Engine Seize - Time to Rebuild the Tri-Z

[brandonlowe2]

I see you are thinking about getting GPI radiators--I am too. Even though I have a hi flow impeller, a Sprock cool head, and use Engine Ice on my Z, I still have an occasional problem with heat fade. I bought an aftermarket radiator for my 1st generation Tecate and it cools much better than stock, but several of the aluminum tabs broke after one ride. I got them re-welded and re-enforced so they are fine now, but I'm worried about the same problem with the Z radiators. I think all the oversized radiators on ebay are made by the same company in China. Does anyone have experience with these radiators they can report back?

Yea I have read some bad things about the chinese radiators, but, at the same time its the only game in town for a bigger capacity and aluminum radiator. Which Hi Flow impeller did you go with? and do you have a link for the Sprock cool head you refer to? I want to do everything I can to keep from overheating again. I was told about http://www.trailtech.net/ today... these look like really cool devices and I am planning on getting one.

[brandonlowe2]

I don't know how I missed it before but I just saw your pictures of your different fork set ups.... I never even thought about having more than one setup... they look awesome


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[christph]

I get a lot of my Sprock parts from Greg at Off Road Innovations. Sprock is no longer making this stuff so you better act quickly--although Greg has talked about making these parts himself. I have all the parts below and my Z is a beast. The last part listed below--the V-Force reeds--is not from Greg. I snagged the last one from him a few years ago.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sprock-Racin...xXESk-&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1983-1987-Ya...IAAOSwiYFXI-j2

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Yamaha-T...0AAOSwZJlXM124

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-Tri-Z...xYLKA4&vxp=mtr

[brandonlowe2]

I get a lot of my Sprock parts from Greg at Off Road Innovations. Sprock is no longer making this stuff so you better act quickly--although Greg has talked about making these parts himself. I have all the parts below and my Z is a beast. The last part listed below--the V-Force reeds--is not from Greg. I snagged the last one from him a few years ago.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sprock-Racin...xXESk-&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1983-1987-Ya...IAAOSwiYFXI-j2

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Yamaha-T...0AAOSwZJlXM124

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-Tri-Z...xYLKA4&vxp=mtr

This is going to cost some serious $$$ lol..... it will be fun though. What size carb are you running?

[NeverLift]

From the picture, it looks like you have quite a few mods on yours... can you post more pics and list what mods you have?

This is my build thread.

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...werValve/page3

[6spdls1z28]

Im doing my build now too mines all stripped down. Doing my forks tonight.

[barnett468]

barnett468.... i only assumed (and you know what assuming does!) that with the top end upgrade that I would want a little more rear end length to help keep the front on the ground going into 1st and 2nd. 2" in my mind just doesn't seem like a lot, but, if you say it is I need to look into that as an option. I love the way the bike handles right now and I don't want to change that drastically... I just want to accommodate for the added power

The first priority is always handling . The traction issues can be addressed with suspension and tires, and since you like the way it currently handles, I would strongly recommend against going any longer than an additional 2" on the swingarm even though you are also extending the axle, and even 1 1/2" or 1 3/4" longer might be enough for your particular app . I guarantee you that 2" will make a day and night difference in how it handles . Even lengthening it by only 1" is enough to make a noticeable, but not drastic change in handling.


PREVIOUS KAWASAKI INTERNATIONAL R & D PROJECT ENGINEER AND ATV DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR

[barnett468]

12. Brakes. I want to either rebuild the master cylinders or use something from a newer-than-30-year-old machine that would work.

There isn't any big improvement on brakes on those in the last 30 years so there is very little to no point at all in trying to redesign the wheel unless you are extremely unhappy with them . If you wanted a little more grip you might get it with different pads than you have been using . If you want it to stop using a lot less force/effort on the pedal and/or lever, installing smaller masters or larger volume calipers will do that but that will increase the amount of travel the lever or pedal operates over so it will be a trade off.



PREVIOUS KAWASAKI INTERNATIONAL R & D PROJECT ENGINEER AND ATV DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR

[christph]

This is going to cost some serious $$$ lol..... it will be fun though. What size carb are you running?

I'm running a 38 mm Keihin Air Striker with a reed spacer. The reed spacer improved the performance considerably. Some people dismiss them, but for this application it worked wonders. The intake manifold on the Z is small, so the spacer pulled the reeds away from the ports and added volume. I would definitely recommend giving one a try after you get the engine up and running. Finally, Greg prefers you call him direct rather than buy through ebay.

[tecat-z]

Brandonlowe2. I have a complete lower end that may interest you. It was a no expense spared
build for a project Z I built. I changed course and never used it. I will sell at a very reasonable
Cost ratio to what is invested.

[brandonlowe2]

Brandonlowe2. I have a complete lower end that may interest you. It was a no expense spared
build for a project Z I built. I changed course and never used it. I will sell at a very reasonable
Cost ratio to what is invested.

PM sent to ya!

[brandonlowe2]

There isn't any big improvement on brakes on those in the last 30 years so there is very little to no point at all in trying to redesign the wheel unless you are extremely unhappy with them . If you wanted a little more grip you might get it with different pads than you have been using . If you want it to stop using a lot less force/effort on the pedal and/or lever, installing smaller masters or larger volume calipers will do that but that will increase the amount of travel the lever or pedal operates over so it will be a trade off.



PREVIOUS KAWASAKI INTERNATIONAL R & D PROJECT ENGINEER AND ATV DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR

The main thing I wan to accomplish with brakes is to have a parking brake and also be able to install a "blinking" brake light that turns on when I pull the front and/or rear brake. We do alot of night riding in the mountains and it would be a big help to have this feature. Also, because of the mountains, the parking brake would really nice.

I know the brakes have nothing to do with replacing the calipers, but, I believe I will have to in order to get the parking brake set up

[brandonlowe2]

Ok, it looks like I am going to be able to get the bottom end from "Tecat-Z" It looks really nice and is exactly what I want because it is an '85, which means 6 speed transmission!




Also, I have decided that I am going to deviate slightly from the original '85 1/2 color scheme. I know some people might not agree and probably would prefer to see me keep it OEM colors, but, I have thought about it and I want to make it "my own" So, unless I change my mind again, I am going to do the frame and nerf bars muscle car orange. The swingarm and skidplate will be white. The shock spring will be orange. The motor will stay black. The pipe will be chrome as well as the axle. The plastics will be Carbon Fiber. The seat will be mostly orange with some designs stitched in (by cosmic quads) possibly white and black stitched flames or something. Will put new Tri-Z decals on the carbon fiber plastics but will have the "Tri-" custom cut in white and the "Z" cut in orange. The rear wheel will be black with orange beadlocks and white hubs. The front wheel black with white hub. Also, I am working on customizing the front headlight shroud to accept two 12" LED light bars (stacked on top of each other) one which will be a spot and the other a flood (low and high beam) I am hoping that it turns out the way it is in my head.... then I just have to figure out how to make sure the stator can run the LED's and if not, figure out how to add a small battery.

[El Camexican]

It looks really nice and is exactly what I want because it is an '85, which means 6 speed transmission

You might want to confirm that. 1985's came with a 5 speed, but he could have put a 6 speed in it from a 1986.

[brandonlowe2]

Sorry I said that wrong... the bottom end is in fact an '86 not an '85