Well it has been a month since I last posted, and several months since I last posted something about the KZ. But guess what.... we have ignition!
When I bought the bike I was told it runs, but has a faulty starter motor. The lad offered to bump start it to prove it to me but I wasn't fussed - it was going to get pulled to bits anyway. Then I started to think perhaps I should make sure it runs ok before starting to spend money on it. So I made the decision to repair the starter motor. It was filthy when I got in to it, 34 years of dirt and grime. A £20 repair set off Wemoto should get it going again, and it did. When I plugged it back in to the bike it was happily whirring around.
So it was time to connect the chain, seal the cover, and give it a go. I ran out of battery so had to jump it off the Fazer, but it started showing signs of life. Little warbles here and there, and then the crack of it firing up like it had never been stood still. Beautiful.
So now that I know it runs, it's time to start and pull to pieces. In all my excitement, I'd left my extra long fuel hose touching the exhaust header. It was the wife who noticed the smoking (I was totally oblivious as I was so excited) - if it had gone any longer it would have made it through the hose and started dumping out a full fuel tank, close call!
When I bought the bike I was told it runs, but has a faulty starter motor. The lad offered to bump start it to prove it to me but I wasn't fussed - it was going to get pulled to bits anyway. Then I started to think perhaps I should make sure it runs ok before starting to spend money on it. So I made the decision to repair the starter motor. It was filthy when I got in to it, 34 years of dirt and grime. A £20 repair set off Wemoto should get it going again, and it did. When I plugged it back in to the bike it was happily whirring around.
So it was time to connect the chain, seal the cover, and give it a go. I ran out of battery so had to jump it off the Fazer, but it started showing signs of life. Little warbles here and there, and then the crack of it firing up like it had never been stood still. Beautiful.
So now that I know it runs, it's time to start and pull to pieces. In all my excitement, I'd left my extra long fuel hose touching the exhaust header. It was the wife who noticed the smoking (I was totally oblivious as I was so excited) - if it had gone any longer it would have made it through the hose and started dumping out a full fuel tank, close call!