View Full Version : 1980 ltd kz440 build progress!


rodman_38
02-09-2009, 12:10 AM
Okay I got a 1980 ltd440 dad gave me. Grandpa gave it to dad and dad gave it to me it's in rather good condition for the age, it has been sitting for fourteen years so some TLC won't hurt. My biggest concern is the engine that came factory in it dropped a valve so we bought a used one of a local guy and threw it in there (fourteen years ago) and found out the wiring didn't match. pissed off dad parked well here I am bored as hell on my Sunday afternoon and thought I'd break it out and see if I couldn't get her running so I'm prolly gonna have questions on wiring. I think the new engine is a 81 or 82 so the coils didn't match up.
Pics:

rodman_38
02-09-2009, 12:19 AM
Well a few pics!

rodman_38
02-09-2009, 12:21 AM
and some more!

rodman_38
02-09-2009, 02:50 AM
okay I got fire and a pretty blue spark, So know I have the carburator broke down being cleaned inside the laquer thinner overnight. Tomorrow is the moment of truth!!!

Dragone#19
02-09-2009, 06:24 PM
http://www.kawasakiforums.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1267&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1234142448 (http://www.kawasakiforums.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1267&d=1234142448)

That looks pretty nasty. lol What is the progress for today?

rodman_38
02-09-2009, 08:10 PM
just got home from school had the carb is in peices, sitting n some grease and wax remover, so i'm about to go out in the shop and clean and put it back together hopfully i get that done today! but it's going good I m still happy I got spark!

rodman_38
02-10-2009, 01:21 AM
well got one together, and the left side is sitting in wax and grease remover! I'ts been soaking for a good three hours I might go clean up on it a little kind of my goal for today was get those together.

rodman_38
02-10-2009, 01:16 PM
Got the cabrs togther and syncronized last night off to school afterwards I see if she runs!

deej
02-10-2009, 05:09 PM
Well this is a bit late rodman, but welcome to the forums. We are all waiting to see your results. Its good to work on a project, especially when your still young enough to appreciate it. Keep us informed. Be careful though as a caution that I learned from personal experience. How is the battery? Any bike that has sat for a couple of years (or 14) needs a new battery. I bought a bike once that had been sitting for 2 years, and the battery was shot. It was a Yamaha 650 and while I got the bike started jumping it off a vehicle, the battery was more than dead.

I jumped on the bike, started riding it home across town and the first stop sign I cam to I slowly started to apply the brakes and the engine died instantly. Later I found out that the circuit failed since the battery couldn't carry the load, anyway as I tried to pull in the clutch the plates wouldn't release, probably gummed up from sitting, and I skidded off the road, and over the handlebars. Not fun as 30 mph :(


Always start with a new battery, or at the very least a battery that you know is good. That is my insight for the day.;)

rodman_38
02-10-2009, 08:15 PM
ha well thankx I have a brand new one on the charger right now, but yeah Ive been working on bikes and stuff since i was like ten I'm sixteen know. But I didnt exactly rebuild the carbs by the book I just got some copper wire off a wire brush and cleaned everything. It's clean I just hope I didnt leave any thing small out I'm about to go put them in and see if it will start well after the batt charges that is.

rodman_38
02-14-2009, 04:51 PM
Got it to start just poured some gas in the cylinder and yes she fired up for a bit! So last night I rattled some bolts in the gas tank to break off fourteen years of rust, ran some new gas line, and today I might do a little more!

rodman_38
02-16-2009, 03:35 AM
no progress today!