Round 2, FOAK: 1982 Kawie KZ550 C3 LTD Restoration

Am using this NG as an excellent resource, am now looking at the
kickstand. It does not kill the engine when in the down position.
Should I fix it? Do many of you prefer to not have a kickstand
switch?

Next question: Will soon be ordering new sprockets and a chain. The
info with the bike states that an endless chain is to be used and I
understand that an endless will force me to remove the centerstand for
installation. Is that correct? Should I expect any rust or corrosion
to deal with when I remove the centerstand?

Thanks in advance,

Biker Dude

 

An endless chain would require removal of the SWINGARM. More unnecessary
foolishness. Use a good quality oring chain with a master link and new
sprockets. Refer to your manual how to install the master link clip
correctly. Kickstand switch is a necessary nuisance that will keep you from
having a preventable crash. Fix it or be VERY careful. A prev owner may have
just shorted the switch, an EZ fix. Old Hondas use a rubber stub on the
stand that is supposed to kick it up - has never worked that well for me.
YMMV

 

I wouldn't bother fixing it - the only one of our bikes that has such a
switch has had it bypassed because a winter's commuting killed the
switch & left it randomly cutting the engine out. Trust me, you only
want to have your wife stranded at her work because her bike won't start
once.

Actually, once was too often.

It might have been correct but I've never been sold an endless chain in

the replacement has come with a soft link to rivet up. Seems to work
fine - they're an awful lot easier to deal with if you buy a chain tool
to deal with it.

A top tip is to loosen the gearbox sprocket nut before you split the old
chain - that way you can use the back brake to stop the sprocket turning
as you loosen the nut.

 

They *always* go wrong. I hate them.

As the top-posting gonk has said, it's the swinging arm that needs to
come out, but in fact, all you need is a chain with a soft link.

If you are this ignorant, I really suggest you give it to a dealer to
do, because otherwise you're likely to **** something up. No insult
intended: just an example of "If you don't know what you're doing, don't
do it."

 

And a chain with a soft link means I have to acquire the special tool,
right?

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement!

(One more question to all the group: Now that I am officially a biker
what kind of body piercings should I get? I do have an image to
create and foster......)

Biker Dude

 

Indeed - for years I bodged around with a couple of hammers then I had a
mad fit of extravagance & spent £20 on a cheap n nasty chain riveting
tool from fleabay. The bit that I really notice it for is the side plate
pressing.

The chain tool & the mityvac are the two tools I can't now believe I
waited so long to buy.

 

I never bothered to buy a riveting tool. I use clip-type master links
instead of
soft links.

I degrease the clip and the side plate that it will be against with
MEK or acetone.

Then I put a drop of red Loctite on the clip and a drop of the same on
the side plate.

If will set up in an hour or so and you will have to grind the ends of
the master link pins off the remove the master link.

 

In order to fit in with this group, you have to take up Morris Men's
dancing with sticks and hankies.

The Older Gentleman will fill you in on what you'll need...

 

Here's what I've found:

"Traditional Morris dancing is today associated with the Cotswolds, a
region of England located between Oxford and the Welsh border.
Cotswold Morris is danced in sets of six dancers arranged in two rows
of three. For some dances, handkerchiefs are held in each hand, while
for other dances short sticks are carried, and struck against each
other or against those of a partner. Part of the costume includes
bells, usually worn tied below the knees.

Costume varies from one Morris team, or 'set', to another, with each
village also producing its own steps and dances. Morris men usually
wear a white shirt, white trousers or dark breeches, and black shoes.
Coloured sashes or baldrics worn over one or both shoulders, or a
waistcoat, serve to distinguish different teams. The Stroud Morris
Dancers in Stroud, Gloucestershire, for example, wear white trousers
and shirts with red and green sashes (the colours of Stroud)."

Hankies, sticks and bells? That sounds a lot more humane than
senseless body piercing. Body piercing only has the desired efffect
on your audience when your
shirt is off but hankies sticks and bells can be displayed any old
time and at any old place.

Then I add the correct costume and I will be a full fledged biker dude
like TOG?

Hey TOG, where may I purchase a Morris Dancer's costurme so I can be a
biker like you?

