81Rmachine
09-28-2012, 05:51 PM
I just picked up this '76 a few weeks ago for $300 in non running condition and pretty beat up. I was told it didnt run and needed a top end. I drug it home and found out it was ill-maintained and the timing chain was loose enough to slip a tooth. It had no compression so first thing i usually check is valve lash and timing and sure enough it was a full tooth retarded. I reset the timing tightened the chain and got it running although it wasn't the strongest running it didn't burn oil and ran pretty smooth, but I already had a lifan coming in the mail. The motor isnt going to collect dust its going to my brothers '77 Z50 resto. Im normally not one to part something out but this bike is a '76 a pretty common year, not that rare, and beat up so far from a collector and besides I was gonna build something to actually ride.
154845154846
Now, the build, It actually looks pretty good from a distance, but up close everything was kinda thrown together, nothing was bolted together right, the tank was pretty dented although surprising clean inside. I wasnt planning on a complete resto-mod at the moment, just to get it mechanically sound and looking complete, but i wanted to start with a good base so I took it down to the frame, blasted, painted, and did some machining for the swingarm. It was pretty sloppy so I turned some bronze bushings on the lathe and pressed them in. You can see in the pic how oblonged the hole was on the drive side and ideally you would bore the hole bigger but I didnt have a good way of doing that, I could have mounted it on the mill somehow, but didn't think it was worth the headache and i sure as hell wasnt going to use a drill bit cause then both side are out of alignment, but the bronze worked out very well, no more play.
154847154848154849154850154851154852
The factory suspension is pretty soft and Im about 195 so I turned some spacers on the lathe and slotted them on the mill to fit under the springs. I was very satisfied with how the suspension upgrade helped it doesnt bottom out near as easily and its actually stiff enough i can carry a decent wheelie, otherwise it was too soft and all over the place and theres still plenty of room before coil bind. Heres the spacers, More pics!
154853154854154855
The front forks weren't the typical blown out wore through the chrome forks you find on a Z50 but they werent perfect so i rebuilt em. I got the fork parts from Dr. ATV including plastic sliders, seals, and the upper sliders located at the pin which were only put in ct70s. I tumbled all the parts to get all the nasty old grease off of them. The factory hole between the fork tube and spring seat were no where near aligned with the new bushing and i needed a longer pin to hold the new bushing in place so I used an oversize drill and went through them all and turned my own solid steel pin with a bit of press fit. If you rebuild any Z50 forks, I would highly recommend to put the ct70 sliders in! the factory plastic lowers just aren't enough. The end result was some very smooth working forks, and the nicest riding z50 I've been on.
154856154857154858
The bearings were in good shape so i left them, the front brake had been disconnected so the drum was rusty so I chucked it in the lathe and cleaned it up, I washed up the brake drums and reassembled with fresh grease in the cams and pins. It finally felt like a good solid roller.
154859154860154861
I dont want to make this first post too long cause i want to keep everyones interest of course pictures help;), but i do have the machine in riding condition as of now and absolutely love it. I've made pretty good progress considering its been a month since I got it. I thought I'd see what you guys thought first and then ill post up the whole engine installation next along with any machining and modifying it took to make it all happen, I appreciate any input and let me know if you have questions, Im hopin to find atleast some Z50 gurus on this site!
154845154846
Now, the build, It actually looks pretty good from a distance, but up close everything was kinda thrown together, nothing was bolted together right, the tank was pretty dented although surprising clean inside. I wasnt planning on a complete resto-mod at the moment, just to get it mechanically sound and looking complete, but i wanted to start with a good base so I took it down to the frame, blasted, painted, and did some machining for the swingarm. It was pretty sloppy so I turned some bronze bushings on the lathe and pressed them in. You can see in the pic how oblonged the hole was on the drive side and ideally you would bore the hole bigger but I didnt have a good way of doing that, I could have mounted it on the mill somehow, but didn't think it was worth the headache and i sure as hell wasnt going to use a drill bit cause then both side are out of alignment, but the bronze worked out very well, no more play.
154847154848154849154850154851154852
The factory suspension is pretty soft and Im about 195 so I turned some spacers on the lathe and slotted them on the mill to fit under the springs. I was very satisfied with how the suspension upgrade helped it doesnt bottom out near as easily and its actually stiff enough i can carry a decent wheelie, otherwise it was too soft and all over the place and theres still plenty of room before coil bind. Heres the spacers, More pics!
154853154854154855
The front forks weren't the typical blown out wore through the chrome forks you find on a Z50 but they werent perfect so i rebuilt em. I got the fork parts from Dr. ATV including plastic sliders, seals, and the upper sliders located at the pin which were only put in ct70s. I tumbled all the parts to get all the nasty old grease off of them. The factory hole between the fork tube and spring seat were no where near aligned with the new bushing and i needed a longer pin to hold the new bushing in place so I used an oversize drill and went through them all and turned my own solid steel pin with a bit of press fit. If you rebuild any Z50 forks, I would highly recommend to put the ct70 sliders in! the factory plastic lowers just aren't enough. The end result was some very smooth working forks, and the nicest riding z50 I've been on.
154856154857154858
The bearings were in good shape so i left them, the front brake had been disconnected so the drum was rusty so I chucked it in the lathe and cleaned it up, I washed up the brake drums and reassembled with fresh grease in the cams and pins. It finally felt like a good solid roller.
154859154860154861
I dont want to make this first post too long cause i want to keep everyones interest of course pictures help;), but i do have the machine in riding condition as of now and absolutely love it. I've made pretty good progress considering its been a month since I got it. I thought I'd see what you guys thought first and then ill post up the whole engine installation next along with any machining and modifying it took to make it all happen, I appreciate any input and let me know if you have questions, Im hopin to find atleast some Z50 gurus on this site!