Topic: 80 KZ1000 named Kaw Pie.

[Don R]

 I think I'm going to add a toggle switch to the headlight, I won't be able to kill the running lights but at least I can kill the headlight when starting. I wonder if there's an earlier right control that would swap out? These 80's bikes are more complicated wiring wise.

[Terry in Australia]

Here you go Don, a KZ1000 right hand switch with an on/off button for the headlight, and surprisingly, it's in the US!

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/295218768815?epid=1324682983&hash=item44bc68ebaf:g:XOcAAOSwlNtjGe~F&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA8N1BT3%2FjWq8rX200g%2BTdoWGf56xESMIH5uNYXXnlDPD%2ByXpUszU%2BKJYoKPSkOfPh1gEmR8LIojgvQTTSiCSCQTN1WOyLBa%2FdxJtvLsWlmI31UJKFNa2aBA6pscSFDijBksfFiHN5TPCfGHc4BwD2ANsb9AyDvaSV0q2OxPNpfZBbwCZMqgJ8klScJpw89fPPZnLaBzd5x5Yu0iYhbf1E6C8XpGpAwmGYGOeCC8qrTLgUszw9NkichlTyOMKlJqugLuxSk4HaWAzHsRoChmCvIA0oTwTuBpXN%2Bltq7nnlbNKsZN6vJIlKIYswWA4v0XHELg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7SyicqOYQ

[seanbarney41]

Yeah, pretty sure that is not actually off a kz1000.  Maybe a 77, or a kz900.  I have a built in '76 kz650 that uses a switch like that.  Probably no reason it couldn't be made to work on your bike.  I will say, Kawasaki wiring is considerably different than your typical 1970's Honda...not much, but just enough to make you double check that wiring diagram.

[Kelly E]

Here's the right side control pod from my 77' KZ 1000 LTD, it has the headlight on/off switch.

[seanbarney41]

ok...good to know

[Don R]

 Thanks for the info, that housing looks a little like mine, brake fluid has eaten into the black. Maybe these,
https://z1parts.net/switch-set-handlebar-kawasaki-kz1000-z1-r-left-right-side/

[Kelly E]

Thanks for the info, that housing looks a little like mine, brake fluid has eaten into the black. Maybe these,
https://z1parts.net/switch-set-handlebar-kawasaki-kz1000-z1-r-left-right-side/

I have to load the glass beads into the blast cabinet so I can blast the control pods and the upper triple tree.

[RAFster122s]

Hard anodizing can give the satin black sheen of the original finish...CX/GL500 restorer in Sacramento has been using that method for a few years now. The anodizing being very durable as well.

[Don R]

 I'm less of a restoration guy and more of a bolt on type bike fixer.

[Terry in Australia]

I'm less of a restoration guy and more of a bolt on type bike fixer.

Me too Don, I haven't got time for all that waiting for stuff to get chromed, painted, etc, I like to get it done, and move onto the next one. When I restored my Suzuki T500 the wheels needed re-chroming, re-spoking etc, but I found a nice clean set in the US and just got 'em sent out via Fedex International Priority shipping. I had them in a week and it was still cheaper than getting everything chromed, buying new spokes and building the wheels, and cheaper too. I bought new Dunlop K70's for it, but the 40 year old K70's that were on them were so good I haven't bothered to replace them yet.

[Don R]

    The KZ is sluggish starting unless the battery is at maximum voltage. I took it to the drag strip last year and it refused to start all day, when I got home and charged it up it started right up. I had a gs850 once with a corroded fuse box, it barely made a spark, after swapping to a blade fuse holder the beast fired right up.
   I put it (the GS850) on marketplace and the two guys that showed up to collect it rushed it out of here like they paid with counterfeit money. The bank didn't complain so I didn't either.     
 

[BenelliSEI]

Congrats! Making space in the shop for?

[Terry in Australia]

Yep, big Kawasaki's are starting to come up in Value. Until recently only Z1's were worth good money, but now that the collectors have most of them, the rest are coming up too. Good on you for selling it Don, I really want to sell most of my bikes, but I'm not making much of an effort, I seem to keep finding more to bring home.......

[Don R]

Congrats! Making space in the shop for?

 Making space so I can bring my 40 chevy coupe home from storage and still have room to work on a bike or two. I didn't intend to store it there all winter. It's sitting over cardboard and tarps but still seemed to gather a little rust on the valve covers last year.

[Don R]

  I got the Hot Rod 836 running and ready to go. Next up is the kz gets a relay on the ignition feed.

[RAFster122s]

Congrats Don

[Don R]

 I was overly optimistic. I had to rebuild the top end and front end of the HR836

[Don R]

 I cranked the kz a little with the maintainer on it, no start even though it has spark. I've been considering adding an ignition relay to maybe spice up the spark a bit. I may drain the carbs and try some more. LP gas in the air filter box did nothing. Where's that starting fluid?

[Terry in Australia]

I cranked the kz a little with the maintainer on it, no start even though it has spark. I've been considering adding an ignition relay to maybe spice up the spark a bit. I may drain the carbs and try some more. LP gas in the air filter box did nothing. Where's that starting fluid?

I'd never thought of using LPG Don, I might try that one day. I have a spray can of air freshener that works really well, I've had it for years, as I remember using it on my GS Suzuki's with those CV carbs and vacuum operated petcocks which were always a pain to start after sitting for a long time. If I had another GS1000 now, I'd install new RS34mm Mikuni's with a gravity petcock.  

[Don R]

 My brother used to keep a pair of rebuilt VW engines on hand, a 1200 and a 1600, he always test ran them on a hand torch LP bottle. He would sell or loan a motor while he rebuilt the one from the car. We could swap a motor in 45 minutes, less of we had done it before since we made self-holding bolt heads for the bellhousing. 

 I did get the Kawasaki running, #4 pipe was cold so I swapped the plug with #1. The #4 thread was boogered by a PO and it's a challenge to start it correctly. The pipe didn't warm up much and #1 is fine so I'm guessing it's a float valve issue, RPM didn't help much so maybe it isn't just the pilot jet. 

[Don R]

 I drained and refilled the #4 bowl a couple times with no result, so I dropped the float bowl and pilot jet, even though I just had them off last summer and thought they were all cleaned out, the pilot jet was plugged hard.
 Oooh, this is the best it's run since it came here to live.  The shop had reportedly jetted it for pods but it was still seriously lean so I put stock airboxes back on it. I think the jets made up for no accelerator pumps.
 The rear disc is nothing to brag about, hopefully bleeding it will do the job.  It did the neighborhood lap with no other issues. Hooray! 

[grcamna2]

I hope the weather get's warm Spring for you soon up there Don;then you can actually take your bikes for shake-down runs fully warmed up.

[Don R]

 I advertised the KZ for sale. Several times. A series of offers were accepted but no one showed up with money, the one guy even feigned a heart attack.
 This afternoon, a guy made an offer but needed re-assurance that he could ride it home so I took it on the highway for a 15-mile shakedown run. I'm not a fan of the stepped seat or the LTD handlebars but this bike really rips.
 I might pull the ad and sell off some of these way more precious Honda CB750's instead. Anyone need a Goldwing bagger?

[Don R]

 I always wanted to convert this LTD to a standard KZ look, is it as difficult as making an F look like a K or vice versa?

[Kelly E]

Here's what we did to my 77' KZ 1000LTD. We added Mikuni RS34 carbs, a Delkevik stainless exhaust system, euro bend bars, a new seat and Progressive series 12 shocks. I felt right at home the first time I rode it.