Newbie w/ '82 GPz 750 NEEDS HELP!

[royalaxation]

Hey all.
I just bought my first moto three days ago: a 1982 GPz 750 w/ 9,5k miles for $1k from a 19 yr old kid out here in the Bay Area. Who knows, I may have been hosed, but I've already fallen in love w/ the thing, and I'm damn glad I've found this forum, b/c the problems are starting to pile up and I need some advice.

So far, in the three days that I've owned it, I've learned that I need to replace both tires, get a rear master cylinder rebuild, a new chain, and new front brake pads. And then...this morning I go outside and see a black puddle next to my bike, which I traced to a leaking carburetor, the one on the far right if you're sitting on the bike. That carb is missing the thin springy belt that clamps the intake boot (?) b/n the carb and the cylinder head...does that make sense? I may be leaving some vital info out: if so, please ask and I'll tell you what I can given my limited knowledge. And let me just say upfront that I'm psyched about learning all I can about motorcycles, and if this turns into an extensive DIY, I'm ready for the challenge and the learning process.

My questions are these: 1) Do I need a full carb rebuild or 2) can I just secure the intake boot w/ a replacement springy belt thing? (Yeah, I know, it's obvious that I don't know what I'm talking about, that's why I'm turning to you all.) 3) Should I replace all the intake boots? 4) If I need to do a full carb rebuild, is that something I could do on my own w/ the right tools and concentration to detail? 6) where can I find parts for this bike? and/or 5) Should I just take it to a mechanic and have him do all the work at $40/hr?

I called Tyler, a trusted mechanic at Hayasa Motorbikes, which specializes in classic Japanese bikes, and he told me I should try to hunt down 4 new airbox boots, new intake boots, a float needle / seat assembly (fuel valve assembly?), new float gaskets and new o-rings. Does that make sense? Is it overkill? Are those parts I could procure and replace on my own? How safe is the bike to ride or even start up at this point? Will it explode?

I don't feel like asking the BIG question until I know a little more about how much time and $$$ this bike's gonna run me.

Thanks in advance for all your time, effort and consideration. And, again, I'm really glad I found you all.

[antiq]

Tyler is right. Though you may be able to soften your boots in hot water and fabric softener. The carbs should be cleaned very well. Especially the float needle valves and seats. Carb rebuild for most bikes is really just thorough cleaning sometimes a few replacement parts. Get a good factory manual.

[MFolks]

Ask at Z1 Enterprises, Inc. - Specializing in Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Parts for new carb boots(ducting). Go to the nearest auto parts store and buy some Berryman's B-12, follow the directions on the can for mix ratio's. This will help clean the fuel system.

[royalaxation]

Clymer or Haynes?

[royalaxation]

Also, do I need to replace all those parts in all four carbs or just the damaged one?

[royalaxation]

I know this is a lot to ask, but I can't find most of the above listed parts on the list/schematics of carb/cylinder head parts over at bikebandit.com.

Would someone be kind enough to take the trouble to mine the following website and tell me which parts specifically I need?-->1982 Kawasaki Motorcycle Parts for GPZ 750, OEM and Aftermarket at BikeBandit.com.

Much appreciated.

[royalaxation]

Are parts - carb parts at least - for the '82 KZ 750 and the GPz 750 interchangeable? I'm having a much easier time finding parts for the KZ than I am the GPz. Thanks again

[steell]

First off, go to The 1983 Kawasaki KZ750 L3 and download the manual.

Kz750's have Kehein (sp) carbs while yours has Mikuni's,
Bike Bandit is appropriately named, I suggest Ron Ayers for OEM parts and Z1 Enterprises for everything else.
I'm pretty sure the OEM parts diagrams don't show carb rebuild kits, but they do show 82 GPz750 carb parts. Let's see if I can link to the illustrated parts breakdown at kawasaki.com.

[quader98]

hello,welcome to the forums,congrats on the bike,don't forget the pics . what leads you to believe that you need new boots ? does it run ? is it not running right ? sounds to me like you have a stuck float or the needle is not seating. do as mike suggests and see if it clears up if it dosent your gonna have to take the carbs off and clean em up or rebuild them
you want to get the kawasaki heavy industries or the clymer manual

[quader98]

the 700 A1 and the 750 L3 do share alot of parts but they are not the same so be careful when ordering parts , click on the link and then go to parts diagram

http://www.kawasaki.com/kawasakinew/...elCode=KZ750R1

[Ericthejet]

Z1 Enterprizes is a good source for parts.
I would also invest in a fuel tap rebuild kit.

