New Project Z1000J

[Gary]

Dear all,
Just like to introduce my next project, after selling my Z900-A4 I missed having a bike and after being inspired by some of the work shown on here I fancied something similar.

After hunting through E-bay and being offered various options by other Z1 owners (many thanks), I took the plunge and bought this off a nice chap in Glasgow:

http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s167 ... %20Z1000J/

I took a bit of a gamble, as it was to far for me to pop along and have a look at it. money was exchanged, transport organised and delivered on the 5th August.

it starts and sounds alright, I decided as it needs an MOT and weathers changing that I would aim to have it back on the road next year.

don't have much of a clue about this model so i'll be looking to pick the brains of the masters

and finally here is what the ad said:

IGNITION SYSTEM
Dyna Ignition
Dyna green coils
Taylor Leads
Iridium plugs
ENGINE
Predator stainless exhaust
New Valve seals
Earls Oil Cooler with black anodised fittings and hoses
New inlet rubbers
K&N filters
Manual cam chain tensioner
New clutch plates and heavy duty springs
BRAKE SYSTEM
Brembo Goldline front callipers (chemiscally stripped and anodised black, rebuilt with Probolt Calliper Kit)
Calliper mounting adapters made by AREA 51 Custom Cycles, then anodised black
Brembo rear calliper (chemically stripped and anodised black, rebuilt with Probolt Calliper Kit)
Calliper mounting adapter made by local engineering shop to my design, then anodised black (wheel spacer is press fit into adapter so easier to remove and fit wheel ).
Self build brake lines (braided with black finish)
Kawasaki ER6 Master cylinder
Custom made 320mm floating front discs.
Custom made rear disc (fixed)
DOT5 Brake fluid
WHEELS AND SUSPENSION
Metmachex deep brace swing arm
GPZ Wheels powder coated black
GSX1400 shock absorbers
New fork stanchions / Progressive springs
Miscellaneous
Seat recovered to previous owners design using 2 different fabric textures.
Renthal bars
Suzuki Bandit Headlamp
ZRX foot rests and controls
Next generation Gel Battery
ZRX handlebar switch gear

The previous owner says, it needs new rings as it uses oil, smokes when it gets hot and I noticed that there are few oil leaks from the rocker cover and head gasket.

Gary

[paul doran]

Gary what are Your plans for it

[Al]

Looks to be a great place to start any kind of an outcome. Very cool and someones spent a lot of time and money on it too.
Whats in the jam jar???


AL

[Gary]

Hi Paul,
Well the plan is to dismantle, remove engine, get the engine fixed and some rear foot rest mountings fitted.
polish all the relevant engine covers and get the casings painted black.
the clocks need to be adjusted as the angle is to upright and they are difficult to see when sitting on the bike.

then put it back together and wait for spring to arrive to ride it.

all sounds simple but you never know what will happen on the way and how the funds go....

Hi Al,
I was wondering how long it would take for someone to notice that..well it says on the jam jar 'The power of plants Botanics' it has a filter that sticks out of the top and a pipe that goes into engine. I think it may be some sort oil breather system.

It looks like this: http://www.boots.com/en/Botanics-Enrich ... 0ml_32959/

looking at the bottom it definitely doesn't look like face cream



Gary

[tlc]

There are a lot of nice bits on that Gary.

So what`s the plan ?

[Gary]

Hi Chris,
see my previous post, I must have just posted before you.

one thing I need to get looked at is the side stand mount although it looks OK, when the bike is on the side stand it looks to me like it leans to far over.

If I put a piece of 2" wood underneath the stand it looks fine. I think the piece of wood is bit extreme to carry around especially as it's about 3 feet long...

Gary

[paul doran]

There are a lot of nice bits on that Gary.

So what`s the plan ?

[Al]

It looks like this: http://www.boots.com/en/Botanics-Enrich ... 0ml_32959/

looking at the bottom it definitely doesn't look like face cream

Cosmetic emergencies that explains it!

The frames are weak around the side stand mounting point and the welds round the cast bracket are also suspect. The flat top surface of the cast bracket should be horizontal when the frame is vertical; this with standard suspension and standard geometry.

