Z1 as a project?

[Andrew-S]

Looking great Dave and a credit to your hard work and perseverance - this might spur you on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoIsb9Ihzgs&ab_channel=KAPLANAMERICA

[sprinta]

Looking great Dave and a credit to your hard work and perseverance - this might spur you on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoIsb9Ihzgs&ab_channel=KAPLANAMERICA

Shame about the handle bar grips though!

[philward]

Looking good Dave - I'm very jealous!

[MrDavo]

Thanks for the comments. Yes, the bike in Andrews video has those spongy grips that everyone fitted back in the day, along with the grubby rear spokes they make you wonder why they didn't bother... I saw an edition of the Motorbike Show the other night where Henry Cole was on a Z1A that he really liked, Identical to mine except for a four into one, if I eventually have to wait forever for a new 4/4 set, that might even become a thing, though I'd rather not.

The new heater is on the right of this picture, I fitted the replica chainguard that I got from Z Power along with the fitting kit. Also I later fitted the sidestand and tightened up the rear sprocket, I jammed the sprocket and chain up with a folded piece of denim. The original sidestand bolt polished up very nicely.

[MrDavo]

Back at it over the weekend, as some parts came from Z Power. I was going to fit a set of exhaust studs I bought on eBay, but they are 8mm, not 6mm. I seem to have now got most of the parts I need to finish the bike, short of some odds and sods such as mudguard mounting rubbers. The big fly in the ointment is the exhaust system, though.  I'm on Z Powers list, but I got an email from Yamiya  in Japan saying that they have stopped using regular post due to Covid and are only shipping via UPS. That (assuming DoReMi are in the same boat) and a huge #@%$ bonus of containers backed up in our ports means I don't expect to get them any time soon.

I restored and fitted the footrests (bought from EBay) and a new stud kit from Z Power, on the timing side, I can't finish the other side until the transmission cover is back on. The brake lever I had rechromed by Agriggs in Leeds. The footrest bracket had to come off again twice, once to get the brake lever on with its spring, and anther time once I realised that the rather Heath Robinson stop light rod goes behind the bracket. I also put the pillion pegs on, a replica kit from Z Power. Here's how it ended up:



While I was digging the brake lever out of the attic, I also got tempted to get the seat and try it on for the first time. I haven't fitted the pins yet but this gives the general idea.

Its all starting to look a lot like a whole Z1 with some parts missing now, rather than just a kit of parts.

[philward]

Looking good Dave!

[MrDavo]

Just a wee update as I only got a couple of hours in the garage this weekend, Christmas is getting in the way, Bah, Humbug!

A couple of pieces came in the post today, a new N/S genuine footrest from Andrew, and the sprocket guard plate that I bought from eBay. Z Power will probably get these back in stock now, but hey ho.

Last week Ash kindly sent me a box with everything I need to solder on my alternator leads, including Hitachi solder coated springs for the join, proper lead solder and flux, 2 pack epoxy resin and glass fibre sleeving. I have done as neat a job as I can, he also sent instructions, but he'll be disappointed that I didn't colour the insulating sleeves yellow like OEM. However next time anyone else but me sees inside the alternator cover, I've either sold the bike or popped my clogs.

Here are the coil wires tinned with the lead solder,



And soldered into the spring connectors.



The joins were covered with 3 pieces of the glass fibre sleeving, and everything sealed up with epoxy. That's still drying at the moment, I'll leave it a few days before I put everything back on, I'll also apply some sealant around where the wires go through a rubber grommet to the outside of the engine.

[AshimotoK0]

That soldering looks much better Dave but what happened to the glass-woven, double-insulated cable I sent? 

[MrDavo]

It’s pushed back out of the way of the heat of the soldering but I did use it Ash!

I can’t post photos from this, but I copied a photo of the real thing, and used a short wide piece of sleeving  around the three wires to tie it to the stator core, and three bits of the thinner sheath to cover the soldered joints.  These are the bits I have expoxied in to seal and immobilise them. The only problem I’ve had is the weave fraying where I cut it making the job a bit messy. Not sure if I needed a sharper knife.

[Nurse Julie]

Are you enjoying this restoration Dave?

[MrDavo]

Here's the result, messy but mechanically sound.



I am enjoying the build, Julie, however most of the restoration had already been done for me, its mostly working out which bits I haven't got, finding them and assembly. The CL450 was more satisfying to do because it was a genuine barn find to put back on the road. Somehow it can be more rewarding to take parts which are old and faded and make them back like new again.

[philward]

I'm with you on the doing yourself satisfaction thing Dave - turning something that was rusty into a shiny zinc plated or painted as new part is so rewarding - but when I show my missus a freshly shiny zinc plated carb part, she doesn't seem to enthuse like I do? Very strange!

[royhall]

You can have my Bomber Dave and I will do the Z instead. Straight swap?

[MrDavo]

No thanks, I like projects with parts that fit.

I'll swap your Bomber for my CL450, as long as I can keep the CL's rotor and (working) starter clutch assembly!! 

[royhall]

No thanks, I like projects with parts that fit.

I'll swap your Bomber for my CL450, as long as I can keep the CL's rotor and (working) starter clutch assembly!! 

Bugger. Looks like no Z again.