Kawasaki H1 1971

[Skub]

WTF, have you got the original surface discharge plugs too? That's taking originality to far, I'd be saving them in a drawer for posterity and putting some NGK plug caps on.

I quite like fooking up folks wireless reception.

[ZRX61]

Incidentally,there are folk on the bay looking a tenner for this 'rare part' and it can still be bought off Kawasaki for £1.10. Folk forget there is a surprising amount of new old stock stuff still available.

Before Mama Kaw went to CD & then online parts ordering & were still using micro fiche you could go on Ebay etc & buy the fiche for your bike for a mere $20...

They cost $2.25 from the dealer.

[Skub]

I finally got around to mechanically synchronising the carbs today.
Behold the necessary tools for the job.


3 obo nails.
5.5mm drill
A split washer. (not needed)
7,8 and 10mm spanners
A couple of JIS screwdrivers
A vernier. (not really needed)

High tech gear.

The process involved firstly removing the inlet rubbers,which I had to do anyway,as the originals are cracked in places.

Since the bike idled well before I start,I took a note of the slide gap at the mouth of carb number 3 as a reference. A 5.5 drill fitted nicely.
I then backed off all 3 idle screws,so the slides sat as low as possible.
Using the throttle cable adjuster at the bars,I raised the slide until the 3/8" rod went in and out smoothly. Carbs 1&2 got the same treatment,by using the carb top adjuster.
The top adjusters were then locked and the gap re-checked. All good.

Back off the bars cable adjuster until slack,then reset the 5.5mm idle gap on all 3 carbs.

The obo nails were balanced just under the slide and sticking out the carb mouth on all 3,so I could check they all moved at the same time and using the idle screw to adjust,if necessary. As it happens,they were all dead on.

The bike started first kick,felt crisp and idled at a steady 1400ish rpm.

[Noggin]

I so wish I had that sort of knowledge!!!

[Skub]

I so wish I had that sort of knowledge!!!

Fortunately there is a very large and valuable bank of knowledge in the Kawasaki Triples Club. Everything you need to keep these old clankers going,from tutorials to folk specialising in certain areas and sites offering spares. There isn't anything an owner will encounter that these lifetime triple fanatics haven't already experienced. As owner's clubs go,it's one of the best.
http://kawatriple.com/index2.html

[Skub]

This won't have helped good carburation much.....

[Druid]

I had similar problems with my GS750, 50 year old rubber loses a bit of its flexibility. You can't get replacements for love nor money, there's sometimes good reasons for fitting pod filters

How easy is it to get replacements for yours?

[Skub]

I had similar problems with my GS750, 50 year old rubber loses a bit of its flexibility. You can't get replacements for love nor money, there's sometimes good reasons for fitting pod filters

How easy is it to get replacements for yours?

Fairly easy to get them as reproduction parts,but they know how to charge. £125 for 3 rubbers was the cheapest,some were looking £150. I'm glad I didn't need any of the 5 clamps,the two big ones make the rubber look cheap!

[Yorick]

I had similar problems with my GS750, 50 year old rubber loses a bit of its flexibility. You can't get replacements for love nor money, there's sometimes good reasons for fitting pod filters

How easy is it to get replacements for yours?

Fairly easy to get them as reproduction parts,but they know how to charge. £125 for 3 rubbers was the cheapest,some were looking £150. I'm glad I didn't need any of the 5 clamps,the two big ones make the rubber look cheap!

I've got some for sale here for a tenner each. I take Paypal, No returns

[mangocrazy]

This won't have helped good carburation much.....

Depending on how far round the split goes, I reckon that could be repaired using something like CT1 hybrid polymer adhesive/filler. It sticks like sh1t to pretty much everything.

[Skub]

This won't have helped good carburation much.....

Depending on how far round the split goes, I reckon that could be repaired using something like CT1 hybrid polymer adhesive/filler. It sticks like sh1t to pretty much everything.

That's probably the worst part,shown in the pic,but there is general 'dozing' all over the three sections,so any repairs would be ongoing.

It's just too long new.

[mangocrazy]

Are you going to bite the bullet and buy new/reproduction? I'd be tempted to try a repair first, especially as the part is largely out of sight.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I'd just fit pod filters and go up two sizes on the main jet, three if you're feeling cautious, you might need to drop the needle a notch as well.

[Skub]

Are you going to bite the bullet and buy new/reproduction? I'd be tempted to try a repair first, especially as the part is largely out of sight.

Bought and fitted the same time as I synced the carbs.

[Skub]

I'd just fit pod filters and go up two sizes on the main jet, three if you're feeling cautious, you might need to drop the needle a notch as well.

The pod filters with the hard/chrome back get a bad rap,if you need to use individual filters apparently the foam thingies are better. I don't really like the look of them anyway.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I'd just fit pod filters and go up two sizes on the main jet, three if you're feeling cautious, you might need to drop the needle a notch as well.

The pod filters with the hard/chrome back get a bad rap,if you need to use individual filters apparently the foam thingies are better. I don't really like the look of them anyway.

Never had any problems with K&N or S&B filters with the chrome ends, the cheap ones may be different, I've had a foam filter get sucked into a carb. They're an arse to get working well with CV carbs, they're fine with slide carbs so long as you put a bit of effort in getting them jetted correctly, but I do know a man who knows how to get them working with CV carbs.

[Skub]

Before and after pics.

Old fuel tap.



Revamped fuel tap,now with an off position instaed of prime.

[Skub]

I think I've discovered a foolproof way of going slower,yet still enjoying the ride.

1. Shit brakes.

2. Reduced ground clearance + not wanting to scrape the shiny chrome trying.

It's all about the aural experience,baby.



In other news,all the carb sorting n' schitt means the bike is running just lovely.

[Skub]

I got a reminder of a perfect day out on Tuesday,a notice of intended prosecution for 50 in a 30. That took the shine off the day.

[JackyJoll]

Marks off for failing to double the limit.