TOPIC: Kawboy's restoration/conversion of a 1980 KZ13

I can't wait to see it come together either. I had a '79 and an '80 both in the Candy Glory Red. I've done some research and found the proper blends of Candy Red and Candy Tangerine to blend the paint at a fraction of the price that Colorite wants for the paint.

Ah, just take it to Home Depot and let their color-matching machine give you the formula, then have some Dutch Boy paint mixed up! Well, at least that's what I did to repaint my motorhome many years ago!

I had a Great Uncle who owned a hardware store in Victoria Harbor Ontario. Every year the living room in his house got a fresh coat of boo-boo paint and we could always tell when the room was painted because his 1967 Chevrolet also got painted the same color as the living room. And yes, the same roller was used!! I don't plan on carrying on the "family tradition" in case you're wondering.

One carb cleaned and flow checked. Ready for assembling as soon as I get the O-rings and u cup seals.

From this



to this

Stumbled across a good one today. I started pulling the second carb apart. After I removed the screw and retaining clip from the float needle seat. It just fell out. The o-ring between the carb body and the needle seat was shrink enough that it wasn't sealing and that got me to wondering how many other members are struggling with flooding or issues trying to set their floats. If that o-ring is passing then there's nothing stopping the tank from spilling fuel into and through that carb.

RE: The needle-valve "O-ring".

That is quite surprising to hear. The '79's I rebuilt had the original "O-rings" that were by know means tight but were still making OK contact. I replaced them. My OEM '80's were the same when replaced about 10 years ago. In both cases still flexible enough to remove in one piece.

Regardless. If the valve-body "fell" out, then yes - you had a problem! Strange that the first carb didn't do the same thing which would lead me to believe your "offending" "O-ring" was a "repair" "o-ring" of a composite that.....shrunk. It will be interesting to hear of your situation with the third carb, when you start on it.

This will make some "cringe" but this is why every winter I remove and completely tear-down the carbs. It keeps the screws "screwable" and allows the opportunity to check on things like "shrunken "o-rings" and stuck 'enrichener-valves", etc. when you have the time and place to do this maintenance rather then being stuck on the side of the road !

Nice work on the first!