[royalaxation]

Hey quader98,
The leaking boot is missing the spring belt that secures it and is instead wrapped up in electrical tape, which isn't exactly doing the job, so that's why I'm thinking I might need new boots, but I'm open to suggestions. It seems to be running fine, but there is this leak from the right carb and I'm not sure whether it's safe and I'd like to get the bike in as close to perfect running order as I can.

And here are some picks of the bike itself; I'll get some picks of the leaky carb up today:

[royalaxation]

Originally Posted by steell

Kz750's have Kehein (sp) carbs while yours has Mikuni's,
Bike Bandit is appropriately named, I suggest Ron Ayers for OEM parts and Z1 Enterprises for everything else.
I'm pretty sure the OEM parts diagrams don't show carb rebuild kits, but they do show 82 GPz750 carb parts. Let's see if I can link to the illustrated parts breakdown at kawasaki.com.

Thanks for the advice and direction. I'll definitely be scouring that parts diagram.
Ron Ayers' only has Kawasaki parts from '84 onward...any other ideas?

[royalaxation]

Originally Posted by Ericthejet

Z1 Enterprizes is a good source for parts.
I would also invest in a fuel tap rebuild kit.

Why the fuel tap rebuild? Is that something I could do myself relatively easily?

[royalaxation]

Originally Posted by MFolks

Ask at Z1 Enterprises, Inc. - Specializing in Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Parts for new carb boots(ducting). Go to the nearest auto parts store and buy some Berryman's B-12, follow the directions on the can for mix ratio's. This will help clean the fuel system.

Thanks for the advice, Mike. I'll give it a shot.

[royalaxation]

So here are some picks of what I'm dealing w/...

A view from below:


...from the side:


...from above:


...from the side and kind of behind:


...and a view of the opposite carb, which I'm guessing is still in pretty good shape though it does need some TLC/cleaning:


Any ideas? Thanks once more for all your help!

[quader98]

i really don't think that that's causing the fuel leak.how bad is the leak ? is it coming from the boot or from the carb ? also keep an extinguisher handy , you never know

[steell]

Originally Posted by royalaxation

Thanks for the advice and direction. I'll definitely be scouring that parts diagram.
Ron Ayers' only has Kawasaki parts from '84 onward...any other ideas?

Where did you read that? I order parts for my 79 750 twin there often (OEM)

Just get the part number from the parts diagrams at kawasaki.com and paste it into the parts search box. I just received a new OEM clutch cable for my 79 750 twin from Ron Ayers yesterday.

Z1 Enterprises can get OEM parts also, it's more of a PITA than Ron Ayers because you have to call Z1 for OEM parts. Z1 is definitely the place to get chains/sprockets/etc though.

I just realized that you probably don't know about the parts diagrams at kawasaki.com

Kawasaki go to "Owner Info" on the left side and a window will pop up, click on "Parts Diagrams" in the list then the rest is pretty obvious.


Gas leaking from the carb boot means at least the float needle valve inside the carb float bowl is not doing it's job. If it leaks when it's not running then the petcock needs rebuild also, it's supposed to allow fuel flow only when it is exposed to vacuum from a running motor.

[royalaxation]

Originally Posted by quader98

how bad is the leak ? is it coming from the boot or from the carb ? also keep an extinguisher handy , you never know

The leak isn't too bad, but it's bad enough to create a stain on the ground. From what I can tell, the leak is coming from the boot, not the carb.

I'll get a hold of a little extinguisher. Thanks for the hot tip(!).

[steell]

The fuel has to be coming from the carb, there is no fuel line going to the boot.

Scenario: Float needle valve leaks, fuel bowl fills, overflow blocked or not present, fuel spills out main jet into carb throat, fuel runs into air box through carb boot.

It's real common, especially if one forgets to turn the petcock from prime back to ON (my Brother's habit).

And that's if you're lucky!

My nephew drives my 750 twin to work sometimes. One day he forgot to turn the petcock off upon arrival, so he had to change the oil at lunch because the crankcase was full of gas. Then the ding-aling forgot to turn the tap off again after lunch the same day, he had to change the oil before he could ride it home (you'd think he'd learn). Two oil changes in one day because the needle valve(s) is/are leaking and the gas is running the other way, into the cylinder and then to the crankcase.