yes, a Z1 & H1- unofficial Kawasaki thread - H2 is now a rider!!!

[ekpent]

 Makes doing a Sandcast look cheap !!    Wonder what this 1975 Kawasaki 750 might be, parts maybe ? Old add but maybe worth a call for you on your hunt.  https://southbend.craigslist.org/mpo/d/7-part-bikes-and-lots-of/6186233969.html

[Stev-o]

Makes doing a Sandcast look cheap !!    Wonder what this 1975 Kawasaki 750 might be, parts maybe ? Old add but maybe worth a call for you on your hunt.  https://southbend.craigslist.org/mpo/d/7-part-bikes-and-lots-of/6186233969.html

Thanks, text sent!

EDIT:  she replied, the 750 in the ad was sold.

[Stev-o]

Time for an update. 

I got my "Big Bang" bike back together after the catastrophic engine failure [3" hole in the case] so now I can concentrate on the H2.
Here's the '74 CB, now punched out to 836cc....





Back to the H2. Got the chain installed, all 120 links! it is long compared to the CB. Also installed the chainguard, it came to me powdercoated and looks good.
Took special precaution on mounting that front sprocket after reading a warning thread about how they like to come loose!
RED loctite!! I do not want a chain through the case of this bike, these engines are hard to find.






Disassembled the front caliper, thoroughly  cleaned and installed a new seal.  It cleaned up rather nice no I left the original paint.  Installed the hard pipe and lower hose, ordered a custom length upper hose from Slingshot.




[/url]H2 30



Installed the master cylinder, R control and throttle cable. I had Don on the Triples forum restore the controls when he did the gauges, his work is impeccable! 







Buttoned up the birds nest in the bucket and installed the headlight, here is how she currently sits....







Have a list of parts that I need to order, so it's hurry up and wait...

[ekpent]

 That's quite a swirly hardline on that front brake. Really staring to look like a motorcycle.  What kind of pistons went into the Honda Steve, hopefully a little bump in compression maybe ?  Is it running well and pulling noticeably harder than a stocker.  In that stock trim it is lurching as a 'sleeper'.

[Stev-o]

That's quite a swirly hardline on that front brake. Really staring to look like a motorcycle. 

What kind of pistons went into the Honda Steve, hopefully a little bump in compression maybe ?  Is it running well and pulling noticeably harder than a stocker.  In that stock trim it is lurching as a 'sleeper'.

Hey Eric...yes some engineering went into that front brake hard pipe on the H2, that is the original part, I just polished it up.
I scratched my head for a minute figuring out how to install it, are basket case bikes fun?!! The ultimate puzzle.


The Big Bang K4 now has Wiseco 836cc forged pistons with 10.25:1 compression. I've put 200 test miles on it, it is running really good.
I am not pushing it yet, keeping the R's under 6000 for at least a couple hundred more miles...

[02z06dave]

You're coming along nicely on this. Nice job

[Stev-o]

You're coming along nicely on this. Nice job

Thanks Dave.   I'm staying committed on it now, want to get it on the road by Oct 1st.

[Stev-o]

Update and a couple questions for you H2 experts:

Got the left side on the motor buttoned up...





Got the R footrest installed, but seems wrong, too far forward.
I actually sat on the bike for the first time today! [and made ring ding ding sounds!]
Have another footrest and the pin is welded, will try it.





Got most of the wiring connected.  Just received my Motobatt AGM battery [no acid spills!] and popped it in.  Does the fuse holder stay in the battery box strap? 
What else goes on that strap on the right side?
I know ground from battery goes to frame, but where? [I dont have that cable].

These questions are also being asked on the Triples forum, but those guys are not always so responsive. And I've searched for project threads but they dont have them as specific as some of the ones that we have here for our Hondas.

Know it: this is THE best forum!



Quick link to wiring diagram:

http://3cyl.com/mraxl/wiring/H2Bwir.JPG


And what, if anything, goes in this little compartment directly behind the battery?  Tool holder is in the tail, right?

Thanks!




EDIT:   Triples forum Member Jim responded to my thread over there so I have a couple of the answers. If you'd like, you can guess on the answers for the following:

1.  What is the right holder for on the battery hold down strap?

2.  What goes in the triangular recess directly behind the battery.   Hint: Not a burrito!

[ekpent]

 I give but lets see if we have a Kaw Guru among us. Does your 500 have any of that stuff ?  If I may offer a suggestion it would be to go out and buy a perfect unmolested stock 750 so you can look it over while you put this one together 

[Stev-o]

I give but lets see if we have a Kaw Guru among us. Does your 500 have any of that stuff ?  If I may offer a suggestion it would be to go out and buy a perfect unmolested stock 750 so you can look it over while you put this one together 

Makes me feel good you dont know either!  My 500 does not have either of these, and that reminds me, it needs the proper battery holder as it did not come with one. 

[ekpent]

 Did an owners manual go in the compartment there and used for other documents ??  Drug stash??  I'll have to keep thinking on it and I promise I won't google !

[Stev-o]

Did an owners manual go in the compartment there and used for other documents ??

No, doc holder is on the underside of the seat.

[KayOne]

 Chain oiler tank fits there on my 1973 H2A.

[Stev-o]

Chain oiler tank fits there on my 1973 H2A.

Bingo!  it was eliminated on the H2B, but they did not change the design [or my basket case came with an H2A battery box?!]  Got a pic of your bike?

