Topic: Terry's NEW big Kawasaki build, the "Lockdown 1428" special.

[PeWe]

If I should use an oil cooler, thermostate that does not connect cooler until after 100C.
Condense in engine needs to evaporate. I have seen on my oil tank thermometer that it take a while to reach 100C.

Need of a cooler those few days when temperature pass 110C going to 120C which is the highest seen so far. Ambient temp around 30C.
Better oil withstand higher temp a longer period of time.

Per,What is optimum oil temperature for the best performance on your CB750 ?

I do not know.
I would like to have it between 100-110C.
I have noticed clutch slip if throttling hard,  WOT and quick gear shifts after only 5-10 minutes ride. No problems when warmer.

Condensed water out thru the breather and not too hot. 120C is no problem for synthetic oil, but pressure reduces some. I had a hot summer when I found an oil pressure gauge to be mandatory, temp in oil tank often 120C.

Search on air cooled Porsches forums where oil temp and wear can be found.

[grcamna2]

ok

[scunny]

If it's any help, on my VTR1000, the radiator fans come on at 100c and the bike will shut down I believe at 120c. Never seen it that high.
She runs Castrol semi synthetic.
Back to Terry's Kawi.

[Terry in Australia]

If it's any help, on my VTR1000, the radiator fans come on at 100c and the bike will shut down I believe at 120c. Never seen it that high.
She runs Castrol semi synthetic.
Back to Terry's Kawi.

No worries Scunny, another issue being discussed on the Z Owners FB page where I posted a pic is the concern that the stock starter motor might not have the grunt to spin my engine. Apparently there’s a Honda starter that can go in with minimal mods, but someone else reckons using bigger diameter power and earth leads will make the bigger starter unnecessary.

It is a bastard to turn over by hand, so I’m gonna see if the starter on my VTR1000R (my spare one) will fit? Worth a look, at least.....

[scunny]

Yep, bigger leads (and clean connections) always helps. The current, ie amp draw travels on the circumference of a cable, so, the bigger the diameter, the larger surface area for the current to flow.

[Terry in Australia]

Yep, I might chop a foot or two off my jumper leads, and see how that works!

[grcamna2]

If it's any help, on my VTR1000, the radiator fans come on at 100c and the bike will shut down I believe at 120c. Never seen it that high.
She runs Castrol semi synthetic.
Back to Terry's Kawi.

No worries Scunny, another issue being discussed on the Z Owners FB page where I posted a pic is the concern that the stock starter motor might not have the grunt to spin my engine. Apparently there’s a Honda starter that can go in with minimal mods, but someone else reckons using bigger diameter power and earth leads will make the bigger starter unnecessary.

It is a bastard to turn over by hand, so I’m gonna see if the starter on my VTR1000R (my spare one) will fit? Worth a look, at least.....

Terry,Does APE have any leads on a drag race starter,different reduction gears ?

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks Bill, nope, nothing seen so far, and it kind of makes sense, the 1428cc bikes were mostly drag bikes, which would have been started using an external starter.

[grcamna2]

Thanks Bill, nope, nothing seen so far, and it kind of makes sense, the 1428cc bikes were mostly drag bikes, which would have been started using an external starter.

Alright Terry,I think it may be something you'll need to fabricate,a special starter of some type.You said someone thinks a certain Honda starter will work(installed into the same place as your oem Kawasaki starter sits ?)in your 1428 engine? I wonder if possibly a CBX starter ? I know you'll find a fix for this, something like Mc'Gyver 

[PeWe]

Harley starter?

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks Guys, yep, definitely thought about a Harley starter (or a Triumph Rocket 111 starter) but they're physically too large, so maybe a bigger one off a Jap bike might have to do? Well there's no rush, winter has come back this week after a beautiful weekend, so not fussed.

[PeWe]

Another engine you start with a rope, chainsaw style. That will start the mighty Arias Kawasaki

[grcamna2]

How about a custom 25" long kickstart lever ?? ! 

[spotty]

Nah, pushstart only, do it the manly way, electric starters are for girlies

[PeWe]

Press the button and she starts.... Yeah... feels girly...

[Terry in Australia]

I did think about one of those race bike starters that uses a high power electric motor that you roll your back wheel onto, spin up the back wheel, and dump the clutch? Only problems is if I go for a ride and need to stop somewhere I'll have to build a trailer so I can tow a generator and the starter assembly with me?

[PeWe]

Or an older design. Tool can be used for personal protection too.

[grcamna2]

How about a custom 25" long kickstart lever ?? ! 

You could stow it under the seat like was on my 78' Z1-R;one solid cast iron lever that wouldn't fold-up.

[Terry in Australia]

Well I love that little Austin 7, my cuz gave the remains of one as a resto project when I was 16, but I gave it back when I joined the Army, but they were a neat little car.

I scored a complete GPZ1100 engine on FB overnight, the seller bought it for a buggy project that never came to pass, and for an extra 50 bucks, he’s dropping it off at my place tomorrow afternoon. I want to pop the cam cover off to confirm I’ve got the cam timing right on the 1428 engine, and if I do have a problem with the big beast down the track, I’ll install the GPZ engine into the bike so I’ve got a rider.

Not as exciting as a 1428 of course, but over 100 BHP in stock guise, it will be a reasonable alternative, and it comes with an oil cooler.....

[grcamna2]

That sounds great that you'll have an extra GPZ1100 engine,seeing those at the right time !

[spotty]

alternately a GPz1100 powered rideon lawnmower

[754]

Whatever you  do.. please don't run the oil cooler lines around the side of the engine... it looks so cheap and shortcutty...
 Unless  you can't choose fittings, and use a wrench, and whip up a bracket or two...

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks Guys, should be fun! Interestingly Frank, Kawasaki ran both oil lines over the top of the engine on the GPZ1100 engine, I'm just wondering though whether I should be running some external oil lines to move the oil around the head? If so, I may have to run my lines either side of the engine, but I'll do it as elegantly as is practically possible......

[Terry in Australia]

So it  was a red letter day today, apart from my K0 frame arriving safe and sound, the GPZ1100 engine was dropped off a little while later, so with some help from my youngest  son, we lumped it up onto the bench with the 1428 and Z1 engines.

1428 GPZ1100 engine 8 Oct 2020 1 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I was madly stripping the K0 frame so didn't have time to touch the GPZ engine, but I did turn the crank to make sure it isn't seized, and all appears good. Tomorrow I'll pop the cam cover off and check the cam timing, just to confirm that I haven't messed anything up with the 1428 engine before I tuck it back into bed in the Z1000 frame. More tomorrow.

1428 GPZ1100 engine 8 Oct 2020 2 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

[grcamna2]

Terry,You've created a vintage Kawasaki 'Safe Place' for wayward engines that need that special touch.