Biker Dude

 

It's easier with the tool, but perfectly do-able without, if you're
careful. As someone else said, getting the side plates on against the
taper of the pins is the slightly tricky bit.

It's true, though. As one regular poster here has discovered. Again and
again.

 

There's the odd side-effect to worry about. Like twisted ankles,
eh TOG? And the occasional misdirected whack of quite heavy sticks. I
also STR that if you carry your hanky about there are certain areas of
London where you need to be careful which pocket you let it drape out of...

www.yell.co.uk

 

Heh. Yes, I wound up with an ankle in plaster and an impressive cut on
my forehead when a stick went awry. Dangerous business.

 

Yes, we all know how dangerous Morris dancing is, but Biker Dude wants
to know how to look like a *pukka* biker, and you are the self-
appointed representative of all pukkas, so you should re-post that
picture of how you faced
terrible danger, albeit with a quivering upper lip, as you were
menaced by your
stick waving mate.

 

First, pukka is an adjective, so your attempt to use British slang
fails miserably, as ever. Secondly, you have no idea what Morris side
I dance with and thirdly, you just aren't *funny*. Must try harder.

"Like being stalked by someone in diving boots"

 

George Orwell redefined "pukka" as a sort of poseur, which fits you
perfectly.

I know that you switch sides and play for the other team on Thursdays.

That's a worn out Evil Clown meme. Please get some new and
entertaining material, Mr. Pooka.

 

No, he didn't. He wrote of the 'pukka sahib', employing pukka as an
adjective, as stated above. He was far too good a user of language to
make the elementary mistake you make.

Sigh.

Once again, you **** up, for the usual reason: you do a bit of
elementary Googling to try and appear literate and well-informed, and in
fact you get it wrong. <G>

No ability to be remotely funny and witty. No ability to assimilate
information. A wondrous ability to get it wrong.

Are we feeling stupid now?

 

So, you shop at Wikipedia too, Mr. Pooka?

I suppose one who is clumsy and physically uncoordinated has no
aspiration to become an acrobat or a tumbler, but is doomed to be an
evil clown for eternity.

But you can always paint your face so it looks like you're smiling
when you're sad
inside.

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: 1949 Whizzer <>
Date: 24 Sep, 14:23
Subject: Round 2, FOAK: 1982 Kawie KZ550 C3 LTD Restoration
To: rec.motorcycles.tech

So, you shop at Wikipedia too, Mr. Pooka?

"Too"? Now there's a telling remark. Answer: no, I don't. I just know
when you've screwed up. Still, it's highly amusing to see you admit
you had to look it up and *even then* got it wrong. Remedial reading
classes in order, methinks.

And I know more of Blair than you ever will.

I suppose one who is clumsy and physically uncoordinated has no
aspiration to become an acrobat or a tumbler, but is doomed to be an
evil clown for eternity.

But you can always paint your face so it looks like you're smiling
when you're sad
inside.

Nope, failed again.

 

Was it originally fitted with one?. If so, its up to you. Hell, it is your
bike.
Personally, while they work, I don't mind them as a last "OI!, FUCKWIT!"
measure. If it fails, it gets bridged out. I've never replaced one.

Not usually the centrestand, but the rear fork/swinging arm. Its no biggie
to drop the rear fork out, plus you get to inspect/clean/grease the
bearings so you -know- they are OK. You can also get up close and personal
inspecting it for rust and structural damage.

Slacken the front sprocket nut before you begin though.

If you get a chain with a rivet or split link, just follow the advice given
by others. You don't need the press tool. A hand vice and a couple of small
sockets will suffice. Do -=NOT=- 'over press' it on though!. The last few
chains I've done have had a small, barely visible line to press to. This
just nips up to the O rings. I do own a proper press tool nowadays as I
always get roped in to doing other folks bikes.

Always expect to get coated in shyte.

 

Oh yes. Oh yes, indeed. Forgot that. Excellent advice. More than once,
I've had to put a dead chain back on in order to allow me to loosen
the gearbox sprocket.

I bought a decent tool recently (cost something like £50) and it does
make the job much easier.

Ain't that the truth.