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Rebuilding the 650 Kat

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zooks
  • Start date Start date
Z

Zooks

Guest
Okay, so I've got the baby Kat home. Does 'baby' make it a kitten???


Anyhoo, I've taken numerous pics before I begin anything. The bike is generally in very good shape and is 100% complete (or close enough anyway). I'm going to strip it to bits and repaint the entire thing. The rear shaft needs work and it needs tyres etc anyway. The lump will remain intact providing it doesn't have any nasty noises when I get it running. The PO had it running a week ago (apparently) and offered to get it running for me when I picked it up. I didn't worry because the battery is rooted (Aussie slang) and it would have taken too long.

I should have it running in the next week or so and once I've heard it fire I'll pull it apart. I'm going to take my time with this since these aren't a very common bike anymore. I'll keep this thread going as I progress.

Here's the obligatory (before) pics -

GS650Katana.jpg


This is her as she sits ATM. Not bad condition but she needs some love.

GS650Katana2.jpg


The 'lump' needs a good clean up. Not sure if I'll go for clean look or repainted yet. Either way it will be stripped of black paint and put through the blasting cabinet. I'll decide once it's stripped.

Oh yeah, when looking at the pics, keep in mind that we use the proper date system down here. :D You know, one that's in chronological order - dd/mm/yyyy. LOL
 
GS650Katana4.jpg


I never realised before that these things came out with a factory fitted oil cooler. Never had one of them before. Do they need special maintenance??
 
GS650Katana5.jpg


I can't get it to spin, even with a new battery. I suspect this switch is just as corroded on the inside, stopping all current getting through. The master cyclinder looks to be junk. I'll clean it all up and see what I can salvage.
 
I'm excited to see your 'baby kat' come together. at least yours is assembled.

My baby kat came like this with the rest in cardboard boxes, plastic bags, or missing all together.

motorcycle%20001.jpg
 
Nice looking bike, looking forward to the updates as they are available.

Zooks said:
Oh yeah, when looking at the pics, keep in mind that we use the proper date system down here. :D You know, one that's in chronological order - dd/mm/yyyy. LOL
Click to expand...
Not only are you guys "down under", but you do things backward, too.
"Proper chronological order" actually goes from least precise to most precise. That means that the proper order would be:
Year, Month, Day, Hour, Minute, Second.

I have been using this system for years, especially when using dates to organize folders on the computer. Since the computer alphabetizes folders, it then keeps all of the same-year stuff together, then sorts by month within that year, etc. Otherwise, (using the example of your pictures) you would have everything from the third day of every month grouped together, which would then be sorted by month, then finally the year. :-k

.
 
I knew someone would take the bait. :)

You can get the computer to sort by whatever method you want. All I have to do is 'sort by date taken' , 'sort by date saved' , 'sort by date uploaded' etc and it works fine.

mm/dd/yyyy just never seems to make sense to anyone but Americans but we know how you guys love to be different. :rolleyes: LOL


btw - I am of course just kiddin' around.
 
Zooks said:
..... but we know how you guys love to be different......
Click to expand...

Well there's the pot calling the kettle black....since when were Aussies known for complying with anything.....;)

As per everyone else, keep the updates coming as you get on - looking forward to seeing how this one turns out.
 
Thanks guys.

As far as 'complying' is concerned - well this isn't about us Aussies, it's about harassing the Yanks for their weird ways. :D

Anyhoo, back on topic. I plan to get the bike into my workshop tomorrow (need to tidy a bit first) and then see if we can fire the beasty up. I just want (need) to hear it run before I strip it down. If I know the motor is good I can pull it out in one piece and just do the carbs etc. However, if I find that it sounds like a concrete mixer I'll pull it apart whilst it's out and up on the bench.

First job, pull the start switch apart and see if we have 'lectricity running through there. :confused:
 
Hey Zooks, nice project there. If the front master turns out pants, i have a decent "looking" one here, not tested but it's yours if you want it. Also, i have a set of original bars, black but rubbed in places. Got a few other bits too but it looks mostly there from the pics. All yours if you want em. Just come n collect whenever you want, hahahahahah. I don't mind sorting post out if you can't make it! :D
 
I'd love to come over and ride some of those twisty country roads that you have over there.

Picture005-5.jpg
 
Last edited:
Zooks said:
GS650Katana5.jpg


I can't get it to spin, even with a new battery. I suspect this switch is just as corroded on the inside, stopping all current getting through. The master cyclinder looks to be junk. I'll clean it all up and see what I can salvage.
Click to expand...

I'd try flippin the switch to "RUN".....;) :D :p



And, BTW....I date everything with this format "4 Apr 09"

That's how I was taught in the service...
 
I actually prefer the American way (for once), because it's how you say it, I never say "the fourth of April nineteen ninety five", I say April fourth blah blah", so I like to write it that way. Of course in Canada that just messes everyone up for the first 12 days of every month...
 
Zooks said:
I'd love to come over and ride some of those twisty country roads that you have over there.

Picture005-5.jpg
Click to expand...
I could never figure out how you guys ride at all, being upside down and all-don't you get dizzy?:D
 
zooks, you may know this but at z1enterprises you can get a replacement front m/c reservoir and cap - i've just replaced mine and it's looking "sweet as" :)
 
Flaggo, that pic is taken in England. Same hemisphere you're in.

Thanks for the tip psyguy.
 
Freaky set of circumstances happened to me the other day. I posted my 'restoration' on the VJMC (Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club) Australian web forum.

Within 24 hours I get a message from a guy in another city saying - "I owned that bike 10 years ago".

I was shocked, to say the least!! :eek: What are the chances???

Anyway, he sent me a pic from the early 90's just after he'd rebuilt it.

katana_0001original.jpg


Time has not been kind to it, that's for sure. 15+ years later and it needs a lot of work. :(
 
Zooks said:
As far as 'complying' is concerned - well this isn't about us Aussies, it's about harassing the Yanks for their weird ways. :D
Click to expand...
In other words ... you're just "Yanking" our chain. :eek:



donimo said:
Of course in Canada that just messes everyone up for the first 12 days of every month...
Click to expand...
OK, but that's only less than half the time.

What it is that messes you up the rest of the time? :-k

:D

.
 
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