Clean OUTSIDES of carbs?

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ARCHIVE_xtian

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hello / what to check before buying a ZL ?

hello everyone.
i always fantasized about the ZL900 (which was never imported here in europe) and I'm planning to visit a "for sale" 1985/40000mls ZL900 saterday.
the guys asks 1450 USD/1200 euro
I've been riding kawies almost daily for the last 12 years. I now use a ZRX1100 ELR so the ZL would be collector/second bike for sunday rides.
what do you suggest i should check before I decide to buy it or not ?chain noise, water leaking, frame rust.... ?

note : i'm not a millionaire. 8)

thank you for your opinion
 
The first thing that comes to mind is the notorious oil and/ or water leaking from the bottum of the water pump. Most of the time it's not dangerous or critical, just a little measy, unless water is geting into the crank case. Usually though it's just a little oil leakage to the bottum left side of the motor. The ZRX and the Eliminator motor are very symilar. Infact you could say that the ZRX motor is just a modern, more up to date version of the Eli'. The eliminator shares the same block and most of it's components with the concourse, Ninja or GPZ 900R and 1000R. So, there's plenty of motor parts available. It's the body parts and cosmetics that are hard to come by! The cam chain tensioner may be the only other thing wich is a common fix for these bikes. I'd say, as long as the oil has been changed regularly and fluids cept in check you have nothing too wory about.

The only other advise I might have is HOLD THE F#@K ON!! and have fun. :twisted:
 
thanks a lot ICEMAN, even tho i know i'm not the first one on the board to ask ths question (as i saw later).

since this morning, I am the proud owner of a pistache green 1985 ZL900... and I need a cam chain now :)
 
Congratulations! Enjoy your new toy to the fullest. If you enjoy it half as much as i do mine, you'll be a very happy man (as long as you're moving).
 
I haven't had to change my cam chane tentioner yet, but I fear it's comming soon. I'm hoping I can make it untill this winter When I plan to put mine up fore some work and do something about it then. I've heard alot about converting to a concourse tensioner (better system). you might want to look and ask arround about some pointers on that.
 
cam chain

How do you know when u need a cam chain tensioner? Is it hard to replace? I have a 600 and sometimes when it cool out, it doesnt idle right unless its warmed up totally.
 
ICEMAN said:
I haven't had to change my cam chane tentioner yet, but I fear it's comming soon. I'm hoping I can make it untill this winter When I plan to put mine up fore some work and do something about it then. I've heard alot about converting to a concourse tensioner (better system). you might want to look and ask arround about some pointers on that.
Click to expand...
thanks.
i've heard changing the tender is fairly easy, and while at it it's better to change the chain aswell.
first i've got to see if i take the winter to "rebuilt" it or if i ride it right away.

it's the (absence of) brakes that I fear the most. I guess swapping the front end for a GPZ or ZX might be a good idea too.
but first, I NEED to get rid of that silly pistache color :roll:
 
Hi all:

Any of you folks know what a goood fluid/spray is to clean the gritty/grimy OUTSIDES of the whole carb assembly, including the springs?

I have removed ALL rubber parts from the whole set; only metal remains.

Thanks.

Aaron
 
I use regular ole spray carb cleaner. They do have the professional stuff available in the parts stores that comes in a 1 - 2 gal container with a basket. You dunk the whole carb in and soak it a little, rinse and dry with compressed air. never used it on cycles but done plenty of holleys and carters in my days with it. the stuff is powerful. might even take the paint off :dontknow:
 
I agree with ZLMark, if you have them stripped down to the metal then try NAPA or someplace similar and get the commercial stuff and soak the carbs in that for a day or two.
 
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