My 750 Triple Project re-ignites

[Redback]

Over the last few days I have been preparing the garage to finally finish my restoration of my 1973 750 Kawasaki H2A, I will be doing a bit by bit account of the resto.

Visiting a few sites for parts that I either don't have or are that bad, they are beyond fixing, thankfully there aren't many I need, mostly cosmetic items, like speedo and tacho covers, handle bars(almost impossible to find), rubber stuff and so on, unfortunately most of these parts have had to be reproductions, but thankfully they are so good, it's only the lack of a OEM part number that you can tell.

So first order of business, clear the garage for a platform to put the bike on, so it's easy to work on and easy on my back.

The biggest challenge is cleaning the electricals, ignition stator and seeing if I can loosen up the wiring harness, it's a bit stiff(I have two) any tips would be good, anyway here we go.

[V8Ian]

All the best with it Baz, looking forward to seeing the final result.

[jerryd]

There's a chap in Dayboro who imports Kawasakis from the usa, he might be able to help with bits.

[rangieman]

All the best with it Baz, looking forward to seeing the final result.

X2

[Redback]

A bit more background on the bike, it was used as a parts donor for a race bike from memory, until I turned up, I was racing a Post Classic H1 500 Triple and was at his place picking up some parts he had fixed when I spotted it, I didn't intend on buying it, but when he offered to sell it, I jumped at it, the price was to good to say no, funny because it basically went from his garage to mine and apart from starting it once, it sat there for another 26yrs, until now, it's nearly all there, the only non genuine bits are the engine and mufflers, I did manage to track down the donor bike that the original engine was in, but unfortunately the engine was gone, I can buy an engine in the serial number range to fit in with the frame number range to keep it 99.9% original, but as this project is not to sell the bike, I'm wondering if I should, whatta ya reckon.

Still don't remember his name though, anyway here's some more progress.

Alloy parts that had been chromed, took me ages to do these.




A collection of anodised and chrome parts


The shocks as well, these were terrible and didn't think I could restore them, but to my surprise they came up very good, makes you think about how well Jananese bikes were actually made and are not the crap we thought they were and have stood the test of time and done it extremely well.

[Tombie]

Nice work there Baz.... Please keep the thread updating!

[gusthedog]

I wouldn't worry about tracking down an engine in the correct serial number range, but then I'm not overly fussed by complete originality. For example I'd take the chance to upgrade both forks and shocks. But as you've raced 500 triples, you obviously know your kwaka smokers so do as you like.

Great project and keep the pics coming

[Redback]

I wouldn't worry about tracking down an engine in the correct serial number range, but then I'm not overly fussed by complete originality. For example I'd take the chance to upgrade both forks and shocks. But as you've raced 500 triples, you obviously know your kwaka smokers so do as you like.

Great project and keep the pics coming

Thanks guys,

Yeah I'm kinda thinking the motor in it should be fine, the bottom end is identical, only the top end slightly different, it's not going to be original anyway, I have some early Rick Roberts race chambers that will be going on the bike anyway, I'll probably sell all the later model stuff to give me a bit more money for things I can't do and keep most of the early model stuff as spares.

Because the bike was a donor, there are a few bits from other bikes, both the previous model and the later model and most of the original bike, so I have parts where there are 2 and 3 of those parts, just as an excample, I have 3 instrument sets, the original set, a set with a very rare early model(H2/H2A/72/73) KPH speedo, I'm assuming they were made available once Australia went metric and a 74/75 instrument cluster, with ignitions and keys, the original tank and the tank from the race bike, I even have some Z900 parts, some of the parts from the first Z900s fitted the H2, you can see in the 4th photo that the left front disc is from a Z900.

Anyway, last night I pulled the sprocket hub off and apart to clean it up, then I will pull the wheel apart to clean the rim and centre hub and get it re-spoked, I gathered up all the parts that had been chromed, ready to be sent off to get the chrome removed, the first owner must of liked bling, cause he chromed nearly everything, including the rear sprocket

This is what my model looked like from the factory.

[Redback]

Little bit of a set back, was polishing the headlight chrome trim/ring, when it got caught and flew up into my eye(ouch!!!)not what I said, but they both have four letters
I did manage to get a few things done, took all the stuff that needs to have the chrome removed and the front guard and other stuff to the chrome place to be chromed, took all the spokes out of the rear wheel, polished the sprocket carrier, rim and hub, polished the headlight ring
After the accident I didn't do that much, spent some time getting stuff online(WITH ONE EYE COVERED) brake caliper, master cylinder repair kits, clutch kit, bushes, seals and bearings.
I'll be going for braided lines, going direct to the brake calipers from the master cylinder, no need to go for a larger master cylinder with this setup(same as my H1 500 race bike)

I'll try and get some pics up tonight.

[Redback]

OK, last week I dropped one of the engine cases off to the bike shop to pull a couple of things out, as I can't do fiddly bits because of my eye injury, it is the last bit of gear that needs de-chroming, so I can send all the gear off to be de-chromed and all of the stuff that needs chroming to the chrome shop.

I picked it up yesterday, when I got home I the last bit of cleaning up of up Hub, sproket cover and rim, pulled the front guard and bracket apart to be chromed.

The hub before



After



Sprocket carrier


Headlight, how's that for 42yrs old and in original condition.


The culprit headlight ring/surround




Oil pump gear, shaft and worm drive, these are like gold, extremely hard to find


Oil pump worm drive


I also removed the seals as well, this case is the clutch cover and oil pump cover, these are also very rare, no replica available for this, most of the other engine cases have a replica available.



Another engine cover(sproket cover)


Left swith gear horn and indicater switch, master cylinder cap and throttle/chock assembly




Rim


Front guard and bracket



As my eye gets better, I will start to do a bit more.