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For Sale / Re: 1983 Kawasaki KX 500
« on: August 16, 2014, 12:42:05 pm »
Thanks Bishboy, bike is also listed on US Ebay.
Fritz
Fritz
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Maico / Re: 490 Mega 2 crankshaft seals
« on: July 29, 2014, 10:19:19 am »
I have replaced both main seals without splitting the cases. I carefully drilled 2 small holes 180 degrees apart in each seal, inserted sheet metal screws and used my vise grip slide hammer to pop them out working one side then the other.
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Maico / Re: '81 490 aftermarket ignition
« on: July 18, 2014, 10:26:26 am »
PVL or HPI, I run both and have no issues. The connectors on the HPI are a lot nicer but the HPI has the CDI unit separate from the coil so you have to find a place to mount it.
Fritz
Fritz
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For Sale / Re: 1983 Kawasaki KX 500
« on: July 18, 2014, 10:24:03 am »
Lots of lookers but no takers, I'll entertain any reasonable offers. I will transport this bike within 50 miles to a shipper of your choice free of charge. I will not disassemble and ship in parts to OZ, did that once, never again.
Fritz
Fritz
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Maico / Re: Starting a 490
« on: July 04, 2014, 11:24:00 pm »
Here in the PNW myself and all my big bore Maico bros are running Maxima Castor at 32-1.
It has been my experience that as the Motoplat dies the 490's become increasingly difficult to start. The failure mode on 2 motoplat equipped 490's was that I could not get a fire lit by kicking (I have had lots of 490's that I have raced for years and know how to start them) then even pushing down a hill or towing the bike will not get it started. Time for s new PVL or HPI.
You're onto the decompressor, good!
If you are running the Bing make sure the slide is not worn, if the slide greets you with a big smily face get a new one.
Like the gentleman on the previous post, they like a wet bottom end, I run long vent hoses and will turn them up, tickle until you see a level build in the hoses and hold the throttle open for a count of 3, this floods the bottom end. A few slow priming kicks then get it just past TDC and give it a smooth strong stroke, do not "slap" at the kickstart. If it pops or kicks back shut the fuel off and hold the throttle wide open when kicking.
It has been my experience that as the Motoplat dies the 490's become increasingly difficult to start. The failure mode on 2 motoplat equipped 490's was that I could not get a fire lit by kicking (I have had lots of 490's that I have raced for years and know how to start them) then even pushing down a hill or towing the bike will not get it started. Time for s new PVL or HPI.
You're onto the decompressor, good!
If you are running the Bing make sure the slide is not worn, if the slide greets you with a big smily face get a new one.
Like the gentleman on the previous post, they like a wet bottom end, I run long vent hoses and will turn them up, tickle until you see a level build in the hoses and hold the throttle open for a count of 3, this floods the bottom end. A few slow priming kicks then get it just past TDC and give it a smooth strong stroke, do not "slap" at the kickstart. If it pops or kicks back shut the fuel off and hold the throttle wide open when kicking.
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Maico / Re: Removing a 490 decompressor
« on: July 04, 2014, 11:12:58 pm »
I used a deep spark plug socket and drilled a 3/8" hole through the sidewall near the closed end. You slip the cable through the socket, out the hole and it works great.
Fritz
Fritz
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For Sale / Re: 1983 Kawasaki KX 500
« on: May 19, 2014, 08:47:51 am »
Bike now has a YZ 490 double leading shoe drum brake front end to go with it. These forks are set up with Race Tech emulators. In app 30 minutes you can swap from a disc brake front end to a DLS drum brake front end depending on which class you want to compete in. Price is still the same. Link to build photos below, DLS front end at bottom of page.
http://pnwvmx.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=36&start=30
Fritz
http://pnwvmx.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=36&start=30
Fritz
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Maico / Re: Wanted Maico 490 1983/84
« on: April 30, 2014, 08:56:35 am »
There is a nice 1984 M-Star 500 on the Seattle Craigslist site right now. Owner is asking $2500 and the bike is located in Ellensburg, WA.
Fritz
Fritz
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Kawasaki / FS 1983 Kawasaki KX 500
« on: April 30, 2014, 05:06:35 am »
Posted in the marketplace forum.
Fritz
Fritz
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For Sale / 1983 Kawasaki KX 500
« on: April 30, 2014, 04:56:52 am »
Recently restored 1983 KX 500:
This was a low hour bike that I purchased for a winter project. The bike was disassembled down to the frame with everything taken apart, cleaned, inspected and reassembled with new parts as required. Since the bike shifted fine and the crankshaft was well within tolerances the cases were not split. Here is a list of what was done and new parts:
Wheels: New Dunlop Geomax 31's front and rear w/new HD tubes. New DID ERT2 chain and sprockets. New All Balls wheel bearings and dust seals. New rear brake shoes installed. Front brake pads were well within spec and reused.
