650 Katana - from basket case to... time will tell!

[Guest]

Well, here we go!
Here's some truly horrible "before" pictures. Wish me luck!
IMGP8266.jpg

[IanW]

Hmm.. seems I have to add the pictures one by one

[rapidray]

How are you going to get 4 cylinder heads to run on one engine?
Ray.

[IanW]

So that's what the problem has been!
(Actually there is a mirror at the back so there's only 2).
I'll settle for one good one of everything.IMGP8271.jpg

[IanW]

this is annoying doing things one at a time. Am I doing something wrong?
IMGP8273.jpg

[IanW]

Posting pictures one at a time I mean
IMGP8290.jpg

[IanW]

Nice valves Hey?
IMGP8345.jpg

[IanW]

And the speedo...
IMGP8384.jpg

[IanW]

And this will do for now.
IMGP8292.jpg

[Charlie G]

Ian,

Upload your photos to a hosting site like "photobucket". Once the pictures are there, copy the img code(s) from "sharing " links and paste on a post. You post up to 10 pictures on a post. I assume your in NZ or OZ and boy what a challenge you have. I'm sure it will be worth it. Cheers.

cg

[GateKeeper]

how to upload pictures....

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/images/how_to_post_pictures.pdf

.

[amcook]

Whats with the blue shock on the bench and the orange shocks on the bike?? Orange is original. And the blue front fender?? Good looking project

[IanW]

Whats with the blue shock on the bench and the orange shocks on the bike?? Orange is original. And the blue front fender?? Good looking project

Yes, I've got a whole lot of bits and pieces: most original, some not (like the blue shocks), some modified like the blue fender which, if you look closely, is not even a katana fender. Also a mix of 550 and 650 parts, 2 frames, 3 x 650 top ends, 2 x 650 bottom ends and one 550 bottom end and so on. Still at the moment stripping and cleaning and taking a roll call of parts, trying to end up with one good example of everything. As I mentioned in my post on the technical forum, my 2 big problems at the moment are a crankshaft which need repairs to the crank pins and the lack of a 650 signal generator. Still trying to establish if I can use the 550 signal generator plate. As for the crankshaft I have found a place which will weld and grind the bad crank pin, but I'm not sure about the long term reliability.

By the way, Charlie G, I'm in SA not Aus or NZ. And yes, I'm sure it will be worth it. (Wish I could convince my wife though...)

[IanW]

Right, so after a couple of months of tearing down and cleaning and measuring, I finally get to do something constructive.

Here is what pretty much the whole of the frame looked like:

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/ah272/iwiggins1/Frame01_zps24b336d0.jpg

Got rid of the old paint using paint stripper and a power cleaner. Never heard of this method before but it worked reasonably well and didn't damage the underlying zinc plating at all.

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/ah272/iwiggins1/Frame1_zps4b5662ff.jpg

Next a good going over with a wire brush to remove the remnants of the paint, and treatment of the rust with phosphoric acid.

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/ah272/iwiggins1/Frame2_zps86cc6592.jpg

A good coat of self etching primer....

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/ah272/iwiggins1/Frame3_zps1a047c9f.jpg

And a few coats of a satin enamel...

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/ah272/iwiggins1/Frame4_zps1ad3465b.jpg

And at last I feel that I've actually started!!!

[2BRacing]

Hey Ian

Congratulations, you have done a great job on the frame! If you keep to that standard with the rest of the restoration, your bike will look fantastic!