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Post by Jet⚡Black on Apr 21, 2012 12:53:05 GMT -6
I have made a couple posts before an introduction; my apologies for not doing so before now... I am finishing up another build; and haven't quite sunk my teeth into my 454 yet, beyond pulling the motor for a rebuild, paint, polish and assemble. Carburetor rebuild, sync, pods, and pair removal...I guess that sounds like a lot; but it's just the power plant I've rebuilt well that and the master cylinder. The real fun hasn't started yet  So how did I get my 454? I stalked Craigslist for almost a year every couple of hours, looking for a great deal...and there she was: a 1986 kawasaki 454ltd for 100.00 dollareenies. The post was made at around 11:00 at night and I saw it at about 1:30 a.m. I was raised to not call people after 9:00...so after finding out 10 to 11 am is a proper time to place a call on a Saturday...as soon as it hit 10:00 I was on the phone. I got directions; hooked my trailer to my hidden hitch and was off. The bike was sitting in this guys back yard; tag sticker said 1996 so she had been sitting awhile but didn't look bad at all. The rear wheel was locked solid and nothing on the clutch and no gear clicks...I figured the motor was stuck no biggie. I dragged that rascal on the trailer after handing five twenties over; and asked the question...Title? He said oh yeah lemme get it...I almost fainted he had one...seems pretty rare nowadays. I get it home and think I am not dragging 300 plus pounds 40 feet...not knowing cost or rarity of these belts; I cut it with a serrated butcher knife and pulled it out; thinking they have to be what 30 bucks at the most? I give it a pull and it didn't roll...I scratched my head. Well time to remove the rear wheel; that center stand is good for something after all! The problem? The rear pads had fallen apart and were wedging themselves in the hub. Anyways here she is freshly arrived still on the trailer the day I got her.    More to come; as I have said I am still busy with another build...I'll try and get some pictures up of my motor work soon. Cheers! |
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Post by eaglerider on Apr 21, 2012 15:49:24 GMT -6
 Welcome, sounds like u have found out that cutting the belt was not the thing to do. Sorry bout that, you are not the only one to have done that. Holler when/if u have any questions.
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Post by wanchesenative on Apr 21, 2012 18:04:29 GMT -6
Welcome! Awesome find for that price.
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Post by Jet⚡Black on Apr 21, 2012 20:10:09 GMT -6
I was looking for something under the 400 mark to play with as my last build was quickly coming to an end...It's an enjoyable hobby some people like model trains or whatever; I enjoy bikes.
The price was great, He gave me a box of spark plugs, and two new oil filters for it too, and the rather nasty tool bag with a few of the tools missing...I was expecting no title in the search; so I was very happy he had it. He said what parked it was what he suspected to be a broken choke cable...he was a take it to the dealership type of guy, but when they quit servicing because of age and the cable issue came up he just parked it.
When I was disassembling the carburetors I found it wasn't the cable; just one of the choke pins was stuck. It has around 12k on the odometer and was regularly serviced up to that point.
When I service the engine the rings and cylinders were clean and within specs. The valves were on the tight side but still close to being in range. No stuck bolts, no tears in the seat. Only issues found so far have been the stuck choke rod, cracked bottle and brake pad separation from salt I believe; since there was a lot of white powdery substance in the hub...the bike spent most of it's time in Detroit and Washington state.
The plans I have for it isn't stock but not too far from it; I like larger fenders that cover most of the wheel. I am not sure why many consider it the ugliest bike ever made when there are a lot of similar looking bikes around the same time period.
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Post by eaglerider on Apr 21, 2012 20:55:55 GMT -6
When u adjust the valves, use the higher value..that will extend time between adjustments. When properly adjusted, the engine is a little noisy..don't let that bother you..it's normal. The valves do tend to tighten up on these engines, therefore they "love" a good adjustment about evry 5000 miles (perhaps more often, if the bike is ridden hard).
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Post by Jet⚡Black on Apr 22, 2012 15:56:21 GMT -6
No worries Eagle; I set them on the thick range when rebuilding. I plan on adjusting them or at least checking them every 3k miles with every oil change. Upgrading to a new cam chain tensioner might be in my future after about 3 valve adjustment/oil changes to see how the stock one is operating... time will tell, if it has erratic tensioning numbers from the next 3 valve adjustments then new tensioner it is. Sounds excessive; but I like working on and maintaining bikes. I don't have the average chore dread when it comes to bikes...only with other things like dishes  Thanks for the welcomes |
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Post by eaglerider on Apr 22, 2012 16:39:59 GMT -6
 10-4 on the dishes! LOL With the mileage u stated, there should be no tensioner problems for thousands of miles. If, by chance, u just want to replace the tensioner for the heck of it, use one from a late model Vulcan or Ninja 500...they are an improved version, and much better.
