Building an engine & a bike from random parts - 1979 - 1981

My temple of Kawasaki LOL Once done, this will be it for me and engines here. Fully assembled, most likely it will be a display for a while then go to a storage, until better times.

I'd say 99% of all the crank case, cylinder block and cylinder head bolts and nuts are fitted! Very pleased!
Mainly, I'm missing a few head mounting nut washers and a couple case bolts (which are common in size and I might have them elsewhere). All the other small screws and bolts, like for the covers or intake boots, I haven't bothered with but I have them all original and most likely will be probably replacing them with stainless anyway.

Nice tabletop size for working on an engine. You can get around to all sides. I'm guessing it's a little lower than you would prefer for standing up and working on and possibly too high for working on while sitting on a chair?
Love the impacted "spark plug" in #4
I'm surprised that you haven't found a "cleaning product" that would take the gold tarnish off of the inner surfaces of the cylinder head. Xylene or toluene maybe. Trichloroethylene also comes to mind. Some of the brake cleaners are Tric or Perchloroethylene. Just some thoughts.

Love the impacted "spark plug" in #4

That's an experimental environmentally friendly one I am working on. Now that the secret is out... - I'm working on a KZ1300 electric conversion!

This has been my 'work bench' for pretty much all the small jobs I had done on the bike and now this project. It's one of those light tables with plastic top, with adjustable height - you can fold it flat and hide in a closet. Right now it's adjusted to be a coffee table when sitting on sofa - knee high so too low for a chair and way too low when standing. I just placed these main engine pieces on it to sort out all the bolts - everything is empty (except shafts in the cylinder block).

The block and head still need lots of detailed cleaning. All the threads, crevices, surfaces. The cylinder block is perfect as is, with all original coat. The head is in a pretty good shape, and I can get away with just a bit of touch up here and there. The cases are overall nice as well, and look much better than I've seen on photos of other bikes. But I am going to apply a coat of paint on them and make them all fresh.

At the moment I am working on the engine cases, so the head will go back in the cupboard. For now I just wanted all pieces free from oil. The head was also in the ultrasonic cleaner, that's where some of the yellow coating came off. I was just thinking about it yesterday - in the next step I'm going to use a solvent to remove what's left. I'd do another ultrasonic session, but my machine is still a bit too small, so I have to turn the head four times to cover all! That's too much. A four cylinder head would fit right in, but we are dealing with sixes here So no, I haven't ignored it, just haven't got to doing it yet.

That table is just perfect for now, like you said. From working on brakes and any smaller parts to even an engine. But later, before installing the cylinder block and all the other pieces, I will use some of my carpentry skills and build a stand from wood, all on a plywood platform with caster wheels. That table is too unstable on a carpet and could never support the weight of an eventually complete engine.

I'm surprised that you haven't found a "cleaning product" that would take the gold tarnish off of the inner surfaces of the cylinder head.

"Lacquer Thinner ":evil:

scotch wrote: I'm surprised that you haven't found a "cleaning product" that would take the gold tarnish off of the inner surfaces of the cylinder head.

"Lacquer Thinner ":evil:

Of course Lacquer Thinner!!. It sits on the shelf at Home Depot right beside the Gorilla Glue

Just to inform that Xylene and Acetone don't work, and I can't find my lacquer thinner!