Author Topic: It's alive again - K1 start-up  (Read 1079 times)

Offline Andrew-S

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It's alive again - K1 start-up
« on: January 04, 2019, 04:45:49 PM »
Hi Folks,

Well, after two weeks (with Christmas and New Year in between) of cleaning and preparing the K1 for its first start-up after a 3 year lay-up, so after priming the oil pump and filter it actually started on the first press of the button.  It chucked out plenty of crap for a minute or so, including the residue of the oil I squirted into the bores the other day.

Anyway, I'm chuffed to nuts and once it had warmed up the engine sounded sweet and that old growl I used to love took me straight back to 1977, and I felt 19 years old again!!

Here's a couple of videos of the start-up - in the first one you can see all the crap being blown out of the exhaust (over my wife's car) and in the second, once it had warmed up a bit, the HM300s' sounding pretty awesome.  I ran it through the gears and all seemed good. I just need to get it to idle, but it was bloody cold this morning despite the sun making an appearance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb91KyFmAjI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aL1cXomjuk&t=12s

Here's also a few photos showing how shiny it's becoming.  Next job is to tackle the rust in the tank ready for the spring.  I intend to replace a few parts with NOS stuff and use it until the Autumn, then get the tank, panels etc off for repair and a respray ready for 2020.













Cheers

« Last Edit: January 04, 2019, 05:35:19 PM by Andrew-S »
1972 UK XL250 K0 Motosport
1976 UK Z900 A4
2018 BMW R1200 GS

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: It's alive again - K1 start-up
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2019, 04:51:17 PM »
Great job
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give 10% discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

LINK TO MY CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP / ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD...NOW COMPLETE
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Offline paul G

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Re: It's alive again - K1 start-up
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2019, 04:54:53 PM »
Looks great  :)
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Online K2-K6

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Re: It's alive again - K1 start-up
« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2019, 04:56:01 PM »
Looks really good, think it was that one Pete was on when we were at the Ace CafĂ© a few years ago now.  Sounded nice then and seems a very good bike.

Offline philward

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Re: It's alive again - K1 start-up
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2019, 05:29:31 PM »
Keep saying it everytime pictures get posted - love that red! Great bike - well done and keep up the good work
Current Bikes:-
Honda CB750K2 (1975)
Honda CB500K2 (12/1972)
Honda CR750 Replica (1972)
Honda CB350K0 (1969)
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Kawasaki ZZR250 (1990) Project (Going on eBay ASAP)

Offline CR750

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Re: It's alive again - K1 start-up
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2019, 06:44:57 PM »
Hi Folks,

Well, after two weeks (with Christmas and New Year in between) of cleaning and preparing the K1 for its first start-up after a 3 year lay-up, so after priming the oil pump and filter it actually started on the first press of the button.  .... you were very lucky... :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb91KyFmAjI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aL1cXomjuk&t=12s

The bike looks great...nice work...But there's no fuel tank on the bike in the video where did the petrol come from & was it fresh ?

Offline MCTID

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Re: It's alive again - K1 start-up
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2019, 06:49:44 PM »
Lovely........I bet Pete shed a lickle tear when he watched that film clip !

Great to see and hear another wonderful old Lady back in action.

I managed to find/ buy replica HM300's for my CB750K4 from the US..........if they sound as good as yours....I'll be a very happy bunny !

Great work and keep the photos coming.
Now: 2008 CB1300S, CB750K4, 1970 Bonneville. Various other 1960's 650 Triumph T120's/ TR6's/ TR6C's (all in bits...many, many bits unfortunately). Previous: 2007 CB600FA, 1976 CB500 Four. BMW F800ST. GS750E. ZZR1100. CB1300 (2). ZXR1200S. VFR800. CB750 Nighthawk. CX500. XS500 Yam. Suzuki GT500. BSA A10. Various Lambrettas. Zundapp Bella (honest).

Offline Spitfire

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Re: It's alive again - K1 start-up
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2019, 07:12:16 PM »
There's no mistaking that sound, takes me back a few years (a lot really)

Cheers

Dennis
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Re: It's alive again - K1 start-up
« Reply #8 on: January 04, 2019, 07:27:47 PM »
Thats a  very nice bike  ;D

Offline Rob62

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Re: It's alive again - K1 start-up
« Reply #9 on: January 04, 2019, 07:40:53 PM »
Very nice..... roll on spring  8) lets hope this summer is as good as last

Offline Andrew-S

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Re: It's alive again - K1 start-up
« Reply #10 on: January 05, 2019, 10:29:23 AM »
Thanks for all the positive comments, I'm very pleased with how the K1 is coming on and yes, whilst I wanted a Candy Gold as per my old K1, the Ruby Red is a stunning colour and that's the colour it will stay; anyway, Ruby Red belongs to the bike.

Now I know it's a good runner (Pete assured me it was) I can focus on doing other work to it before the Spring e.g. a major service - including balancing the carbs, changing brake fluid and inspecting the brakes and so on.

I WhatsApp'd Pete the link last night and he was very happy to see it up and running - he found the original Wisconsin plate and is posting it off to me, that'll be a nice addition to the history and photos that ChrisR has sent me.  Chris also sent me a copy of the original Title from which I'll be trying to contact the last owner in the US; it all builds a picture and history which I like to put together for my cars and bikes.

Talking of old photos, if anyone has any of the bike at meets etc I'd be most grateful for a copy.

The bike looks great...nice work...But there's no fuel tank on the bike in the video where did the petrol come from & was it fresh ?

Fresh fuel was run from a remote tank, you can see it in the photo below:



Cheers
« Last Edit: January 05, 2019, 10:55:24 AM by Andrew-S »
1972 UK XL250 K0 Motosport
1976 UK Z900 A4
2018 BMW R1200 GS

Offline CR750

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Re: It's alive again - K1 start-up
« Reply #11 on: January 05, 2019, 02:22:43 PM »
I can see the fuel pipe in the photo but not the vessel its out of shot but I do see what you mean now , did you strip & clean the carbs after the long lay up ?


































/... did you strip & clean the carbs after the long lay-up & before this start up
« Last Edit: January 05, 2019, 02:29:51 PM by CR750 »

Offline UK Pete

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Re: It's alive again - K1 start-up
« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2019, 02:38:04 PM »
Amazing job Andrew, like i said to you, it was put away running, I could not use it as I lost my sanity along with my houses and marriage,  I am surprised I am still alive Tbh, it was stored in a warm garage, so other than fuel I had faith it would run ok,  plate will be posted next week some time.
Pete

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Offline UK Pete

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Re: It's alive again - K1 start-up
« Reply #13 on: January 05, 2019, 02:41:02 PM »
Oh yes forgot to say I am gutted it went, and my Rickman, but you know my story and a few others on here do as well, and when that shit happens you have to do drastic things to recover properly,  I have two 69 k0,s and a sandcast to move on as well, 2019 is a big year for me

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Offline Andrew-S

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Re: It's alive again - K1 start-up
« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2019, 03:28:46 PM »
I can see the fuel pipe in the photo but not the vessel its out of shot but I do see what you mean now , did you strip & clean the carbs after the long lay up ?

I dropped the float bowls to see whats'-what and everything was nice and spangly; not a trace of the usual ethanol residue that I expected to see, so I just left them alone - I understand from ChrisR the carbs were cleaned prior to being exported from the States, and that was the case.

This extract from the photo shows the remote tank hanging on my jack:

1972 UK XL250 K0 Motosport
1976 UK Z900 A4
2018 BMW R1200 GS

 

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