KX Riders
Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: flyingfitz on January 13, 2010, 02:29:59 AM
-
Have been looking forward to this for a long time.
Pretty much committed to the project at this point!
Fitz
-
Hey,
Mine kind'a looked like that when I bought it too! Well except my engine was in a few boxes of it's own...
Just like Home Depot... You can do it, We can help!
Tuck\o/
-
Flyingfitz, looks like quite a job ahead. One benefit is that you can do everything right from the get go and you will have an awesome looking and dead reliable machine to enjoy. Keep us posted of your progress with lots of details and pics. B.O.
-
Nice project. Keep us posted on the progress. Is that a YZ426F on the trailer?
-
Thanks for the support. Dropped off the frame, subframe, swing arm and misc hardware at the powdercoater today. Will post periodic updates.
Have purchased bearings for front and rear wheels, swing arm, shock linkage, rear shock upper and lower, steering neck, and bushings and seals for the front fork. That should tighten it up for another 15 years!
You have a keen eye. It is a 2001 WR426. Gotta have that kickstand for chasing my 9 year old around the woods! I'm looking for a reasonably priced kickstand for the K-5. Would like a bolt on, but do not want to spend 150 at moto billet. Looking for something designed like the WR.
Fitz
-
Progress from the powdercoater. Will pick it up Monday.
-
One more.
-
Can't wait to see it finished. Coming along great. thanks.
-
While rebuilding the forks today I had an interesting find: The short rod just under the top clicker on the left fork tube is different from the right. Also there was an additional nut threaded on the main rod at the top of the stack just under where the top cap threads onto the rod. I removed the extra nut to make the spring tension the same. Upon reassemby it was obvious that the rebound rate was significantly different between the two tubes.
Any takers ?????
Fitz
-
Powdercoat looks great. Curious how much that cost? I'm thinking about getting both of mine done now lol
-
While rebuilding the forks today I had an interesting find: The short rod just under the top clicker on the left fork tube is different from the right. Also there was an additional nut threaded on the main rod at the top of the stack just under where the top cap threads onto the rod. I removed the extra nut to make the spring tension the same. Upon reassemby it was obvious that the rebound rate was significantly different between the two tubes.
Any takers ?????
Fitz
Fits,
Racetech sold Cartridge Rod Stiffners back in the day which was equivalent to about 2-3 of the nuts in thickness (I still have a set some where will post pics if you need). If the rebound is softer in one leg it could be a couple of things. You stated rebuilding the forks, did you check the valve body stack for any debris & bleed the cartridges? It probably is the cartridge rod bushing causing the lack of rebound and if you "Stroke" the cartridge rod while assembled (with no spring) you should have equal amount of rebound per leg.
Hope some of this helps.
DoldGuy
-
Powdercoat was $175. Included prep and coat of the Frame, Subframe, Swing Arm, Upper/Lower Clamp and Bar Hardware. T&M Powdercoating in Alton, IL. (Down Near St. Louis). Quick Turnaround. The guy is a motorcycle rider and is familiar with making sure that the coating does not go in bearing recesses or threaded areas. I am very happy whith the job. If anyone is interested he has a website.
Fitz
-
DoldGuy. Thanks for the post. I think that I have those stiffeners plus maybe the oem nut too in the one side. Cartridges were bled. Can't figure out the difference in the short rod. Clymer shows 1 part for 1990 on. Will research a oem diagram online soon.
We figured out something was goofy when we tore the second tube apart. We just did damage control on the top trying to figure things out without a taking tube 1 totally apart again. I think that I need to disassemble both tubes completely and compare them side by side to see what I really have and then start over.
Fitz
-
Powdercoat was $175. Included prep and coat of the Frame, Subframe, Swing Arm, Upper/Lower Clamp and Bar Hardware. T&M Powdercoating in Alton, IL. (Down Near St. Louis). Quick Turnaround. The guy is a motorcycle rider and is familiar with making sure that the coating does not go in bearing recesses or threaded areas. I am very happy whith the job. If anyone is interested he has a website.
Fitz
Sounds like a great deal. I thought it would be more than that. Now I'm going to look into it. Thanks.
-
Another surprise.... Piston worn and minor scoring on cyl wall.... Was hoping for the cosmetic frame and bearing resto this year and the engine next. Looks like it will be all happen at once.
-
Dropped my motor off at Stewart's shop last Friday. It was a great experience. I was met with a handshake and a smile by Stewart and his Crew. They are really nice people. Got the guided tour of the inside of my motor and the shop. Learned a ton. Saw some great memorabilia and some trick stuff. Sat on the world record bike and took pictures with my family. Held the coveted overdrive gears in my hand. Stewart even let me take one of his tricked out bikes down the alley behind the shop! I could write a short story about the experience and what I learned. Maybe when I get caught up I will and post it in the riding stories section.
I can't wait to get the motor back. The frame is rolling now and looks great. New bearings front to back, top to bottom. The fork issue has been resolved. I will try and post some pictures soon. Hopefully I will have the bike up and running by the end of the month. All the remaining cosmetic resto is on hold for now. New plastic, graphics, seat cover and bars are taking a back seat to the motor.
