Kawasaki Z550F part 6: Tanks for the memories!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics|December 2020
Time for John to sort out that 550F’s tank issues, we think…
JOHN VASSALLO
Kawasaki Z550F part 6: Tanks for the memories!

So, back on with the Z500F! With the carbs on I can now tell you about balancing them.

Tank and seat off (again), I rigged up my dummy tank, propped up with a length of wood, and tied to the bike with household electrical cable: which is very handy as it flexes into any position.

This is all new stuff to me so Dave was over (again) armed with his vacuum gauges. Hoses connected and fuel turned on, I fired up the engine with the battery connected. It ticked over okay, but revving was a problem. Coughing and spluttering. With those tiny air screw caps removed, Dave set them to the factory setting of two turns out. This did make some difference. Next were the carb synch screws: we made some progress, but agreed we needed professional help.

I made a phone call to Richie Knight at RSK 2 Strokes and took it to him the following weekend. It’s always a pleasure to visit this man’s business. Richie made further adjustments, found one carb was flooding and some coil connections were corroded. It then made 52bhp on the dyno! I was really happy with that, especially as they didn’t fully rev it due to its 17-year lay-up. So it could have made more maybe. I think these engines are rated at 55-60bhp, but it’s now crisp and revving hard!

Next was to look at those rear indicators which didn’t line up. On closer inspection it looks like the left-hand fixing point had actually broken. Hence it was moved forward. I removed both and painted the stems black. I moved the right-hand indicator forward drilling the existing holes bigger, using new fixings for good looks.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 2020 من Classic Motorcycle Mechanics.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 2020 من Classic Motorcycle Mechanics.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS مشاهدة الكل
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Honda VFR750R - RC30

If there’s a more worshipped V4 out there, we’ve yet to see it: welcome to our reboot of the awesome VFR750R RC30…

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2021
Mountain tension!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Mountain tension!

Award-winning motorcycle engineer!

time-read
5 mins  |
September 2021
Fazer set to STUN!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Fazer set to STUN!

What do you get when you mix CRK’s lovely café racer kit to Yamaha’s budget middleweight and the recently-retired Martin Fox? Well, one helluva foxy Fazer!

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2021
Project Suzuki 1984 RG250 part 4 BRUNO BARES ALL!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Project Suzuki 1984 RG250 part 4 BRUNO BARES ALL!

This month, while we wait for backorder engine parts, we strip the chassis back to the bare frame, assess what is needed and plan the reassembly…

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2021
Project Kawasaki Z900 Stocker part 2 Ralph has a blast!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Project Kawasaki Z900 Stocker part 2 Ralph has a blast!

For the best finish on his Z900’s motor Ralph wants the best, so he visits Stephen Smethurst Casting Renovation to find out how it’s done properly.

time-read
10 mins  |
September 2021
Project Suzuki TS400 Part 8 Loom with a view!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Project Suzuki TS400 Part 8 Loom with a view!

We’re getting down into the nitty-gritty this time with component testing and loom building. What could go wrong?

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2021
Project Yamaha TX750 Part 12 A question of balance…
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Project Yamaha TX750 Part 12 A question of balance…

Only The Beach Boys had good vibrations… so what’s Mark been up to, to sort out the bad ones coming from his TX750?

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2021
Splitting links
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Splitting links

Ralph Ferrand works with tools all day long – he sells them too at bikerstoolbox.co.uk so he knows what works.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2021
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

STAVROS: PRINCE OF PRANKSTERS!

It’s probably fair to say that Stephen JamesParrish’s persona and overall levity throughout his life have muddied the waters as to just how good a bike racer he was back in the day.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2021
Metal magic!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Metal magic!

Ralph Ferrand works with tools all day long – he sells them too at bikerstoolbox co uk so he knows what works.. .

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2021