1985 Yamaha RZ500
5/6/2020 Bought on Ebay. Arrived 5/11/2020
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Original Ebay description
“1985 Yamaha RZ500 V4 Michigan Clear title
I waited along time to fine this Original one, especially with very low miles (4660 miles) they just are not around any more.
Have owned from 2013, decided to get it running and go for a ride.
New Battery
New Tires
New Chain
New Wheel Bearings
New Tapered steering head bearings
Changed transmission Oil
Cleaned float bowls on carbs
New Shut off valve for fuel
New front Brake Pads
Amsoil Dominator Synthetic injector oil
New fork seals, Race tech Springs, Gold valves, Modified damper rods (per Race Tech) 20 wt oil
With modifying damper rods the Anti Dive units are inactive (left them for stock appearance)
This is a very nice mostly all Original RZ, Starts first kick most every time hot or cold, shifts and clutches fine, pulls all the way to redline, shifts and clutches as it should.
All lights work, horn, blinkers, brake light, gauge lights
Original Rock Hard handle bar grips ( I have Bicycle tape over originals so they would not hurt my hands)
I have sold other bikes through the eBay system with 100% Positive Feedback, Please review my feedback as a seller,
Ask all questions I am Honest and have no intention to mislead anyone.
Maintenance…
Rebuilding the carbs….
Setting fuel height…
Yes it’s probably overkill but considering the hassles I’ve had with overflowing carbs it’s worth going the extra mile. ‘Darth’ on the Kawasaki Triples Owners Group patented the idea. Fuel height Corresponding with the updated float height of 24mm, the fuel height is 3.5cm, which is exactly where that black mark is on the right.
Random Tasks….
August 12, 2023-Stuck Choke
Been running around on the 500 fairly regularly. Yesterday I tried to pull the choke lever and it wouldn’t go up all the way and settle in place like it usually does. I could pull it half way to what it’s used to. Started fine and bike performed 'ok' but something didn’t feel right, like it was maybe running on three cylinders.
Getting home, the exhaust of the Left Lower cylinder was not as hot as the others. (It’s also the Left Lower carb that has overflowing from time to time- usually fixed with a tap with a socket extender).
Took the carbs off and the one of the four choke cables that won’t pull as far as the others is the Left Lower. And guess what- the cold start plunger is locked in place all the way in it's home. It won’t budge. I guess I should be glad that it's not stuck open or should I say closed.
Perhaps when the fuel has completely evaporated I may apply a little heat. Nothing else wants to make it move. There’s not even a bit of ‘give’. It’s like it’s welded in place and I’m reluctant to use any more force than a sharp wee tug.
I also checked the float height. It’s spot on at 24mm. I can’t remember where I got that 'new' height but I feel like it was a responsible source.
The float valve seat is OEM and I replaced them and bowl gaskets in Aug of ’22. All looks good there so it doesn’t explain the intermittent overflowing nor the ugly looking float bowls.
UPDATE: a little bit of heat from a heatgun encouraged the little blighter out, but after a good polishing of both the plunger and the bore, the plunger is not interested in going back in and the last thing I want to do is force it.