1971 Kawasaki 500 H-1 Teardown

This bike sat in a warehouse for 20 years. I bought it ten years ago and it sat on my front porch. It ran briefly some five years ago, but only for a few minutes and only on two cyclinders.

Now I'm finally getting serious......

Too much work, I'll come take it off your hands

My first bike, a 1969 Mach III, back in 1970.

Thanks, neighbor, but I see your hands are full already!

It looked like this before the newspaper editor's son painted it burnt orange.
Then I traded for a brand new 72' Mach III, like this showdog:

back to work....

Only 6800 miles on it, hardly no carbon build up.

I need to add my 67 X6 mess to the signature

Good one, looks like the hard parts to find are there and in good shape. Are you planning on doing the crank bearings?

I'd love to have one of those. Looks great. The closest I have come is owning an original workshop manual for the H1 and H2. One day....

I'm in for this one, as I have a 72 H1b waiting to be rebuilt in the garage

Hopefully, I can just clean/paint the frame, rebuild carbs, and put fresh tires on it. I'm no mechanic, this is my first rodeo. Any hints/guidance will be welcomed with open arms and ears.

Good on you for putting that back on the road.
From the look of you in that old photo, you must have been under 18 when you got that bike. I can't imagine having one of those early ones as a first bike.

I've got a 1975 H1 that I bought new sitting in pieces scattered around my garage and barn.

I've decided to pass it off to someone who can put a higher priority on restoring it than me. Includes a spare rolling chassis, two spare engines (both needing complete teardown) a collection of NOS parts purchased over a period of several years, a spare exhaust system. The original engine includes new 0.5mm over pistons (not installed), and probably needs a crank rebuild to renew the seals.

Anyone interested?

I want to sell it as a complete collection, and I don't want to have to package it for shipping, so you'd need to come to Oregon to get it.

I just happen to know a guy in Oregon who may be interested

5/8/11 Pull engine and start cleaning frame with wire brush and sand paper.

Front wheel rust. Attack with wire brush and sandpaper.

Photo taken this afternoon, 5/9/11, five minutes past Miller Time.

Nice project skillet. There's no way I would take that bike down to the frame and spray bomb it. Powder coat it, or spray some polyurethane on it. You'll be glad you did.
Is that your Vette?