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Saving a '81 KZ750-E

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Saving a '81 KZ750-E 06 Feb 2020 21:41 #818741

  • calum
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Emblems turned out good. If you want gold letters you'd have to put a few coats of gold on before the black, with just one or two coats you'll sand right through both black and gold - as you already know ;) It helps if the letters have already been sanded, then you will have a perfectly even black layer that you can take off with 600-1000 grit (using a sanding block!).

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Saving a '81 KZ750-E 06 Feb 2020 21:46 #818742

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I'm throwing in the towel and going with silver letters. It will still look fine with the Kawasaki green racing colors. Tank emblems gold, side covers silver. Boils down to the best I can pull off. Growing old is so much fun... :(
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'81 KZ-750 E2
'87 Suzuki Savage 650 Street Tracker

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Saving a '81 KZ750-E 06 Feb 2020 21:53 #818743

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Skidmark wrote: Growing old is so much fun... :(


Ha :D
At least you'll have something to do next winter - spending 3 months painting the letters gold ;)

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Saving a '81 KZ750-E 07 Feb 2020 16:20 #818785

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I am realizing these handlebar control switches are too far gone. I cannot remove the switches from the housing without breaking the mechanisms. I don't mind doing wiring and crimping, so there are several options out there. Thanks again for the suggestions!
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'81 KZ-750 E2
'87 Suzuki Savage 650 Street Tracker

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Saving a '81 KZ750-E 08 Feb 2020 12:21 #818825

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Satin clear finish is on. I'm happy with the result.



Now we are getting dressed up for the party! The cylinder block and head did not come back from the machine shop as clean as needed for paint. Unfortunarely the valves, springs, etc. can't get blast media in them. I will use the valve cover as a masking device and try to be as careful as I can. The block wasn't an issue to mask up.

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'81 KZ-750 E2
'87 Suzuki Savage 650 Street Tracker
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Saving a '81 KZ750-E 08 Feb 2020 12:27 #818826

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I do have a fin with a broken corner. I don't think it will cause any issues.

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'81 KZ-750 E2
'87 Suzuki Savage 650 Street Tracker
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Saving a '81 KZ750-E 08 Feb 2020 14:36 #818834

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I had the same problem. I got it welded and then filed it back into shape. Really glad I got it done as it looks as good as new after painting. It would mean you'd have to redo the masking but it will be worth it if you are as picky as I am. Purely cosmetic, though.

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Saving a '81 KZ750-E 08 Feb 2020 14:47 #818837

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I don't have the piece that broke off. It was gone when I got the bike.
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'81 KZ-750 E2
'87 Suzuki Savage 650 Street Tracker

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Saving a '81 KZ750-E 08 Feb 2020 14:48 #818838

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I guess I could have someone build it up with filler rod.
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'81 KZ-750 E2
'87 Suzuki Savage 650 Street Tracker

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Saving a '81 KZ750-E 08 Feb 2020 15:16 #818844

  • Nessism
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You could try high temp epoxy after filing a piece of aluminum to fit. There was a thread here recently where someone said they glued on broken fins and they held up fine.

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Saving a '81 KZ750-E 08 Feb 2020 15:42 #818852

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I had the piece but the guy who did the welding couldn't use it - too thin. He just built it up for me and I filed it back down.

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Saving a '81 KZ750-E 08 Feb 2020 16:22 #818855

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That is a much smaller chip, calum. I think it would be too much to build up, and too thin. I may try the epoxy a piece on method.
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'81 KZ-750 E2
'87 Suzuki Savage 650 Street Tracker

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