Topic: '72 CB500 Should I buy it? UPDATE: bought a 71 Mach 111 instead!

[Stev-o]

[ if you intend to ride them in the manner kawasaki intended.

You mean a foul handling beast intended to maim riders   ...Larry
[/quote]

Hey hey hey....you talking about Kawasaki?  My Z resembles that remark!

[MoMo]

[ if you intend to ride them in the manner kawasaki intended.

You mean a foul handling beast intended to maim riders   ...Larry

Hey hey hey....you talking about Kawasaki?  My Z resembles that remark!
[/quote]


Most Kawis from that day resemble that remark

[KayOne]

Thanks guys, I HAVE to get work on the 750 K1. I took the cautionary advice from rototiller and others and spent the day cleaning it up a bit, draining fluids, removing the remnants of the crash bar. Had a good look over, needs a clutch cover (two of four screw bosses missing). The PO lent the bike to his brother and he had a tank slapper, hence the incorrect front signals and repainted tank. All in all though I think it was a good find.

Checked the oil pump and it is operational. The compression was 135/135/140 cold. Spec is 142. I will be going through the engine though.

Leaning on the side stand, looking from the side/rear, with the huge distributor housing with the coil and plug wires coming out, the bike looks absolutely SLEAZY...I love it!

Last post. I will start a thread after the K1 gets some attention.

[scottly]

You would not believe the amount of smoke this thing can generate!

your crank seals are toast.

How did you come to this conclusion? Smoke means the two-smoker is getting plenty of oil. Bad crank seals leads to poor running and low compression, especially at low speeds. Rusty, crusty crank needle bearings, on the other hand, will result in expensive repairs in a very short time....

[Geeto67]

You would not believe the amount of smoke this thing can generate!

your crank seals are toast.

How did you come to this conclusion? Smoke means the two-smoker is getting plenty of oil. Bad crank seals leads to poor running and low compression, especially at low speeds. Rusty, crusty crank needle bearings, on the other hand, will result in expensive repairs in a very short time....

I came to that conclusion byt owning (and usually grenading) 7 kawasaki triples, two T500s, and an RD 400 over my riding lifespan.

A two stroke should smoke, but it shouldn't be offensive. my suzuki's when properly tuned barely put out any smoke at all.

Anytime someone is "surprised" at how much smoke a two stroke kawi triple makes it is because the crank seals are shot and the motor is sumping oil from the tranny and burning it. If the seals are good It should be a light fog, not spraying for misquitoes. 

[Geeto67]

When the crank seals went on my 73 it smoked heavy out all three pipes. Why, because the thing you call a tranny seal doesn't and probably never did. Sure it sucks air also if you lose the outer ones.

I guess our definition of "offensive" is different. Plus how do you beat on an h1 while standing in the driveway? Neither of us were there, so how about we just agree to recommend the seals be replaced anyway because it is the smart thing to do with a triple of unknown and possibly dubious mechanical condition.

Castor oil is a laxative. I don't run it because I don't need to crap that bad by breathing it in. Modern synthetic 2stroke oils are low smoke too and you don't have to look for a rest stop.

[ekpent]

Early Kawasaki 500's had a factory recall for excessive smoking because of the oil pump. Some were fixed and sure some were not. They (2-strokers) will smoke heavily till they get down the road for awhile.  Crank attention is wise though if these bikes have sat for years.

[Geeto67]

yeah....I've owned cars that smoke more.

[Stev-o]

yeah....I've owned cars that smoke more.

[MoMo]

My Suzie S32 smoked like crazy when it first started after sitting for who knows how long.  Once the oil residue burned out of the pipes it runs and smokes normally(a pack a day )...Larry