Started a thread on the Kawasaki Triples forum and thought I would also post here. I'm starting the restoration on my 1974 Kawasaki H2 I bought back in 1977 from the original owner. It was the first motorcycle I ever owned. The bike back in 1977 The bike had been sitting in my parents garage in Texas since 1981. I moved to California in 1987 and mostly forgot about it. I thought a few times about shipping it to California and restoring it back to original but that would be complicated since it had be heavily modified in the late 70s. The bike currently has a Denco Cobra 120 motor. It also didn't help that during one of my parents moves all the boxed original parts were lost or throw away. These included the original exhaust system, air box, carbs, wheels and various small bits and pieces. The bike is in pretty crusty condition so everything will need to be refinished. The bike as it sat in my Moms garage. It's finally home in my garage.
Started the tear-down. The last time I touched the motor was around 1980-81. I had done a fresh re-bore because of an earlier piston seizure. Left cylinder is missing its piston. I knew one was not installed but can't remember the reason why now. Probably just lost interest. At the time my buddies and I all had new Z1000s we were messing with. Note Denco stamp and serial number. Still looks new..... Empty left cylinder. No rust. Not sure what I'll end up doing with the Denco top end as I'm putting the engine back to stock spec. I already have a set of stock bore late model cylinders and heads. Motor out.
Are you planning on changing out the crank seals? The rust indicates you may need to do the crank bearing anyways.
Yes the engine is getting a total rebuild. The crank seals can't be trusted after all this time. I also need to bead or maybe vapor blast the cases. Anybody know a good place to do this in SoCal?
If you are going to beadblast you should be painting the engine. Dirt/Oil will stick like a motherlover and will be hard to keep clean.
Scooters? Two-strokes? Painted engines? Multicylinder? Sorry. I've given up on you and your moms ever sending me parts pre-cleaned and ready for vaporblasting. He seems like a nice guy!
Made some progress with the tear down. The frame has some issues that need corrected. I had trimmed off the turn signal brackets, center stand and chain oiler mounts. I also welded in some additional frame bracing that will have to be removed. The missing brackets can't easily be recreated but I picked up a un-titled frame on eBay cheap. So with a little cutting and welding I can transfer the brackets. I'm going to refinish the Lester's to their original finish.
cool restoration, Love the triples! I had a couple of the smaller ones myself, as a teen. I think I still have a hand written timeslip from Fremont Dragstrip from racing my S1 250triple that I fitted with a 400cc engine, would run respectable mid-13's with my homemade wheelie bars. I grew up in Fremont, CA, (ok, I never really grew up) home of the famous Hot Bike Engineering shop run by Tony Nicocia, who sort of pre-dated Denise Dean and Denco, also in Fremont at that time. Tony set several NHRA records back then, I used to ride my bicycle past his shop, and drool over the race bikes parked near the window, dreaming of the day I could own one. Those guys, Tony, Denise, and Rusty Jones, were thee go-to guys for Kawasaki 2-stroke triple tuning, performance parts, pipes, porting, and all sorts of go-fast goodies in the Bay Area. Thanks for the pics and trip down memory lane, good luck with the restoration
If the other frame is in better shape just transfer your nos. I need to get a couple H2 cranks done in the near future,who are you using and how can I contact them.I have an original 72 thats also been sitting since 81 and a project bike that may or may not ever come to pass.
Here's some pricing and contact info for two guys that have gotten good feedback on the Kawasaki Triples Forum. I haven't started on the motor yet, I want to get the complete chassis finished first. PorscheDave http://kawi2strokes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=571 Charlie Smith (443) 752-1222. The options are listed below: H1 Option 1 – Standard grade bearings with new slotted rods $840.00 Option 2 – Koyo bearings with new slotted rods $925.00 H2 Option 1 – Standard grade bearings with used stock non-slotted rods $680 Option 2 – Standard grade bearings with new IMS rods (slotted) $775 Option 3 – Koyo bearings with used stock non-slotted rods $765 Option 4 - Koyo bearings with new IMS rods (slotted) $860