BTW - the holder on the battery strap is for the battery overflow hose which I do not have [AGM]

[KayOne]

Hi Steve. I don't have any glamour shots of my bike so this pic will have to do.
The ground wire goes from the negative terminal of the battery, along the right side of the ignition box and fastens to the outer bolt as shown in the pic. The coils are grounded to the frame at the bracket attachments and the engine on the H2/H2A through the motor mounts. Not sure how the H2C engine is grounded as it has rubber mounts. Your battery box is correct for your bike as indicated by the bolt halfway down rearward side of the triangle.
These bikes are so much different from anything else I have ridden!

[Stev-o]

Great lookin bike, Kay, thanks for posting.   Looks to be in excellent restored condition.  How long have you had it?


Thanks for the info, that is helpful.  My bike is an H2B, no rubber motor mounts. 

[KayOne]

Thanks for the compliments😀 I found the bike in an old chicken coop along with 2 H1D'S and parts and pieces of 3 early H1/H1A's. $1200 Canadian and I was on my way.
The bike was rough and missing a lot of parts. I sourced a lot of parts by trading my stash of early H1 parts. Took a couple of years to collect everything, including a fair amount of reproduction parts. Most of the chrome parts are original and rechromed.

The bike had been dropped numerous time so I had to straighten the brake pedal mount, the exhaust mounts and the brake pedal itself. The PO welded the kick start to the shaft!  Since the kick starters are unobtainium for these bikes I had to carefully grind the weld off to save the assembly.
Sorry, don't want to highjack your thread Steve. You are going to find this bike very different from your H1! Torque everywhere. I couldn't stand the stock carbs and replaced them with Mikuni TM34's. Still tuning but way more power and drivability.

[ekpent]

 Love that purple and great job on the resto. Sounds like you put a ton of time,effort and I am sure dollars into it but what a great story and find for you. Bet you two will be talking some more as Steve keeps bolting on pieces.

[Stev-o]

Thanks for the compliments😀 I found the bike in an old chicken coop along with 2 H1D'S and parts and pieces of 3 early H1/H1A's. $1200 Canadian and I was on my way.
The bike was rough and missing a lot of parts. I sourced a lot of parts by trading my stash of early H1 parts. Took a couple of years to collect everything, including a fair amount of reproduction parts. Most of the chrome parts are original and rechromed.

The bike had been dropped numerous time so I had to straighten the brake pedal mount, the exhaust mounts and the brake pedal itself. The PO welded the kick start to the shaft!  Since the kick starters are unobtainium for these bikes I had to carefully grind the weld off to save the assembly.
Sorry, don't want to highjack your thread Steve. You are going to find this bike very different from your H1! Torque everywhere. I couldn't stand the stock carbs and replaced them with Mikuni TM34's. Still tuning but way more power and drivability.

Thats quite a story, my respect for you has quadrupled!  PO's can make restorations difficult, the worst I can say for mine is he didnt put it back together!

The carbs are up next, pretty sure they are VM30's.

[Stev-o]

Update:

Here are the carbs that came with the bike, pretty grungy looking. 




I disassembled them and sent them to RestoCycle [Nils] for vapor blasting.  The results are fantastic!  If you are not having your parts "vaped", you are missing out!  Here is how they are now....









One of the pilot jets was blocked so I bought all new jets, genuine Mikuni of course, and NOS check valves for the float bowls.  For you "non-smokers" this bike pumps two stroke oil into the crankcase and also into the carb bowls for lubrication.
I also ordered new plungers and am awaiting on those to get the carbs back together. The plungers are for cold start "enrichening", [Kawasaki doesnt call it choking] there are no butterflies on these carbs. The choke lever is on the left control and a 1 to 3 cable runs to each carb.
I'd choose Mikuni over Keihin any day to service! [sorry Honda guys]



Heres the oil pump, luckily all the oil lines are usable as these can be difficult [and expensive] to replace...




...and now installed with new banjo bolt washers....






Bought a Delkevic exhaust a few months ago, birthday present to myself!  Very well packed and chrome quality appears to be excellent...




Came with no instructions and none on their website for the H2, a call to them answered my question on the mounting bracket for the R side.  Fairly easy to install and the fit is perfect. Not cheap but if you want stock appearance no other options that I know of other than used forty year old damaged pipes.
They are long.........





Ok, a question for you H2 experts:  I have three of these clamps leftover from the exhaust install and dont know where they go! An email to Delkavic has gone unanswered.

[ekpent]

 Does the H2 have that important check valve system for the injection oil so it does not flood your case. Sure your up on all that stuff. Nice pipes,no clue on your clamps. Bike is coming along beautifully Steve.

[Stev-o]

Does the H2 have that important check valve system for the injection oil so it does not flood your case. Sure your up on all that stuff. Nice pipes,no clue on your clamps. Bike is coming along beautifully Steve.

Yes, it does.  Hydrolock is the issue you have in mind and can bend rods...ouch.   

I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel on this project.

[02z06dave]

Have you seen an ad for that bike auction coming up in WI? They've got a couple H1s, an H2, and an S3. One of the H1s is a 69. It looks a little rough, but I'm going to try for it. It looks like a good resto-mod candidate.

[ekpent]

 Do you have a link for that Dave or are you keeping that close to your vest. Was the 1969 500 the white painted one ?

[Stev-o]

Have you seen an ad for that bike auction coming up in WI?

Have not, Dave.  Trying not to buy, I still have another H1 & an S2 waiting in the Batcave for a resto one day.
However, like you, I would like an early one.

Was the 1969 500 the white painted one ?

Yes, "Midnight White"