Restoring my '73 Kawasaki H1 500

[marko138]

Excellent work, mang.

['73 H1 Triple]

The reassembly begins



I installed the steering neck with tapered roller bearings, installed the rear swingarm, the rear shocks, rear brake pivot and spring, rear brake pedal , the bracket for the oil tank and the battery box.

It's a lot of "fun" installing all the rubber grommets too. Tomorrow the engine goes in after I install a better clutch actuator. ( factory for '73 was 4 spline, I'm putting in a later model 6 spline. )

Jeff

[OneSickPsycho]

Not to pry, but what sort of $$$ are you going to have wrapped up in this thing? How many hours? (if you had to guess)

['73 H1 Triple]

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

Not to pry, but what sort of $$$ are you going to have wrapped up in this thing? How many hours? (if you had to guess)

This will be the inexpensive restoration ( compared to the next one, the '74 H1). Maybe $500 as I've been collecting parts off of ebay for a couple years. Those shocks which look brand new I paid $5 for ( got to love those mispelled titles) and I've gotten a lot of other good deals. I've also traded some parts which I have extra of for parts I need.

I'm not really sure on the hours. It's enjoyable for me and I haven't been keeping track of them. Just on cleaning/polishing parts I have over 30 hours ( so far )


The '74 H1 which is next has a few more dollars into it and I didn't even start. $250 for a body set, $340 for a complete wiseco piston set, $150 for a fresh set of jugs, $100 for a good used crank and $200 for a set of chambers which I had to pull dents out of. I'll need a $50 seal set, $40 gasket set, $30 rebuild kit for the master cylinder and a caliper rebuild kit. I could go on, but I'll stop here

Jeff

[JK]

to show my appreciation for rolling over this thread i rated it 5 stars... i dont know if it does anyting... probably not... but thanks anyway!

[vabarber2]

Originally Posted by '73 H1 Triple

This will be the inexpensive restoration ( compared to the next one, the '74 H1). Maybe $500 as I've been collecting parts off of ebay for a couple years. Those shocks which look brand new I paid $5 for ( got to love those mispelled titles) and I've gotten a lot of other good deals. I've also traded some parts which I have extra of for parts I need.

I'm not really sure on the hours. It's enjoyable for me and I haven't been keeping track of them. Just on cleaning/polishing parts I have over 30 hours ( so far )


The '74 H1 which is next has a few more dollars into it and I didn't even start. $250 for a body set, $340 for a complete wiseco piston set, $150 for a fresh set of jugs, $100 for a good used crank and $200 for a set of chambers which I had to pull dents out of. I'll need a $50 seal set, $40 gasket set, $30 rebuild kit for the master cylinder and a caliper rebuild kit. I could go on, but I'll stop here

Jeff

Cool!

['73 H1 Triple]

I installed the 6 spline clutch actuator and dropped the motor in. Installed some of the electrical components and did some more rubber bushings. I also went to my local ACE hardware store and spent $23 on shiny new bolts.



I also have a NOS wiring harness for it


Jeff

[ceo012384]

Originally Posted by '73 H1 Triple

This will be the inexpensive restoration ( compared to the next one, the '74 H1). Maybe $500 as I've been collecting parts off of ebay for a couple years. Those shocks which look brand new I paid $5 for ( got to love those mispelled titles) and I've gotten a lot of other good deals. I've also traded some parts which I have extra of for parts I need.

I'm not really sure on the hours. It's enjoyable for me and I haven't been keeping track of them. Just on cleaning/polishing parts I have over 30 hours ( so far )

That's not a lot of money, really... awesome.

And the enjoyment is the best part, isn't it? Just imagine how great it's going to feel to take it out for a spin when it's done

['73 H1 Triple]

Originally Posted by ceo012384

That's not a lot of money, really... awesome.

And the enjoyment is the best part, isn't it? Just imagine how great it's going to feel to take it out for a spin when it's done

I can't wait to ride it. This was the last triple I rode ( that was mine).

The price of restoration will go up by another $400 when I paint the tank,side covers and tail. The stripes and KAWASAKI are painted on .

"Survivor" body parts will be good for this year.

Jeff

[Gas Man]

I really wish my parts store bolt runs were only $23. I got to the point that it was 3 times a week at $15 a pop... for like 2-4 bolts... chrome and grade 8.8 chrome bolts get VERY VERY expensive.