FOAK: 1982 Kawie KZ550 C3 LTD Restoration

I am performing a gradual "Rustoration" of this antique and the
experience of you folks is grately apprecitated.

I fix the old bike, ride it some, fix it some more, ride it some more,
etc.

So far I have taught myself how to rebuild the vacuum-operated
petcock, (For TOG - that's what we septic call a "tap") and I have
successfully changed the clutch cable and will soon be changing the
throttle cables.

I have purchased four pod-type air filters for the four carbs which
means that I will remove the orginal air filter box.

The air filter box has a rubber tube that runs to the transmission and
serves as the crankcase/transmission breather or vent.

What sort of item should I install as a breather cap to replace the
hose? I believe that I could also install a tube that goes close to
the drive chain and that any oily mist from the tube will lube the
chain.

Is this correct? Anything else I should consider?

Thanks in advance,

Biker Dude

 

If the exhaust system is two mufflers, with two 2-into-1 pipes,
removing the airbox is not such a bad deal, but motorcycles with 4-
into-1 suffer mid range flat spots without an airbox to compensate.

If you ride at high speed using a lot of throttle for miles and miles,
you'll need to install main jets that are about two sizes larger.

If you just cruise around using small amounts of throttle and never
ride using full throttle, you won't need larger main jets, which cost
about $4.00 to $5.00 apiece.

It's mind boggling how many riders don't understand that you don't
need bigger mains if you never use full throttle.

K&N makes small breather filters that have a spigot that fits into a
1/2-inch or 5/8-inch rubber hose.

That's not a bad idea.

 

I had that arrangement on my first Yam XS650.

 

If you want to just ride it, leave the airbox alone. There is no advantage
to individual filters as it involves carb tuning that you are ill equipped
to do.

 

Wise words. Even if top-posted.

 

Carbs are a pain even when you know what you're doing...

Worth learning how to do a chain. Especially if you can get someone to
stupidvise your efforts at first.

There is (was?) a KZ email list. Don't remember if they consider yours
one of those or not. They were a very helpful group when I had a
700LTD.

Also, there ought to be 100's of 'how to work on a chain' videos or FAQs
on the net. Check google.

Mark

 

'Stupidvise'. What a splendid word.

Agree absolutely - it's much better to have someone say: "And this is
how you do it. Now you have a go..." and to stand by in case things go
wrong. And with old bikes, they often do, even if it's only something
like tackling a badly seized component that the manual says you should
simply "undo".