AL

[Mr Puffin]

That is nice Gary and no doubt will be nicer come spring

[Rich]

Whats in the jam jar???


AL

Catch tank for breather system by the looks of it.

Sidestands - can be cut lengthened and welded I have done so for my Harris - probably different lengths available as well, check the slack in the pivot as that will cause it to lean lots too.

[tlc]

Gary. You are welcome at any time to pop over and peruse

Double choc chip are good I can supply tea.

[Gary]

Hi Chris,

i'll take you up on your offer can you PM your phone number, if your around this weekend.
Gary

[tlc]

I'm around Sunday.

Pm sent

[Gary]

What an idiot I am!!

This is a bit of a long story and some of you may already know this but I thought you might like to know….

I’ve been looking on E-bay for a set of Mikuni RS34 or RS36 carbs for a couple of months for Z1000-J1, even bid on a couple auctions only to be pipped at the post.

Anyway September I finally won a set of RS36’s on E-bay I was chuffed to bits, now this might sound stupid but the reason I wanted them wasn’t for the extra performance they provide but I like the look of them – sad I know.

Finally they arrived and I checked them over and they looked fine and seem to work ok to me, dirty and minus the odd screw but nothing that couldn’t be sorted out and I planned to get Mike (dogsbolloxofZ1B) to cast his magic over them and make them look like new.





Mike came over and I proudly showed my acquisition, Mike then cast his professional eye over them and noticed one of the throttle valves was cracked.



I Contacted the seller and the answer was – ‘they must have been damaged in the post and as you left me positive feedback I threw the post certificate away’ sorry “mateâ€￾ I can’t help you’. To make things worse I had left it over E-bay’s claim period.

I’m normally quite a trusting person but for this damage to happen in the post I would expect to see damage to the carb bodies and the packaging and there was none. In my opinion he new they were broken before they were auctioned.

So, I am now the proud owner of a set of broken RS36 Carbs…

I’m now looking to get them repaired, done a search on the internet and the first site I came upon was in Australia, in the emails to and fro I find out the following:

The carbs are old and the throttle valves are made of Bakelite and they do crack, Mikuni won’t sell Bakelite version to replace them and the only way to get them fixed is to send the carbs to a Mikuni Distributor and they will fit 4 x aluminium throttle valves along with a brass button to each of the bodies so that the throttle valves don’t stick.





The reason for this is that Mikuni in the USA was being sued for throttle valves jamming open and they were no longer selling replacement Bakelite versions. If you look at any parts catalogue you’ll see that you have to call a distributor to find out about the modification

Cost from Australia for the parts $8 each button and $120+ each slide, not including taxes or postage – all four have to be replaced.

I then contacted Allens Performance in Nottingham and got the same story total cost £220 excl P&P

So the moral of the story is (for me any way) in future thoroughly check what ever you buy, a lesson learnt the hard way.

I planned to get them fixed and looking nice and clean – it just may take a little while though and there are other things to get on with….

If any one is selling four Bakelite throttle valves for RS36’s please let me know or offer any advice

Gary

[Al]

The early versions have a reputation for slides cracking but i thought they were ceramic not bakelite.

On the plus side; get them repaired with new slides and put the old slides on e-bay. You will make three people very happy at £100 a pop!

The side stand bracket does look wonky. It seems to be a common failing. The stand itself looks to be the right one though.

Do you know what the pistons are?
Are they still the standard J ones at 1000cc?
If so no amount of very expensive new rings will solve the problem and although i suspect there are still some about, the last time i bought J 998 rings they took six months to turn up and were about £200.
One set came from Malawi, two from South Africa and one from Poland.

Very likely the only real solution is to rebore with new pistons. The problem here is the cost.
If its a standard J crank it has 17mm small ends. This limits the possibilities for piston sizes.
I found (when in that set-up) 20/50 to be a bonus and to keep the oil level low in the window. If you fill to the upper line it just burns it off. Low in the window is fine so long as you continue to monitor the situation. Changing the oil more frequently is also a help.

AL