Rear shock: Rebuilt, New 7.0 kg/mm spring installed. New Race Tech seal head and soft goods installed with new RT oil and fresh N2 charge. Rebound adjustment works great.
KX Forks: Rebuilt with Race Tech seals, dust wipers and upper and lower guide bushings and new oil.
YZ 490 DLS front forks: All new bushings, seals, dust wipers and Race Tech emulators installed. New brake shoes. You can swap front ends in ~30 minutes.
Frame: All swing arm, suspension linkage and steering head bearings removed, cleaned, inspected and re-greased. All bearings were in great condition. One of the bushing/bearings in the dog bone was replaced w/new. Foot rest wideners welded on and a new Moose chain guide installed. All plastic with the exception of the rear fender and front number plate are original.
New ProTaper handlebars, grips and levers. Front brake disc cylinder rebuilt w/new seals and fluid.
Engine: Top end sent to Eric Gore/Millennium for porting and re-plating. Existing std piston was in great shape and reused, new piston ring and gaskets installed. Clutch rebuilt using a pristine 84 basket that uses needle bearings instead of the bushing found on the 83 model. New clutch steel plates, friction plates and springs installed. Note: This bike was put in storage for a locked up engine. After inspection the kicker idle gear broke a tooth and it was lodged in the primary and clutch basket gears, as I mentioned above the basket is new as is the primary gear. New Air filter element and cage. New reed block to carb adapter installed, the old was weather checked and replaced. To eliminate the pinging problem these bikes are noted for I purchased and installed a 1984 KX 500 head. The original Mikuni carb was replaced with a new Lectron carb that really works sweet.
I broke this bike in and raced it at the recent Boise Inter-Am and it runs great, crisp and clean and is ready to put on the track and race. sale includes all receipts and a parts/service manual, Buyer to arrange and pay for all shipping costs. Bike is located in the Pacific Northwest area. Pictures of the bike can be seen at http://pnwvmx.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=36&start=30. I tried to post a picture here but don't know if it worked??
$4000 usd
Fritz Guenther
[email protected]
100_2151.JPG
This was a low hour bike that I purchased for a winter project. The bike was disassembled down to the frame with everything taken apart, cleaned, inspected and reassembled with new parts as required. Since the bike shifted fine and the crankshaft was well within tolerances the cases were not split. Here is a list of what was done and new parts:
Wheels: New Dunlop Geomax 31's front and rear w/new HD tubes. New DID ERT2 chain and sprockets. New All Balls wheel bearings and dust seals. New rear brake shoes installed. Front brake pads were well within spec and reused.
Rear shock: Rebuilt, New 7.0 kg/mm spring installed. New Race Tech seal head and soft goods installed with new RT oil and fresh N2 charge. Rebound adjustment works great.
KX Forks: Rebuilt with Race Tech seals, dust wipers and upper and lower guide bushings and new oil.
YZ 490 DLS front forks: All new bushings, seals, dust wipers and Race Tech emulators installed. New brake shoes. You can swap front ends in ~30 minutes.
Frame: All swing arm, suspension linkage and steering head bearings removed, cleaned, inspected and re-greased. All bearings were in great condition. One of the bushing/bearings in the dog bone was replaced w/new. Foot rest wideners welded on and a new Moose chain guide installed. All plastic with the exception of the rear fender and front number plate are original.
New ProTaper handlebars, grips and levers. Front brake disc cylinder rebuilt w/new seals and fluid.
Engine: Top end sent to Eric Gore/Millennium for porting and re-plating. Existing std piston was in great shape and reused, new piston ring and gaskets installed. Clutch rebuilt using a pristine 84 basket that uses needle bearings instead of the bushing found on the 83 model. New clutch steel plates, friction plates and springs installed. Note: This bike was put in storage for a locked up engine. After inspection the kicker idle gear broke a tooth and it was lodged in the primary and clutch basket gears, as I mentioned above the basket is new as is the primary gear. New Air filter element and cage. New reed block to carb adapter installed, the old was weather checked and replaced. To eliminate the pinging problem these bikes are noted for I purchased and installed a 1984 KX 500 head. The original Mikuni carb was replaced with a new Lectron carb that really works sweet.
I broke this bike in and raced it at the recent Boise Inter-Am and it runs great, crisp and clean and is ready to put on the track and race. sale includes all receipts and a parts/service manual, Buyer to arrange and pay for all shipping costs. Bike is located in the Pacific Northwest area. Pictures of the bike can be seen at http://pnwvmx.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=36&start=30. I tried to post a picture here but don't know if it worked??
$4000 usd
Fritz Guenther
[email protected]
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Maico / Re: Starting problems..
