Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but paid users have great benefits. Paid member benefits:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2024 SX, MX, and SMX series (regularly $30).
The Shop
Found a crack in the frame at the top shock mount.
The piston was stuck down near bottom of the cylinder it took a lot of work to remove it. I finally got it out my tapping it down, deeper into the cylinder to free it up and then using a compressor at about to push it out. It has a big fat o-ring that I could not look up anywhere, so I took some measurements and cross referenced it.
Once figured out, the parts needed were put on order and it was set aside.
The spokes were all corroded, and the rims were pretty dinged up. It was clear that the spokes had to be replaced at the least. The spoke nuts were all rusted, so I just cut them all to make disassembly easier.
At this point I focused on cleaning up the hubs.
Pending the outcome of the rest of the job we would decide on new spokes + rims or just new spokes and cleaning up the existing rims.
I didn't want to be too aggressive with a clean up and make it feel warped, so I did a light sanding, and painted it. I taped off just smaller than the pads would wear.
I primed it and painted it black.
If it doesn't look right it can always be changed out later.
After masking anything that needed it and hanging them for paint, I primed them all. I used a self-etching primer for the parts that I took down to bare metal.
Simple green with hot water did a good job taking off any paint that wasn't adhered well. After I used a wire wheel on a grinder to get what I could and the rest of the prep work had to be done by hand.
Pit Row
All the primed parts got their paint.
Two colors were used:
Satin Black
Colorrite Kawasaki 458 Metallic Phantom Silver and gloss clear coat
The colorrite paint and clear coat are the best paints I've ever used. They go on easy, no runs, and cover well. The entire job including all the smaller parts shown later, took 2 cans of color and clear.
I cleaned up the steering stem bearings. And used some metal polish on the triple clamps. I didn't want them super shiny, just cleaned up good.
I also polished up the steering stem hardware.
I painted the caps the same color as the swing arm.
We're looking for plastics if anyone happens to know if some decent sources for 1986 plastics - especially side covers and shroud.
Will probably end up reconditioning some parts from eBay, but open to alternatives.
Thanks!
Can you elaborate on the “torch method “. The results look fantastic.
Post a reply to: 1986 Kawasaki KX80