Thanks again for all the hospitality Stewart, Crazy Dave and Jon.
-
I'm sure people just think I'm Blowing smoke about the secret lab and the Proprietor...
The fact of the matter is these guys are Real. Honest.
Tuck\o/
-
Oh yeah, you are going to be happy with that. They go the extra mile to make it a very thorough rebuild. I want to see the thread in Riding Stories. That would have been super cool to show up at the seceret lab and sit on The Bike, to meet everyone and see the shop. Wow, he broke the motor down, while you were there? Thats cool. Looking forward to the follow up story. :-D
-
Looking forward to getting it all back together. Stewart is very busy and it is taking a little longer than expected to get the motor back. I am sure that it will be worth the wait when it is all said and done.
Fitz
-
A couple of pics with the record bike.
-
A shot of my motor an hour after arriving.
-
The roller anxiously awaiting the engine.
-
The swing arm color is right on for my taste. I would like to get the factory "Kawasaki" graphic after I get the bike up and running.
-
Lookin great. I'm liking the black frame a lot. I think I'm going to have mine powder coated gunmetal if I can. Keep up the good work.
-
Bars, brakes, chainguide, airbox and a little more plastic for the mockup.
-
Talked to Stewart yesterday. My engine is done! He is planning on shipping it in the next couple of days.
Fitz
-
Cheater, you copied my bike......lol
Glad everything worked out for you.
Kurt
I'm a fan of the black frame also:
-
Btw,
I put all the plastic's on my bike W/O the motor so I could see the pic. in my head sitting on the bike stand also.....lol
Can I borrow the SRT??
Kurt
-
Iceman those wheels are awesome!
Fitz
-
I should have gone with the black rim's...but what the heck, it's been done to death. Those are the DNA-xtrem rims and cost about half of what the excell's cost. Had them for a year and don't even have a scratch on them yet.
Can't wait to see the pic' in your head sitting on the stand when you done.
I went with the FX stickers to stay with the green ,white, black.
Did not like the pink and blue they put on the bikes when the came out.
Kurt
-
First Ride Today!!
Took the bike out for some proving runs today. At first it ws a bust. Pipe packing went arai and partially plugged the silencer. Found the problem, put the silencer back on without the packing and went riding.
The compression release works great. The only issue is it tends to pop out sometimes even if the bike doesnt start. Overall a great improvement.
The Stewart motor runs smooth and pulls hard. Still dialing the carb in but it is great for a first day.
The rev-loc is really cool. It is totally different riding but it has major advantages in the woods. I find myself over riding the rev loc sometimes unnecessarily. I kind of forget its there and will need some time to re-program my left hand after 37 years of riding with a clutch! I like the idea of the override if for nothing else than a stuck throttle. Without the override a stuck throttle could land you in a world of hurt really fast. It also allows you to keep the bike cleaned out without having it in neutral. After I get some more riding time I might try adjusting it so it engages at a lower rpm. Traction can be metered with the throttle really well. I say with the throttle but I suspect that the clutch is doing its thing below the surface especially at low speeds. In any case, the technique to riding is different but very effective. While on a practice hill, I kind of fell into a pattern of working the throttle in short stabs to keep the rpm up a little and the tire hooked up. Kind of like jockeying a standard clutch for control, only with the other hand????
Overall I am really excited about this bike. I will continue to dial things in over the coming weeks. I will post pictures when the new plastic arrives!
Thanks to all who contribute knowledge to this site. Dave for administering it. Stewart for building the motor. Lytle Racing Group for all the help on the bearings and chain/sprocket. Mike for advice and help on the fork issues. Travis for the awesome powdercoating. Most of all my riding bud Ryan for being there for the whole process start to finish.
Fitz
-
Fitz,
Glad to see the project finished & you had a chance to appreciate all of your work (& $$) invested. Revloc sounds like the ticket for woods / trail riding. Think your compression release will work even better with more time on the motor as mine would do the same if it just farted but didn't start, but has gotten better with the little time that's on the fresh motor.
Keep us posted on your next rides & post some pics of the Big Smile!
DoldGuy
-
Slowly but surely the plan is coming together! Tank and shroud graphics next.
Fitz
-
man your bikes is ganna be sweet. cant wait to see the finished product! :-D
-
A couple more. Some detail on the frame guard mod to make the kickstand fit.
Fitz
-
Okay I need one of those fender stickers.... Where do I get one?
-
I talked him out of them when I dropped the motor off at his shop. He was very reluctant to give them up. I didn't get the sticker until the motor came in the mail. It looks to be a decal works product. I think the guys who built the record bike had them made when they did the cardboard robot graphics. If you are into bootlegging you could probably order some from decal works.
Fitz
-
Looks nice! 737? Race number, or?
-
Thanks. No race number. I'm a recreational rider. I drive a 737 at work.
Fitz
-
X's 2 on the great looks!
You did a great job, hope she gives you years of service.
Tuck\o/