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As some of you know, I picked up an 88 Katana this past weekend:
I wished I had not, but now I have it and it needs a complete restoration....
I figured that since it will need to be stripped down to bare bones and then built back up after every single piece gets attention, I would keep a running log here with the progress.
As I picked it up........
An example of the hideous high temp paint all over this thing. I will be installing the original swingarm from my 91 in place of this one...
Front end...... Yep, that's fork oil all over the place. Front calipers, as well as the rear, are locked up. I have another rear from my 91 as well as the original master cylinder for the front AND a complete rear brake system, so as long as the fronts can be rebuilt, I will be ok there.....
Here is a nice example of the corrosion that was covered up with paint. Guess he missed this spot...
More corrosion.... This can be cleaned up and will go with a brushed aluminum look and cleared over....
The worst part......... I do get spark, and I seem to have compression, but there has not been a hint of firing up yet......... These carbs sat for 15 years......
Close to the end of the evening today. I got a few more pieces pulled off such as rearsets, front calipers and hoses, and other misc stuff. Got one stubborn header bolt keeping me from pulling the pipes so far......
The plan is to tear is down completely and work each piece from the ground up. Once all is said and done, it should look close to mint with the possible exception of the plastics unless I decide to repaint as well. Undecided on that issue at this point.....
It's gonna be fun
I wished I had not, but now I have it and it needs a complete restoration....
I figured that since it will need to be stripped down to bare bones and then built back up after every single piece gets attention, I would keep a running log here with the progress.
As I picked it up........
An example of the hideous high temp paint all over this thing. I will be installing the original swingarm from my 91 in place of this one...
Front end...... Yep, that's fork oil all over the place. Front calipers, as well as the rear, are locked up. I have another rear from my 91 as well as the original master cylinder for the front AND a complete rear brake system, so as long as the fronts can be rebuilt, I will be ok there.....
Here is a nice example of the corrosion that was covered up with paint. Guess he missed this spot...
More corrosion.... This can be cleaned up and will go with a brushed aluminum look and cleared over....
The worst part......... I do get spark, and I seem to have compression, but there has not been a hint of firing up yet......... These carbs sat for 15 years......
Close to the end of the evening today. I got a few more pieces pulled off such as rearsets, front calipers and hoses, and other misc stuff. Got one stubborn header bolt keeping me from pulling the pipes so far......
The plan is to tear is down completely and work each piece from the ground up. Once all is said and done, it should look close to mint with the possible exception of the plastics unless I decide to repaint as well. Undecided on that issue at this point.....
It's gonna be fun
. I guess that what happens sitting under the porch for a few years Yikes.
What a mess ! Well , I'm sure it'll be nice once you're done . Hell , a low-milage bike worked-over by someone who knows Katanas .... Yeah , that'll be nice .
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