Kawi2strokes.com Forum

I stumbled upon something that worked well for me on rubber parts. The meter visors had some sun damage, or something on them that I could not get rid of with a host of cleaners that have worked for me before on rubber and plastic. I ordered another set off Ebay and as is sometimes with Ebay they weren't for the correct year and I didn't check them until they were ready for install. I ended up using Mothers Back to Black and Steel Wool. You would think the steel wool would produce a dull finish and tear at the plastic but this method did a great job. I also used it on some electrical covers of the wiring harness. Here is a pic of the meters mounted and a before and after of a harness cover.

Also started on the wiring harness. The harness was disassembled to replace the hardened and cracked plastic sheathing that runs from the frame to the headlight shell. New connectors are also installed and new tape on the harness. Interior splices are checked also. I cut the connections open with a razor and then clip the old connector as close as possible to the crimp loosing only about 1/4 inch of wire. Got it about 1/2 done yesterday and will be back at it next weekend. That's it for this weekend. Hopefully we will see smoke from those pipes soon.

This is a beautiful build - way beyond my capabilities..but the gauges are mismatched and decals are available to bring them back to a matching set. Also there should be a steering damper and the knurling on the bars should not be visible once they are clamped. I'm definitely not nit-picking, just pointing out a couple of things in a very nice restoration.

This is the one that I did a couple of years back - for reference.

I can't see the difference in the gauges? I feel like i'm lookng at one of those, "Find the 10 differences between the pictures" puzzles. I even went and pulled out the speedo the bike came with and can't see it? Is it the speedo or tach?
The original static damper was N/G on the bike. I went with the later style look for now until I find a new static damper, and by that time I will have probably moved on to another project. The bars are a set I bought a few months back and never checked until I took them out of the wrapper, a screw up I have made a few times, and kicked myself in the azz for by not checking stuff as soon as I get it. They may get changed down the road, but may be on for years too. My goal is to have a bike that is not for competition but that can make the Average Joe say, "Man, that thing looks brand new" and is a reliable rider too.

The colour is what I (think) I see. The '72 H2 and H1B had green faces or turquoise faces (there were a few versions of the turquoise). It looks as though you have a green speedo and turquoise tach. Again - your bike looks great...love those B's.

Ahhh, may be. I will have to wait till tomorrow to check it out. Maybe the Tach faded? I am so use to looking for the Red to fade on tachs I may not have noticed the numbers. Thanks.

We are getting there. This weekend concentrated on the electrics. The wiring harness was completed and installed. The points and condensers were replaced and the timing set. Here is a pic of my battery of choice, Anti Gravity. I love the Lithium batteries because you can toss your Battery Tender, no vent tube, no acid stained exhaust, no refilling the cells, less weight, and you can mount it anywhere anyway. This battery has way more punch than this bike needs but I had it on hand and it fit nicely. Oh, and here is a nice plus, Anti Gravity is a MADE IN THE USA PRODUCT!!!

I forgot how much I hated points and have been spoiled by CDI. There should be a required class in high school to teach patience, around the Sophmore Year called, "Multi Cylinder Points Installation" No easy distributor stuff, just points and timing. If you are one of those folks who thinks that technology has gone too far, grab a bike with 3 sets of points, you'll change your mind. Here is a pic of a half days work setting points with a cylinder dial indicator. The timing was so far off on this bike it scared me a bit. But then I noticed all the screwdriver marks and remembered that this is a points bike so screwing around in the ignition cover is common place. Oh, did I mention how much fun it is to find those little circlips on the floor? Good news is, after test, all 3 cylinders are sparking a nice Blue.

The front brake problem got addressed too. The kit I used to rebuild the caliper was a Kawasaki components kit. I figured that would be better kit than an aftermarket? I ended up getting a K&L kit like all the others I've used and it worked fine, no leaks.

The bike came with an extremely rare "Bailing Wire" Battery Door. I felt it needed more of a stock look so an NOS door was installed. The Antigravity battery kit comes with foam in different thicknesses that are used to secure the battery in the box once the door is closed. I did go a little more high tech with a plug in fuse holder that lined up pretty good with the old glass tube type hanger on the door. Purists be damned, those points pissed me off and I'm adding some 80's technology here!