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cal's ZXR250A project log.

Discussion in 'Kawasaki 250cc In-line 4's' started by cal, Aug 21, 2013.

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  1. cal

    cal Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Kawa '88 ZXR250A / 86' BMW K100. 1992 VFR400R
    I'll be using this thread to keep track of progress on my ZXR, dont expect amazing things as this will be the first bike ive ever restored, but hey... now is the time to learn and you guys have great input + advice.

    I start as of today, i plan to do a basic service including oil/filter/plugs/coolant + a massive degrease and scrub. :)

    As money comes through i plan to buy; new front/rear sprocket with chain, get the fork seals done, brake pads and new rotors, sand down and chrome dip the exhaust manifold, and give her some general TLC.
    545900_10201804554744926_851714320_n.jpg 577294_10201804571945356_841088727_n.jpg 1008711_10201804561265089_887589605_o.jpg 1146884_10201804559625048_648153897_o.jpg 1150400_10201804566905230_1897620997_n.jpg 1185851_10201804566465219_226742046_n.jpg
    and remember folks..... Rust is lighter than carbon fiber ;)
     
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    cal, Aug 21, 2013
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  2. cal

    cal Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    My Bike:
    Kawa '88 ZXR250A / 86' BMW K100. 1992 VFR400R
    ok gents, ive been working on her all day and found some interesting things stripping the bike down.

    - soot and gunk top to bottom, mismatching spark plugs, 2 plugs were CR8E, and two others were CR9E...
    some plugs also had a bit of oil in the thread :/ and all had brown soot on them.

    7864_10201805732534370_1559237264_n.jpg 664305_10201805731894354_1016751018_o.jpg 935887_10201805734134410_1742574514_n.jpg 548321_10201805740054558_61793418_n.jpg

    - coolant looked like rusted water.... got a snap of that to show.

    - oil was blacker than the blackest black times infinity.....

    head gasket does look a little sad, something for next time....

    over all, success... bike starts more easily, sounds a bit more throaty somehow, and i degreased and scrubbed the hell out of the block. :)

    1044467_10201805738334515_1449103586_n.jpg 1149239_10201805737454493_1022572987_o.jpg
     
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    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 21, 2013
    cal, Aug 21, 2013
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  3. cal

    cal Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    I used tectaloy 100+ for coolant and high-end castrol 10w-40 oil, new plugs were standard CR9E NGK

    did a flush of both oil and coolant, was messy
     
    cal, Aug 21, 2013
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  4. risky

    risky risky

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    supercheap has pressure pak degreasere on sale at 2.19$ a can bought some today and going back tmr.
     
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    risky, Aug 21, 2013
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  5. cal

    cal Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    yeah mate :) i was at supercheap today also, got two of the 500ml cans of Dg - feel like a phoney for taking advantage of fathers day sales :p
     
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    cal, Aug 21, 2013
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  6. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Plugs should have been matching, which ones did you buy ?
     
    kiffsta, Aug 21, 2013
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  7. Phil

    Phil Senior Member Contributing Member

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    You've been active today Cal, Bikes tend to perform better with fresh oil and filter, some decent coolant, 4 new plugs, matching of course and a good brake flush. A good clean is always high on my agenda also. Did you put a new fuel filter as well, didn't see that on your list. The engine looks great.:D
    Job well done Cal, thanks for posting and keeping us up to date with your endeavours.:thumb_ups:
     
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    Phil, Aug 21, 2013
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  8. cal

    cal Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    - yeah kiff, got the CR9E set of 4, they cost me $4.20 each at Supercheap today.... not bad.

    it raised an eyebrow when i noticed they were 8's in cylinders 3 and 4.... clainders 1,2 had CR9E's...odd
     
    cal, Aug 21, 2013
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  9. cal

    cal Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    also had a laugh when i found no DoT3 in the rear brake reseviour
     
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    cal, Aug 21, 2013
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  10. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    ouch, they are the right plugs for the bike, I should have read your other post properly:headbang:
     
    kiffsta, Aug 21, 2013
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  11. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    word for the wise, read the ZXr250 manual in the resources section on how to bleed the cooling system for when you refill her with coolant.
     
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    kiffsta, Aug 21, 2013
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  12. Phil

    Phil Senior Member Contributing Member

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    It's good when you can laugh about it.:D
     
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  13. cal

    cal Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    those extractors are going to get done another day ;) just got a heads up that i can get them sandblasted for about $60 here on the coast. could work out as a better option as i could see myself almost spending that in wet/dry sand paper for this job - and besides iv'e got some riding to do! :)
     
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  14. cal

    cal Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    - hey kiff, when i bled the "coolant" *cough* afterwards i filled her with distilled water and re-sealed the system then ran it for a few minutes and then dumped the water before filling with my coolant mix. bit of crap come out, so i felt confident the flush worked in my favor :)


    lucky i did this today and not later.... this bike really needed a service, and i feel like i have added a few more years to its life. :) :)
     
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    cal, Aug 21, 2013
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  15. cal

    cal Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    hey Phil, i did not replace the fuel filter today :( but that is on the list of stuff to do ;)

    fuel system overall seems fine at the moment (had a scare today when i ran out on main and had to switch to reserve :p) after my forks are sorted, im looking at cleaning the carbs and doing the fuel filter.
     
    cal, Aug 21, 2013
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  16. risky

    risky risky

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    in regard to the degreaser... HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU WERE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE SALE........DADDY!!!!!!!!!lol
     
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    risky, Aug 21, 2013
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  17. cal

    cal Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    true Risky, i could have heirs to my throne all over QLD, - ill know in the next few months i guess ;)
     
    cal, Aug 21, 2013
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  18. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Im sure we all get nervous around the first Sunday in September in case that anonymous fathers card shows up in the post :superman:
     
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  19. risky

    risky risky

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    i know your address!!!!
     
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    risky, Aug 21, 2013
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  20. cal

    cal Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    well risky, bring a machete, water and some rations, because i live in a great patch of jungle :p ahhahahaha
     
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    cal, Aug 21, 2013
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