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Post by Jet⚡Black on Apr 22, 2012 23:35:22 GMT -6
Eagle I figured you'd find that funny...Someone that actually likes adjusting valves? Crikey! Thanks for the heads up on better tensioner choices available, I heard the stock one was sort of iffy in operation. No sense keeping something that can; prematurely wear cam lobes, bearings, valves and valve guides, and also throw out random tensions that effect the valve gaps...bleh.
The cam chain tensioner spring on the Honda I am finishing up, was out of spec. it kept throwing the valves out of whack...it even caused one of the lock nuts to back right off one of the adjustment stems. Imagine a lobe wobble plus vibration going to work on the valve stems, due to a whacked out tensioner.
I can imagine the harmonic balance of the 454 engine wouldn't be effected as bad since the cam chain is in the center...the Honda has it on the side.
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Post by eaglerider on Apr 23, 2012 6:08:31 GMT -6
O, the stock one works fine, I don't know of any"problem areas....it's just that the late model one is a better "ratchet type, and the stock one is just the normal spring type. The way the 454 engine is designed, I have never heard of any of those problems like you mentioned. In case you are unfamiliar with this engine, it Came from the old 4 cylinder, 900 (actually 908CC). This engine is a high revving, more like a crotch rocket engine, and acts/works a lot different than the more "normal low revving, honda, etc, engines, most folks are more familiar with.
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Post by Jet⚡Black on Apr 23, 2012 21:01:15 GMT -6
I remember reading about that somewhere; they used the term "Half a Ninja" in advertising that really didn't take off. Makes sense it didn't work that would be like calling a Mini Cooper half a car. The Honda is a 1963 CA which is high revving also, it has been a very pleasurable build to work on. The 454 has grown on me as well |
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Post by chopperfreak2k1 on Apr 24, 2012 13:22:49 GMT -6
welcome Jetblack! for $100 you stole that bike! you can find belts around here sometimes, so don't worry too much over it. where ya from?
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Post by eaglerider on Apr 24, 2012 20:06:08 GMT -6
Folks that are not familiar with this bike (including me, about 7 years ago) are absolutly freaked out when they see what this bike will do, when properly tuned, adjusted, and running right!!! And that is stock...before any "mods" are done.
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Post by Jet⚡Black on Apr 24, 2012 20:46:02 GMT -6
Thanks chopper, I bought another belt about a week after I cut the old one off. 70 bucks I wasn't thrilled that the seller tightly folded the belt instead of rolling it when packing it up. I hadn't ran across this forum at that time or I would have went with a new Harley or Panther belt...live and learn, when I saw that the stock replacement was 350.00 brand new I was like can't say that! really for a belt? Should I melt the old one down to harvest the platinum or gold that's in there somewhere?  I am from Wilmington, N.C. but currently live in Columbia, S.C. for probably just another year; then me and the lil lady are thinking of moving out west somewhere on the California/Oregon border...beautiful part of the country. Eagle, I have enjoyed reading the history on the 454 I think the only reason people have 1500cc and such is to help drag around the extra 400 lbs of wasted steel. I like the idea of a highly tuned sport motor in a cruiser frame a lot; I don't like crotch rocket styling at all so it works for someone that likes the power plant of sports bikes; but dislike everything else about them. I'm not a violent guy but if a guy on one of those gave me a head shake from what I was riding, like I read one did to another 454 owner here; I'd pull up beside them and give them the big boot right into the curb. |
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Post by eaglerider on Apr 25, 2012 5:18:31 GMT -6
Naw..no need to give em the boot....just "embarass" him by showin him ur taillight. That really gets them somtimes...gettin blown away by a "little ole" scooter! LOL
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Post by Jet⚡Black on Apr 25, 2012 18:32:38 GMT -6
That's another way to rub their nose in it ;D
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Post by Blaine on Apr 25, 2012 18:57:02 GMT -6
Naw..no need to give em the boot....just "embarass" him by showin him ur taillight. That really gets them somtimes...gettin blown away by a "little ole" scooter! LOL Yep.Love doing it to the "big" boys!!! ;D |
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Post by chopperfreak2k1 on Apr 26, 2012 0:09:56 GMT -6
yeah i'm 310lbs-320lbs and i have yet to get taken from light to light by anything, period.
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Post by Blaine on Apr 26, 2012 5:43:42 GMT -6
yeah i'm 310lbs-320lbs and i have yet to get taken from light to light by anything, period. I'm 152 soaking wet.So I'm even faster!!! Lol ;D |
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Post by Jet⚡Black on Apr 26, 2012 19:29:41 GMT -6
Dang light weight...last I was close to that was 20 years ago.
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Post by Blaine on Apr 26, 2012 19:32:42 GMT -6
Dang light weight...last I was close to that was 20 years ago. Lol ;D |
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Welcome, sounds like u have found out that cutting the belt was not the thing to do. Sorry bout that, you are not the only one to have done that. Holler when/if u have any questions.
10-4 on the dishes! LOL With the mileage u stated, there should be no tensioner problems for thousands of miles. If, by chance, u just want to replace the tensioner for the heck of it, use one from a late model Vulcan or Ninja 500...they are an improved version, and much better.
