Author Topic: I've been K0'd! (Read 153645 times)

MauiK3 · « **Reply #675 on:** October 13, 2021, 02:28:38 PM »

I’ve run my small engines on engineered fuel for years. Ethanol just kills small engines. My small generator (Honda) gets ethanol free. My large generator, also Honda, gets propane, my two strokes get 50 Fuel.
My Ruckus didn’t like ethanol fuel but runs great on ethanol free. Of course the K3 and Z1 ( when it’s together) run on ethanol free.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #676 on:** October 13, 2021, 04:09:36 PM »

Here in AZ we do not get a choice, everything has ethanol and last time I looked PureGas wasn't available anywhere in the state.

Fortunately my modern bike tolerates the ethanol fuel. My CX500 does as well. Given my CB is waiting for me to start it's restore now I have most everything...I can't answer that one yet.

Don R · « **Reply #677 on:** October 13, 2021, 09:40:56 PM »

My club car golf cart despises alcohol, acts like it's vapor locked. My bikes burn alcohol fine, it just doesn't store as well, I'm paranoid about moisture in the wrinkle tanks. My gl1000 loves 87 octane and hates 91, I think Hondaman explained that with the slow burn causing burn back in the intakes.

Don R · « **Reply #678 on:** October 15, 2021, 01:23:45 AM »

Don R · « **Reply #679 on:** October 15, 2021, 01:25:19 AM »

Random practice pics. my KZ and F'n project.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #680 on:** October 15, 2021, 02:54:57 AM »

Wow, finally get to see the kz! Looks pretty good. Has tons of potential anyway.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #681 on:** October 15, 2021, 10:28:42 AM »

Don..... I refurbished a KZ1000 that a friend bought new. He started his own business, family, etc. and it sat for years, always warm and dry! It took a while, but what an awesome ride!! I was really impressed when I rode it. They are quick. Great project.

Don R · « **Reply #682 on:** October 15, 2021, 10:09:49 PM »

I had a kz900 ltd dealer bike for a Saturday. Why I didn't buy it I don't know. I had a Windjammer equipped cb750 K3 and we took trips on it. Probably $$ had a lot to do with it.
Everybody around here wanted the ltd, When I get the time machine I'll have a Sandcast new and a Z1.

Don R · « **Reply #683 on:** October 30, 2021, 01:47:24 PM »

The diecast has an 836 that I've been tuning a little it's rich in the mid range. Today I took the baffles out and took it for a test ride, the plugs went from black and sooty to brown and the ground strap is burned off back most of the way.
When I got home I considered dropping the needles a notch but remembered it got 2 gallons of LL110 av gas on top of what was in it. Sort of makes the test ride a moot point to a degree but I still think I'll drop the needles.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #684 on:** October 30, 2021, 04:31:14 PM »

When I fitted those expensive, but pretty "Rebuilt by carb expert" K0 carbs it was running a tad lean, so I raised the needles, but still wasn't happy with them, and discovered that the "Expert" didn't install the slide top seals, the fcuking numbat, so they were sucking air through the carb tops. I guess it's easy to be considered an expert, when most of your customers are noobs.

Anyhoo, Jona, my mate in Israel, had sent me some carb rebuild kits he'd mistakenly bought for his K7 and lo and behold, they had the K0 specific seals. When I installed them, the engine ran so much smoother. It now runs a tad rich, but I haven't bothered to drop the needles as it goes like a raped ape (I've never seen a raped ape, so they must be pretty quick) and while it's running well, I'll leave it alone.

Don R · « **Reply #685 on:** October 30, 2021, 05:24:16 PM »

I've been in these carbs but can't say I actually remember seeing gaskets lol. Something to watch for. I need the top boots either way. .

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #686 on:** October 31, 2021, 02:17:45 AM »

Yep take a look Don, seriously, your bike will never run right without them. They're not plastic, like the K1-K6 seals, (although you can modify the K1-K6 seals to fit, if you've got a set of gasket punches) they're just a paper gasket, but the difference between the "before and "after" was enormous. Still boggles my mind that the idiot who "restored" the carbs didn't install them.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #687 on:** November 01, 2021, 08:13:47 AM »

Quote from: Terry in Australia on October 31, 2021, 02:17:45 AM

Yep take a look Don, seriously, your bike will never run right without them. They're not plastic, like the K1-K6 seals, (although you can modify the K1-K6 seals to fit, if you've got a set of gasket punches) they're just a paper gasket, but the difference between the "before and "after" was enormous. Still boggles my mind that the idiot who "restored" the carbs didn't install them.

+1 to this! Years ago, when I picked up my fits cb750 K0, I immediately sent the carbs off to Mike Nixon. They came back beautifully restored, carefully, perfectly packaged. The slide/needle assemblies where all individually wrapped (on their individual cables), tied together. Instructions included, already “bench sync’ed”. Really nice work.

Years later, when I finally restored the bike, it fired instantly and ran well. HOWEVER, when I tried to vacuum sync., it drove me nuts. One or two matches, move across and everybody changed. The bike would run perfectly and then suddenly go off..... I took it to Cobble Beach, won a prize, and wrapped it up in the back of the shop (Winter set in).

Much later, on a shop “Clean Up” day, I emptied out the box Mike Nixon sent: instructions, my old throttle cables, cut zip ties, bubble wrap......... and a small package with 4 X top gaskets!! Runs much better now.

Don R · « **Reply #688 on:** November 01, 2021, 02:03:19 PM »

The Sandy has a rear brake squeal, that's got to go. I left the original shoes in it but may swap for a set of segmented EBC shoes. I cleaned it really well but it deserves a look to see if something is in there that shouldn't be.

