1981 Kawasaki GPz550: Restoration

[dweller]

Wow, great job. Really cool bike! How did the 30 pilots work?

As happy as I am to see the bike finally assembled and running I'm even more excited to get your report once you dial things in and get a chance to thrash it about a bit. I guess the good news with jetting is the pods should make pulling and reinstalling the carbs much easier.

[Big T]

Looking good!

Now, how about a video of it running?

[srsupertrap]

I purchased a Craftsman 18mm spark plug socket to remove the NGK D8EA spark plug which works nicely. I have ridden the GPz about 10 miles around town. Everything seems to be working well enough transmission shifts through the gears, no engine noise, charging system charges and handles nimbly. Like so many 4 cylinder bikes the carbs need adjustment because it does not idle. When I initially disassembled the GPz in 2013 the plug were fouled, not much changed in 2018 when I started it up. Perhaps worse @ 5100 Ft. I initially thought carb synchronization but checking with my TwinMax Electronic Carb synchronizer the drill bit settings was pretty close. The Mikuni Flatslides had 32.5 pilots which might have been the factory jets but those jets are too rich even with fuel screws 2 full turns out as evident below



Pulled the Mikunis and swapped out the 32.5 pilot jets and installed a set of size 30 pilot jets.



I will start with fuel air screws 1.5 turns which hopefully will make the GPz idle which sounds about right?

[Nessism]

This might be a Corey or Ed-K750 question. What size spark plug wrench do you use for the NGK D8EA spark plug? The only tool which fits is the spark plug wrench from the OEM tool kit. I would like to torque the spark plugs correctly.

Sorry Steve, can't help you with that question. My bike takes regular B8ES plugs and a normal plug wrench fits.

[2BRacing]

..... What size spark plug wrench do you use for the NGK D8EA spark plug? The only tool which fits is the spark plug wrench from the OEM tool kit. I would like to torque the spark plugs correctly.

The GS650G I am working on at the moment also uses NGK D8EA sparkplugs. I had to buy a deep ("long") 18 mm socket (11/16) for the sparkplugs.

Well done! Fantastic job on your GPz!

[Big T]

Steve - at last! Can't wait to see some pics from the road.

And, thanks again for that nut. You wouldn't have believed the look on The Collectors face when I returned the other one to him. i don't think anyone's ever borrowed any hardware from him and returned it.

[GSXR7ED]

What a beautiful bike! Thanks for posting the video...nice clean garage too!


Ed

[srsupertrap]

Thanks Roger, Larry, Ray, Steve, Corey & Ed for the support and help over the years! I took the day off and unfortunately a ran/snow mix today here in Colorado. The weekend will be nicer weather.

This might be a Corey or Ed-K750 question. What size spark plug wrench do you use for the NGK D8EA spark plug? The only tool which fits is the spark plug wrench from the OEM tool kit. I would like to torque the spark plugs correctly.

[Nessism]

Congratulations Steve! Hope it rides as good as it looks!

Awesome Steve! Looks like it is not only a runner, but a show winner too.

On the exhast, just remember, loud pipes saves lives.

[steve murdoch]

Fantastic sound!
Be rightfully proud of a job well done.

Sounds great Steve, just a bit better than the last try! Congrats on a job well done.

[nvr2old]

Couldn't be happier for you! It sounds great and looks like it just came off the show room floor. Pat yourself on the back for your perseverance and total dedication to seeing it through to completion. Nicely done.

[Burque73]

Wow! Must be such a good feeling to hear it run. Superb job on the restoration!