KawasakiTrax Community
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: mswyka on April 26, 2017, 07:09:45 AM
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This is not to say that I don't appreciate Kawasaki Blue, but the more and more parts that I paint green, the more and more I am enjoying the color. No doubt it will be quite visible in the snow - that is if we ever have enough to ride...
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I like that green too.
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Looks awesome! Did you have to do much "repair"?
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WOW, that's alota green. Looks great thou. Waitin to see the rest.
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Looks awesome! Did you have to do much "repair"?
Joel, yes, there was quite a bit of damage. I patch with pieces from a scrap pan and PVC cement. This approach has worked very well.
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That looks cool
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Here is the hood. Pretty soon this is going to the sign shop for TOC graphics.
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Here is the suspension skid.
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Here is the engine.
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Here is the seat.
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Here are the skis - or at least one of them.
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I LIKE!
Can't wait to see the finished sled. 8)
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Now all I have to do is pull the chassis out of the machine shed and get it ready.
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I LIKE!
Can't wait to see the finished sled. 8)
You and me both! This one has been in the works for a few years - pretty much ever since we finished the pink sled.
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;D
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That is going to be a nice sled Mark!
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Lloyd, I am starting to get pretty excited about it myself. Now to find a little extra time and move it forward a little faster. I spoke to the sign shop this week and put them on notice that I was going to send them the hood for graphics.
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Beautiful fall day here in New York and even better since we were able to get the chassis out of the machine shed and into the garage. It still looks the same, but at least in the garage we can make some progress.
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Making a little progress
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Lookin good.
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Just purchased a 1980 LTD and was thinking about going green myself, just hate to cover up the original paint even if it is pretty rough looking. That does look nice might have to think a little more about it.
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I have a solid 80 Ltd hood that has really faded paint. It’s be a great candidate for custom paint... I’d let it go for cheap if you want to do custom paint AND keep your nice original.
Looks like the project is coming along great Mark!
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I am thinking that I may need to find a 1980 style Invader exhaust.
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I like the Green!! Anxious to see it all complete 8)
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More green...
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I have been looking around the machine shed for a good track for this sled and have not identified one yet. Anyone have some good suggestions for an inexpensive track alternative?
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A good used Kawi track is the best option. Must be many around?
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I'm not sure if it is "inexpensive", but I have a 1" Camoplast Hacksaw track on my 81 Invader and absolutely love it. I had a studded 79 Invader and the Hacksaw would run circles around it in anything but glare ice. By far the best upgrade I have done.
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I'm not sure if it is "inexpensive", but I have a 1" Camoplast Hacksaw track on my 81 Invader and absolutely love it. I had a studded 79 Invader and the Hacksaw would run circles around it in anything but glare ice. By far the best upgrade I have done.
I appreciate the recommendation. Do you know if those tracks come with the clips like the LTDs? I am using the LTD suspension and am wondering if I need to use the LTD style track.
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I don’t believe they have the same style clips, but I don’t think that they’re required. My 81 Invader has Vari-Ride similar to the a LTDs. You will need to make some minor modifications to the idlers on the skid. They need to be spaced differently to clear the extra internal drive nubs on the newer style tracks. Nothing major but worth noting.
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I had some time to look around in the machine shed during daylight hours today. I managed to find two Intruder parts sleds with good tracks. For now I am thinking that will be the route that I take.
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Chassis is taking shape. I really like this color!
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I has been a good day here in NY. Warm enough to get something done and cool enough to inspire working on the sleds.
So fishing around the machine shed, we selected a 79 Intruder as a donor sled for the track and find it quite mystifying. The steel on the sled seems to be quite good. The aluminum, except for the tunnel is badly oxidized. There are only 157 miles on the odometer, no wear on the track, and the interior of the chain case is immaculate with no appreciable wear on the gears or the tension pucks. Carbs are seized and engine will not spin. The oil tank is full. Oddest variation of conditions I think that I have ever seen on any of the sleds that we have picked up.
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157 is not much!
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Sounds like it sat outside for some time. Too bad it wasn’t tucked in a barn somewhere, 157 miles is super low!
I picked up a 4/6 a few years ago in a similar situation. It had around 1400 miles on it and was immaculate other than the extreme sun damage, the engine and carbs were seized, and the pipes were full of water and rusted from the inside out. It was a sad sight. :-\
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Finally got the track off. The left side bearing did not want to move. But, when the skid came off the cross shafts slid right out! I also noticed that around outside edge of the hood where the lip sits in the channel there is no wear on the paint or plastic. This could have been a very nice sled if it hadn't been abandoned. We picked it up about 3 years ago and never had any time to pay attention to it. The guy got it from said that he had ridden it the previous season. From what I am seeing that could not have been possible.
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The color looks great! Is it an actual Kawasaki green?
Keep the pictures coming, it really helps with my motivation ;)
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The color looks great! Is it an actual Kawasaki green?
Keep the pictures coming, it really helps with my motivation ;)
For color, while I don't know if it is official or not, we are using Duplicolor Grabber Green. I am particularly grateful that I could help provide motivation. Makes me sort of a "motivational builder"?
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Studding the Track
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Track is in
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With Belly Pan
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That is A LOT of green... I like it! Hood going to be green too?
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That is A LOT of green... I like it! Hood going to be green too?
Hood is mostly green as well. I liked the color so much I just kept on spraying.
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Looks great! I can’t wait to see what it looks like when it’s done!
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looks great! black bumper would really set it off
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Just picked up the trim pieces. We used reflective black - black in daylight (photo 1) - and white reflective when light hits it.