Don R · « **Reply #689 on:** November 06, 2021, 12:01:41 PM »

I did a bench synch (on bike) and added the top gaskets, I got it all back together but haven't test ridden it yet. I had to rob a metering rod spring plate out of a spare set since one vanished so I'll order a kit with them included.
I plan to do some welding on the O2 sensor probe to be sure it's sealed, put the baffles back in and do another round of testing.
A test ride revealed it runs no better, #1 carb is sweating fuel after multiple new needle and seats, and a new float, as is the multi time rebuilt petcock. This thing has leaked enough gas to drive my wife's Accord on vacation. Exorcist, witch doctor and a medicine man are needed. In any order available.

I officially give up on getting it to the drag strip this year, I'm not a bike racer but am a racer and will not go unprepared.

Edit, I put the needles back to stock and it runs way better. I need to have a serious conversation with my O2 gauge.

Edit #2, I rejetted the mains from the 110's and think it wants the 120's. A 130 fell out of the holder into the float bowl and ruined the test run. Wide open throttle it's a little puny I can feel the transition to full jet.

Don R · « **Reply #690 on:** November 08, 2021, 10:00:58 PM »

I needed to feel extra manly today so I kick started the diecast. That's right, we bad.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #691 on:** November 09, 2021, 01:13:29 AM »

Well done Don, I fired up the F2 tonight for the first time in maybe a year? It pissed me off last year when I rebuilt two sets of carbs and they both pissed fuel, I'm gonna yank them again this week and set the float levels wrong, just so they stop leaking. I installed a new Dyna ignition (because I couldn't find the points ignition, then later I found it in the glovebox under the seat, D-oh!) and jumped the flat-ish battery off a fully charged battery and it fired right up, but as I was manoeuvring it around my other bikes so I could ride it up the driveway and wash it I stalled it.

No problem, thinks I, I'll be a manly man like Don, and kick start it, but then I heard the voice of Charlie Bronson in my ear, saying, "No dice loser, 7 volts won't be enough for a dyna to chuck a spark", and that old baastard was right, so I pushed the fcuker instead, which wasn't anywhere near as much fun...... The battery's on the charger, so tomorrow, we ride! (and leave a trail of gas behind me......)

Don R · « **Reply #692 on:** November 09, 2021, 09:44:40 AM »

I can't believe you would ride something as ugly as an F. Just kidding but I remember someone saying that a long time ago. If I wasn't bike poor and about to get more, I'd restomod the F1 I have in storage. It's nice but had a dipstick for a PO that didn't have money for parts but liked to take things apart. My brother bought it a few years ago and now it's mine to re-assemble.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #693 on:** November 09, 2021, 01:24:35 PM »

Yes, the embarrassing truth is that While the ‘75/76 F is about as attractive to me as a stillborn Aardvark, I have a soft spot for F2’s, as fragile as their engines are. Apart from the carb issues the engine is a gem, I don’t know anything of it’s history and when I first bought it I thought that it might have been my old bike but upon checking it’s registration history discovered that it wasn’t.

The F2 was just gonna be a daily rider with an excess of “patina” but once I rebuilt my K2 engine it’s “surplus to requirements” and recently I’ve decided to move it on and it looks like I can sell it for a tad more than it’s cost me, so I’m in the process of cleaning it up to sell it, maybe as early as this weekend. It’ll be nice to put some cash back into my bank account after spending so much on bikes this year.

Don R · « **Reply #694 on:** November 15, 2021, 06:35:11 PM »

I have some hard choices to make, next winter there won't be a rental unit so by then I need to pare the collection a bit. 4 plated bikes and a toy or two will fit in the bike area of the shop.
I noticed tonight while stocking the new score in my totes I'm up to 6 spare brake panels and two F rear disc brake choices. I find myself wondering why.

Don R · « **Reply #695 on:** November 15, 2021, 08:53:15 PM »

The diecast is sitting ready for a ride tomorrow when it's 60* out. I'm getting a vaccine booster and joined the local gym. Should be an epic day.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #696 on:** November 16, 2021, 12:22:43 AM »

Y.M.C.A! Make sure you post some pics of your workout Don!

Don R · « **Reply #697 on:** November 17, 2021, 07:52:13 AM »

The ride went awesome, finally. The best the diecast has been running since I rebuilt the motor. I'm still unsure where I got so far off track jet wise. It was one of the most part swapped and beat on bike I ever had but just kept finding the right parts and upgrading.

Don R · « **Reply #698 on:** November 20, 2021, 02:08:46 PM »

I found the recently discovered to be missing cam caps for the diecast head. They were in a box that I had moved while looking for them. The diecast head has a welded fin and it got sanded, filed and ground down and looks pretty good considering how it looked starting out.
The PO of this head thought he knew better about torque and several threads are tapped out to larger SAE bolts. The ones that I can helicoil I will, others will be inside the motor and invisible. I now have all of the components to build a sweet stock correct (no number on the plate or restamped) motor for the diecast bike. The original frame for the 836 motor in the diecast bike right now is sitting naked on a shelf. Giant pullback bars and etc. It even had +6" forks.

Don R · « **Reply #699 on:** November 20, 2021, 03:57:36 PM »

I heard the guy that was sure he cheated me out of $650 for this original project bike passed away recently. That's a shame, I was hoping to ride by for a visit and to show off the bike.
The first guy that ever said to me "ran when parked" and it was clearly, a big fat lie. As he turned away, with money in hand I saw the smirk on his face. I got in the car and laughed that he was so sure he got the best of the deal, $650 for K0 with a wrinkle tank, 19/18 Lester mags, 4 cable carbs, 4-1 header with a plugged up muffler and a load of K4 stuff bolted to it. The 836 turned out to be a high compression 812 with the pistons in backwards. They had to notch the domes and still did not figure it out.

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Author Topic: I've been K0'd! (Read 153645 times)