Zephyr fun and games

Isn't for if you run out of fuel?

 

Carbs went back on. Bit of a bastard of a job, but not too bad, the trick
was to locate the intakes in the airbox rubbers with the connectors to the
head off, and then wedge the connectors into position. All went well untill
we dropped one of the bolts, which fell down the gap under the starter
motor, meaning that the front sprocket cover had to come off.

Anyway, carbs on, new inner cable and nipple positioned on carb, so off to
the front of the bike to do the twist grip end. Mullered the new nipple,
and busted off part of the twist grip where the nipple locates. New nipple
fabricated by drilling through a bolt then dremmelling off a nipple sized
portion and soldering on the cable. Unfortunately the broken bit of twist
grip wont stick back on with superglue, or araldite, or melting with a red
hot nail (or a combination of all three).

So I need to get hold of a replacement twist grip, are these generic or bike
specific?

Oh, nearly forgot, having reassembled she started first time, which was a
bonus.

Aso, my fuel tap has 3 positions, on, reserve and prime, but no "off". At
the ristk of asking an onvious question, what purpose does the prime
position serve?

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My NEW bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
My old Bike 2000 Honda CB500 (for sale)
M'boy's Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Heavily fortified)

BOTAFOT #140, DIAABTCOD #26

 

Correct, and since the OP probably still doesn't know why you'd need
a prime position... the prime position on a vacuum petcock lets fuel
flow without the application of engine vacuum to the petcock. The
petcock needs the engine running on the reserve and on positions for
fuel to flow. If you run the carbs dry, it is difficult to develop
enough engine vacuum simply from cranking the starter to allow fuel
to flow, hence the prime position.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Oldbloke

In the 'On' and 'Reserve' positions fuel should only flow when there's a
vacuum in the other pipe that goes to the tap. In the 'Prime' position
fuel will flow regardless. So you use 'Prime' if you've run out of fuel,
to allow the carbs to refill without having to crank the engine.

 

That's what I thought, but it started fine today having had the carbs off
and emptied, so I am not so sure.

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My NEW bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
My old Bike 2000 Honda CB500 (for sale)
M'boy's Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Heavily fortified)

BOTAFOT #140, DIAABTCOD #26

 

Sort off.

The fuel tap is a vacuum type, you`d notice a small pipe going from the tap
to the carbs or manifold.
Fuel only flows when there is a vacuum when switched to on or reserve, bit
on prime it runs on gravity so if you drain the carbs or run totally out of
fuel the prime..er..primes the carbs without needing the engine running.
When not in use just leave the tap switched to the on position.

--
Petel .
02 M2 Buell.
C90-ZZR.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/peteh1/website/index.html

 

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember "Oldbloke"

The carbs filled up then while the petcock was in the 'on' position
without a vacuum. There may be a rubber gasket inside the petcock which
is fubared and allowing fuel flow in all positions.

--

Dave

GS 850 x2 / SE 6a
SbS#6 DIAABTCOD#16 APOSTLE#6 FUB#3
FUB KotL OSOS#12? UKRMMA#19 COSOC#10

 

**** me, I thought he had a real Zephyr.

Still, a 1/8 Zephyr is still better than a wholly imaginary R1, I
suppose.

 

Heh, it's not an I- Bike ta very much.

Anyway, as you are a man who knows, can you advise me of the following:

What oil should I put in it.
Where the bloody hell does the oil filter go (I have bought a new filter but
cant see the small drum shaped cannister as per the Honda.
Who does a manual for it (can't see it in either Haynes or Clymer listings)

New twist grip ordered today, more fun anticipated next weekend.

 

I'm not Pip or Elly, but I'll have a go.

Any decent 10W40 or 20W50 multigrade

Is it an external cartridge type filter (metal thread on thing), or an
internal paper type. The older Kawasaki designs used a paper filter,
held in a chamber accessed by a larger round over in the sump. You
need to get right under the bike and look - it'll have a 17mm bolt at
the centre. If it's an external filter it should be fairly bloody
obvious!

 

Cheers Champ,
There is no (visible) external cartridge (on the Honda this sticks out at
the front of the engine). A cursory glance underneath hasn't so far
revealed any other likely candidate, so a closer look is needed.

 

Do you have a replacement filter in your hand? What does it look
like?

 

Not at the moment (it's at home in the shed), but the box is quite small, so
I would guess it's a paper type one.
I have, however just ordered a Kawasaki Workshop Manual for the bike though
(£45) which should be with me by the end of the week, together with a new
twist grip and pair of new mirrors, so a more organised approach to
fettlement should be possible next weekend.

Hopefully this shaky start to my relationship with the Zephyr is just a
blip.

In the meantime I am being hassled by my lad (and SWMBO, strangely) about
getting him a 125 for when he's 17 in November. If we get something for him
fairly soon there'll be 4 bikes at home (is this how TOG and Sweller started
collecting bikes, I wonder). I really must seriously try selling the Honda
very soon (I was offerred £1400 PX against a 2003 NSR125 @ £2500, but have
decided not to go down this route, for now at least).

 

Normally a pink-ish[0] colour, four fingers[1], one opposable thumb.



[0] Some variation in colour may be apparent, depending on racial
hereditary.
[1] Some variation in number of fingers may be apparent, depending on
degree of fen-ness and family in-breeding.

 

You silly sod

Or if one's been working on a motorcycle over the weekend, escpecially
if spray painting bodywork in Kawasaki green [2]

Or clumsiness and stupidity when cleaning/oiling a chain.

[2] and, if you do this without wearing a mask, you end of with really
*bright* green bogies.

 

Somebody had to do it.

Tch. Latex gloves, that's what you want.

I was thinking more of extra fingers, but yes.

Purest green?

 

I've got loads. Just kept forgetting to put them on.

Dayglo. Do you think there's a market for snot coloured jewelry?

 

Heh, *whoosh*, and...

"Oh, Edmund, can it be true, that I hold here in my mortal hand a nugget
of purest green?"

 

**** off is it a whoosh

To which Edmund replies, later, to Percy "You think there's a big
market for jewelry that looks like snot, then?"

 

D'oh. It's been one of those days.