« on: April 18, 2014, 03:00:13 am »
I've had 2 Maico's w/the stock Motoplat ignition fail. The common failure mode for both of them was that they became increasingly difficult to start, then they would only light off by push starting, then not at all. So both received new PVL's. My 81 started acting really strange at the Boise Inter AM and quit making spark altogether, this was with a 5 year old PVL. I removed the unit and sent to Penton Imports for test, the stator coil was bad, very high resistance reading. Note: Steve at PI told me that it is not uncommon for the older style tape wrapped stator coils on the PVL's to last only 4-5 years. PVL has fixed this with a totally encased stator coil on the new units. My 84 500 is now starting to exhibit the very same hard to start problem (only push starting will work) so I'm going to try an HPI ignition on the 84.
I find it interesting that the stock Motoplat units on these bikes lasted over 30 years and modern ignitions are lasting a fraction of that.
Hope this helps,
Fritz
I find it interesting that the stock Motoplat units on these bikes lasted over 30 years and modern ignitions are lasting a fraction of that.
Hope this helps,
Fritz
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Maico / Re: Wanted Maico 490 1983/84
« on: April 09, 2014, 02:04:40 am »Not all of them, the U.S. had an air cooled 1985 500 M Star desert sled, but it ran a front disc. Not called a sand spider though.
Your bike screams '84 except for the 5 speed box. The '83 tank would have been because the '84's exhaust burnt holes through the tank in no time at all. The'84's use '83 seat bases with a small piece of molded plastic riveted to the front of the base for the safety seat.
I've owned 2 '84's one SC and one enduro and both where 4 speeds.
For sure, mine started leaking fuel on the pipe and upon investigation the pipe seam had melted through the tank....can you say fire issue here? Took the tank off, used one of those plastic welding kits, covered the repair with heat reflective foil tape and shimmed the tank up a little. I think there was a service bulletin on this.
Fritz
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Tech Talk / Re: PVL ignition problems
« on: April 08, 2014, 09:33:30 am »
I just experienced the very same thing with my 81 490 at the Boise Inter Am yesterday. Bike has a fresh top end, plug looks good, looked at the top end with a fiber optic scope and everything looks like it did a couple races ago, just fine. I started the bike up first thing in the am to warm it up and it ran just fine. Since I was in moto 7 the bike was shut off. Started up normally before my moto and as I was headed to the line it got very, very sick sounding, rev'd slow with no power and several friends commented that it smelled very hot, silencer core was very dry and ashen in color which is not how it normally looks. Compression is still good but there is no spark. Did you correct it by replacing the PVL?
Fritz
Fritz
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Maico / Re: Wanted Maico 490 1983/84
« on: March 23, 2014, 02:26:21 pm »
It's not a Sand Spider, it's a 84 M-Star SC 500. Imported into the states by Ted Lapidakis (sp?) hence the "LAP" following the s/n. I think the "H" in the serial number stands for Hercules Importing. They were all 5 speeds in 1984. I have been racing mine for 3 years now and absolutely love the bike. Once I got the rear Ohlins shock dialed in for my weight and riding style I have done nothing to the bike but change oil and tires.
If you look closely you'll see that everything that said "Maico" on the bike has been ground off, the fork sliders, the clutch cover and if the bike had the original red ignition cover the name ground off there as well. The bike however does not have the correct tank, it has the 80-83 tank but I certainly wouldn't let that keep me from purchasing it. The original 84 MX tanks are as rare as hens teeth.
Fritz
If you look closely you'll see that everything that said "Maico" on the bike has been ground off, the fork sliders, the clutch cover and if the bike had the original red ignition cover the name ground off there as well. The bike however does not have the correct tank, it has the 80-83 tank but I certainly wouldn't let that keep me from purchasing it. The original 84 MX tanks are as rare as hens teeth.
Fritz
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Yamaha / Re: Yamaha SC500 1974
« on: February 20, 2014, 11:31:50 am »
When I worked for a local Yamaha shop in 77 a guy brought one in for a top end repair so we bored it to fit a new piston and put the top end back together, rode it around the shop to break it in for the guy. He brought it back a week later asking us if we were interested in taking it in on trade, he wanted a bike he could race without killing himself. The other mechanic purchased the bike from him and we used it to rip around the big field by the shop. Killer HP with a light switch power band but man would that thing throw roost. Scary fast, evil handling bike, both of us were racing at the time but were afraid to put it on the track.
I know what you mean about having a fondness for bikes nobody wants or have the reputation of being one of the worst...I just got done restoring a 83 KX 500. Now that I've got the head fixed (running the 84 head) the motor seems to pull very nice right off bottom and the back end works. Not to happy with the disc front end so I'm retrofitting a pair of 82 YZ 490 forks with the DLS front brake so I can bump down a class.
Enjoy the project!
Fritz
www.pnwvmx.org
I know what you mean about having a fondness for bikes nobody wants or have the reputation of being one of the worst...I just got done restoring a 83 KX 500. Now that I've got the head fixed (running the 84 head) the motor seems to pull very nice right off bottom and the back end works. Not to happy with the disc front end so I'm retrofitting a pair of 82 YZ 490 forks with the DLS front brake so I can bump down a class.
Enjoy the project!
Fritz
www.pnwvmx.org
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