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cool
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Very nice what prod
uct is that?
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Very nice what prod
uct is that?
It is Scotchlite
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Finally conscripted some muscle and got the chassis turned back upright. Now the fun begins.
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Looking good! I can't wait to see the hood on it!
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I was fortunate enough to be able to be off from work today. Thank God for Christmas!
And as I am wont to do on days off, I managed to steal some time to go into the machine shed to find a few more parts for this project. I pulled out another exhaust, a few primary clutches and a couple of secondary clutches, a radiator and a few other odds and ends.
Checking the primary clutches, it looks like all three have E ramps. One appears to be from a 340 Invader (no weights) and the others appear to be Intruder primarys. I will look again to see if we have some with F ramps. But, I am curious of other's experience with E ramp clutches in a 440 Invader?
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My son and I put thousands of miles on our 79 440 Invader with E ramps. They work quite good. If you’re looking for something a little more extreme, the Aaen mod for the E ramps worked great for me. It’s not something I liked to ride all day on the trails, but it sure made the Invader go!
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First Trial Fit of Hood to Pan. So far, so good.
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Here is the seat.
Did you have it recovered? looks great.
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Here is the seat.
Did you have it recovered? looks great.
Yes, the seat has been recovered. After a few of my own less than stellar attempts at upholstery I went in search of a local upholster. The quotes that I received locally were astronomical. After some searching I finally found John's Upholstery in Sanborn, MN. Even with the shipping back and forth to NY the cost is very affordable and his work is wonderful. I think that the favorite seat job that he did for us was the 81 LTD. From my perspective it looked original.
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They do nice work. There's an upholsterer near me, but he's slower than molasses.
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First fitting of radiator
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Looking good Mark!
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Engine is finally installed. This is where I had planned to be last Thursday afternoon.
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Like!!!! you and gixxer6 (Intimidator) need to get these sleds DONE in the next couple weeks and get them on the 2018 calendar.... 8) ::) :P
I know....all it takes is that precious commodity...TIME... ;)
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It's been awhile since we've seen an update. How's it coming along? :)
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It's been awhile since we've seen an update. How's it coming along? :)
No significant progress. I am dealing with the minutia and awaiting a few last minute part deliveries. Just put my graphics guy on notice that the sled will be coming in for decoration very soon. Going away again this weekend so probably no updates until next week.
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I have also been distracted by this device.
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It's been awhile since we've seen an update. How's it coming along? :)
No significant progress. I am dealing with the minutia and awaiting a few last minute part deliveries. Just put my graphics guy on notice that the sled will be coming in for decoration very soon. Going away again this weekend so probably no updates until next week.
:( At least it will give me time to catch up to you with my build! ;D I'm looking forward to seeing more.
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This is where she stands.
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I have also been distracted by this device.
I also have one of these but have yet to really play with it.
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I have also been distracted by this device.
I also have one of these but have yet to really play with it.
Looks like a pretty simple device, but it will take some fiddling to be sure that it is doing what it is supposed to.
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The poor man's approach to how to turn a Intruder Dash into an Invader Dash
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Looks great!
Satin black Krylon Fusion spray paint for plastic makes the finish look like new again.
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nice repair...good dashes are hard to come up with
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Had a pretty good afternoon.
Wiring Harness mostly in place. Carburetors re-built. Fuel Pump installed and fuel lines plumbed. Oil tank installed and oil line plumbed. Just need to get the dash in and the water lines plumbed and she can go to the graphics shop.
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I was witness to a miracle this afternoon. While going through my collection of radiator hoses I was struggling to find one that was correct for the 1980. I had to go to the machine shed anyway so while I was there I poked around some more to see if there were any other hoses that had not made it into the hose box. I was quite pleased and surprised to find a 1980 340 chassis that I didn't even know that we had which still had attached the hose that I need for this project.
Guessing that the next project may be a 1980 340 Invader.
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Another miracle today - among our stash of parts we found a working temperature gauge! Woo hoo! I am thinking that thanks belong to Tory for this gem.
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Today was a banner day! And while I will not call this sled done, I am proclaiming it substantially complete!
We started this one the day we finished the pink one - today has been too long in coming. Still needs a good shakedown but I am excited.
Now I have to get busy and make another windscreen.
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Looks great Mark! Nice work!
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Thank you.
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Lookin great! Who's seat cover did you use if I may ask?
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Lookin great! Who's seat cover did you use if I may ask?
John's Upholstery, Sanborn, MN - He copied the original. I found John through an advertisement on the John Deere site. I did the first two seats myself - functional but not beautiful - John has done all our seats since then. Even with the shipping charges to and from NY his work was more affordable than our local shops.
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Finally, all the parts and pieces have been attached. Now I am calling the assembly done.
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Nice work, great looking sleds!!
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Looks great! 8)
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very nice
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Loaded up on the trailer and ready to go to the graphics shop. The pink one is going along for the ride for reference.
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Back from the graphics shop. My Tournament of Champions tribute sled is now complete.
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Looks great! I like the decals, VERY sharp!
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very nice, eye candy.... will get looks for sure
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This morning was a good opportunity for a photo. Here is some of the collection.
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Nice group of kaws mark!
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Awesome collection! :)
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Nice herd of Kaws 8)
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Had a different experience than we have had before. The CDI on this sled quit. This is the first CDI that we have ever had quit on a running sled. Oddly enough we tested all the parts before putting them into the sled.
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Recent Photo
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Looks great on the snow! Nice work!
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Awesome contrast against the snow. I agree.