MWF FEED
20th May 2019, 08:30 AM
I bought the Kat from a mate a couple of years ago with the intention of a ground up original restoration but for certain reasons originality didn't eventuate. This is the bike as purchased. SAM_2361.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379439&d=1558294101)SAM_2367.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379440&d=1558294148)
The most important thing to me was to source a new original exhaust system which at the time was impossible and anything second hand was garbage. The Italians make a great looking pair of mufflers at a price but not header pipes to suit. I could make them but getting them black chromed meant a cost I wasn't prepared to pay, besides, I have a few sets of new GSX1400 mufflers that might look OK. I fitted them on the original Katana mounts ... not too bad. SAM_2368.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379444&d=1558295996)SAM_2369.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379445&d=1558296040)
So the decision was made that totally original is now not happening because the mufflers are bright chrome instead of black & if I modify an exhaust I have then the only cost will be for bright chrome & less if I polish them myself.
Time for a strip down. An original Katana has a silver frame (this one is black) but I thought silver with the chrome exhaust would be too much so I decided to do it black again. One Katana frame ready for blasting.SAM_2375.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379446&d=1558296678) After blasting there's a surprise although I'm told it's common on these frames ... rust.SAM_2381.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379447&d=1558296883) Such is life so I welded the rust & prepared the frame for paint. What's the easiest way to paint a frame? A rotisserie of course.SAM_2384.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379448&d=1558297129) A couple of rattle cans later I have a black frame.SAM_2386.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379449&d=1558297397)SAM_2385.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379450&d=1558297430)
To be continued.
Attached Images
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2386.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379449&d=1558297397) (123.0 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2385.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379450&d=1558297430) (112.6 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2384.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379448&d=1558297129) (93.4 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2381.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379447&d=1558296883) (59.6 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2375.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379446&d=1558296678) (91.5 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2369.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379445&d=1558296040) (93.2 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2368.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379444&d=1558295996) (105.0 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2373.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379443&d=1558295530) (99.2 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2361.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379439&d=1558294101) (83.0 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2367.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379440&d=1558294148) (102.6 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2371.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379441&d=1558295382) (102.6 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2374.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379442&d=1558295449) (90.3 KB)
Read the full thread at metalworkforums.com... (http://metalworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=203345&goto=newpost)
The most important thing to me was to source a new original exhaust system which at the time was impossible and anything second hand was garbage. The Italians make a great looking pair of mufflers at a price but not header pipes to suit. I could make them but getting them black chromed meant a cost I wasn't prepared to pay, besides, I have a few sets of new GSX1400 mufflers that might look OK. I fitted them on the original Katana mounts ... not too bad. SAM_2368.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379444&d=1558295996)SAM_2369.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379445&d=1558296040)
So the decision was made that totally original is now not happening because the mufflers are bright chrome instead of black & if I modify an exhaust I have then the only cost will be for bright chrome & less if I polish them myself.
Time for a strip down. An original Katana has a silver frame (this one is black) but I thought silver with the chrome exhaust would be too much so I decided to do it black again. One Katana frame ready for blasting.SAM_2375.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379446&d=1558296678) After blasting there's a surprise although I'm told it's common on these frames ... rust.SAM_2381.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379447&d=1558296883) Such is life so I welded the rust & prepared the frame for paint. What's the easiest way to paint a frame? A rotisserie of course.SAM_2384.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379448&d=1558297129) A couple of rattle cans later I have a black frame.SAM_2386.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379449&d=1558297397)SAM_2385.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379450&d=1558297430)
To be continued.
Attached Images
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2386.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379449&d=1558297397) (123.0 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2385.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379450&d=1558297430) (112.6 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2384.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379448&d=1558297129) (93.4 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2381.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379447&d=1558296883) (59.6 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2375.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379446&d=1558296678) (91.5 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2369.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379445&d=1558296040) (93.2 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2368.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379444&d=1558295996) (105.0 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2373.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379443&d=1558295530) (99.2 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2361.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379439&d=1558294101) (83.0 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2367.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379440&d=1558294148) (102.6 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2371.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379441&d=1558295382) (102.6 KB)
http://metalworkforums.com/images/attach/jpg.gif SAM_2374.jpg (http://metalworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=379442&d=1558295449) (90.3 KB)
Read the full thread at metalworkforums.com... (http://metalworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=203345&goto=newpost)