• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

1984 Katana 7/11

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
Well, discussions were had and arrangements made yesterday here at home, and fortunately I'll be able to grab a brand spankers tank in January. Yep, still available, and in my mind not too expensive either for what it is. You can buy them all painted in 13L with decals ready to use, or you can pay less and have them in an incorrect silver ready to paint, and that option suits me just fine as I'd hate to buy one all ready with decals etc. just to have to remove them to paint it.

That option did make me stop and think for a minute about my paint scheme, but aside from the fact I don't think the straight original 13L alone will look right with the red frame, I will need to paint the front cowl, mudguard, all the side covers, and tail piece anyway so it's not going to save time or money.
 
Wow..that's amazing that a new tank is still available. That blows me away, Pete! Good on ya for pulling the trigger for one. You'll be happy you did when it's all said and done.
 
I've actually been surprised at just how much stuff is still available brand new for the Kat! The dealer most of us use here is somewhat of a Kat specialist (Mick Hone) and is owned by the man himself and he's an ex-racer.

The tanks are genuine ridgey didge Suzuki items and can be had either painted in the correct 13L with decals applied ready to go, or like I'll get which is painted in an incorrect silver colour for about 70% of the cost of the ready to go version.

An aluminium Yoshi tank... mmmm... that would be tasty indeed! They're about three times the price though...
 
Not too surprising. Considering the Japanese market was getting new Kats until the year 2000, or thereabouts.
There are shops in Japan dedicated to only Katanas.
 
Last edited:
True! I keep forgetting there were still JDM models for years after they stopped exporting them. I actually wouldn't mind a little Kat either, a little 400 version would go nicely alongside an 1100 I feel.
 
I didn't end up getting much time at all on the weekend but I at least got the sanding finished.

Now it's a matter of finding the low spots and timber screw holes and doing some filling, then sand those back, putty, then a guide coat to see how smooth it all is. Then it'll be ready for primer and paint.

Untitled by starpoint73, on Flickr

Untitled by starpoint73, on Flickr
 
Looks very smooth, almost shiny in the pics, Pete. What grit sandpaper has left the finish on there as of now? If it's anything finer then 180, you might have problems with adhesion for the filler. I wouldn't be the least bit afraid of having an 80 grit finish over the entire fairing before, both, applying the filler and then primer. It really needs a good tooth for those steps. It sure is taking shape nicely.
 
Cheers Larry! That entire surface has been done with the 80 grit wet/dry paper as well as the initial work with the 36 grit discs, so there should be plenty of good grip for the filler and primer. Anything shiny I imagine would be from being a touch damp after giving it a wipe down with a damp cloth. I'll be using wax and grease remover prior to the filler too.

My plan is a layer of blade putty before the primer to give that overall smooth finish, I think I may have found a high spot on one of the patches I missed so I'm keen to get the filler and putty on sooner rather than later so I can get the guide coat on and get that figured out.

That's pretty much the same process I used on the 450's tail piece and it seemed to work out ok for a smooth finish, although this time I'll be taking a little more time and care as I'm not in as big a rush...
 
I hope so Larry! Haven't touched it any further just yet, picked up the dodgy tank earlier in the week (yeah it's bad) and had to get the 450 towed home from work due to a screw in the rear tyre another night so I haven't been able to get back to it yet... fingers crossed I'll have something resembling progress over the weekend!
 
Body filler is finally done!

Doesn't look a whole lot different to before on the right side, but there're some small holes, air pockets, and low spots in the fibreglass that have been filled.

Untitled by starpoint73, on Flickr

More on the left side, especially on the patches. It looks like I'd managed to sand a bit too much out of the little patch on the curved edge, and somehow I'd lost a bit of definition of the line in the concave patch at the rear. I think that was the shape of the moulding rather than the sanding though.

Those two isses are sorted and they now feel symmetrical with the shape of the right side.

Untitled by starpoint73, on Flickr

Blade putty and a guide coat is next, then it'll be ready for primer.
 
You can put "crisp" edges on with your filler, Pete, then soften them while block sanding the primer. Getting it all one color again is so rewarding.
 
Yep Steve, most definitely! Although I didn't wear one when wet sanding the filler. That's the one bonus I noticed with wet sanding is there's a lot less dust around, although I really should've worn one even with the filler sanding.

Good to know Larry and yep it will be great to get a single colour on it at last!
 
Your at the point where I spray primer! I find it easier to see defects when it's all one color and for me the one color gives me initiative!
 
Well, that's somewhat the plan with the blade putty and guide coat... I'll get some putty on and lightly sand back the lumpy bits, and that should have it all pretty much putty colour. Then I'll add a guide coat and sand it all back to aim for that all over smooth finish.
 
pete said:
I've actually been surprised at just how much stuff is still available brand new for the Kat! The dealer most of us use here is somewhat of a Kat specialist (Mick Hone) and is owned by the man himself and he's an ex-racer.

The tanks are genuine ridgey didge Suzuki items and can be had either painted in the correct 13L with decals applied ready to go, or like I'll get which is painted in an incorrect silver colour for about 70% of the cost of the ready to go version.

An aluminium Yoshi tank... mmmm... that would be tasty indeed! They're about three times the price though...
Click to expand...

Only 3 times as much?
At least they throw in the fuel line. haha.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/YOSHIMURA-...162751876338?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10
 
Oh and fuel cap and keys! That's a bargain! Although that's $US so it's probably about 4x as much as the genuine... :)

I ducked down to a mate's the other night and we drilled and tapped the lower crankcase to repair the broken cam chain guide holder post, and last night I got blade putty on the bottom of the cowl.

No pic's of either at this point but I plan on getting the rest of the blade putty done today and should finish up the post repair, will post pic's tomorrow.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
1982 GS1000 Z US Version
Replies
10
Views
218
slayer61
slayer61
T
1979 GS750 points
Replies
1
Views
77
Big T
Big T
oldGSfan
Something hinky with GS1100E starter or starter clutch?
Replies
16
Views
336
oldGSfan
oldGSfan
cowboyup3371
Gear Update Time
Replies
4
Views
119
salty_monk
salty_monk
dandypop
New Member, New to the GS World, Custom Build
Replies
4
Views
118
dandypop
dandypop
Back
Top