Z550

[jimmock]

Thanks!. I too had an AP50. For a whole year the only conversations I had revolved around how much faster it was than a fizzy.
It seized every other day and I pushed it further than I rode it.

Me too.

Mine done 51 mph on the flat with a slight tail wind!!!

[Mark Stratton]

Yes, I've heard they can be a bit sensistie. Sounds like it carried over to the ephyr 550 as well.
But anyway, I found the problem. This tool managed to omit the big o-ring from the top of the sump pan. The only thing I can think of is that it's the same as the one on the oil filter plate and I threw the original thinking it was from there.

I done exactly the same on my Z1000 when I rebuilt that and had exactly the same oil light on when ticking over. Took me bloody ages to find it!!

[Bonneville]

Managed to pick up a NOS front guard on German Ebay. Not bad for 15 Euro but wrong colour:-



The tank and plastics all needed loads of work but here in primer:-







I love Spraymax 2K....

[Bonneville]

Finally got aroung to putting some paint on this:-



Spraymax aerosol 2K clear over black base. I don't even bother loading the gun nowadays as this stuff is amazing.

[DavidZ1R]

Looking tip top, nearly there, wait till you get it out on the road, great bike to ride

[Bonneville]

Thanks.

I'm looking forward to riding it again (it's been nearly 30 years since this was last on the road). I seem to remember it handling well. Light and flickable but stable (or that might just be nostalgia).

[Bonneville]

After a fight with the fuel tap (2 different rebuild kits later)....





Bit of blue smoke from LH pipe on start but hoping that's the hone and not the (new, pattern) stem seals. Other than that, just needs an MOT and it's resurrected.

[Nosher903]

Very tidy. Well done. You don't see too many of those about anymore. The motor should settle after a good thrash and an oil change.

I had the bores honed and new rings put in mine. I was told to run it up on cheap old mineral oil and wring it's neck on the throttle but not rev over 6k. That way the bores don't just glaze over.

[Richard Q]

Nice job, you just need to get out and enjoy it now

Just one question, why is this thread in the bottom shed?

Richard

[Bonneville]

Thanks. It was moved out of 'Projects' by moderator as not a Z1.

[DavidZ1R]

In the words of Mr Keegan, love it , love it! Love the colour scheme, the smoke will settle after a few miles, get the mot and get out there, they are great bikes, wait for the admirers, well done Bonny, at least that's two restored

[Bonneville]

Ah, thank you, sir, and thanks for the inspiration in the first place. I prefer your colour as that was how mine looked when I bought it in 1980-something but I wanted to do it myself in the end and the candy defeated this amateur painter.
Now it's finished I'm tempted to do another around some of those lovely Sanctuary style parts on Webike for the Z400FX.

[Mr Bump]

I try not to do nostalgia, but I do have a soft spot for these things. My first 'proper' bike was the late GPz badged one out of someone's back garden. I did miles and miles on it, including dispatching too. It ended up nato green with twin 2cv headlights.

It got very tired and I replaced it with a 550 unitrack that I got knocked off of within less than a week. I've got a 10 inch scar on my forearm from that one.

I ended up putting the unitrack wheels, brakes, back end and electrics on the old bike. Good fun. Really willing revvy engine.

It got so everything except the engine got so worn out and rotten that I sold the engine to a mate and binned the rest. I had my money's worth out of it though.

Very nice rebuild mate, I hope you enjoy using it again.

Olly

[Bonneville]

Great story. Mine also served as a despatch hack. It tried to kill me many times and I suppose that's why I kept it (like kidney stones in a jar on the mantelpiece).

[Pigford]

I think they are real smart little bikes - great "mini-me" versions of their bigger sibblings

As mentioned above, run it on cheap mineral first couple hundred miles then change to decent stuff (not full synth); should sort it.