Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C10, aka Kawasaki Concours - The Original => The Bike - C10 => Topic started by: scubadoguk on September 15, 2013, 03:46:39 PM

Title: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: scubadoguk on September 15, 2013, 03:46:39 PM
I have the fairing off the bike C10 and somewhere it was suggested that the cross piece on the bottom be removed so the fairing can stay in situ when changing the oil?
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: T Cro ® on September 15, 2013, 04:02:06 PM
Remove the belly pan to change the oil yes... Remove the belly pan cross mounting member to change the oil no....

Many people have modded their belly pan so as to no longer need to remove it for oil changes; namely after installing a spin-on oil filter adapter....
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: scubadoguk on September 15, 2013, 05:09:59 PM
thank you I had miss read the post then, and thought the whole cross piece on the plastic fairing should be removed... phew nearly had the dremel spinning up :)
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: enim57 on September 15, 2013, 06:43:16 PM
thank you I had miss read the post then, and thought the whole cross piece on the plastic fairing should be removed... phew nearly had the dremel spinning up :)
Yes I too have read that the rear plastic section that joins the sides of the belly pan has been cut out by some to aid oil draining. The metal bracket that bolts to the engine should not be removed.

Regards, Russell
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: Summit670 on September 15, 2013, 07:40:30 PM
I got the Bergman spin-on adapter many years ago and love it.  I trimmed the lower a little and can change oil and filter without removing any plastic and I don't have to deal with the messy cartridge filter assembly any more.
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: scubadoguk on September 15, 2013, 08:37:51 PM
Yeah I am going to get the filter adapter soon too the hassle of removing and then putting back on all the tupperware is a PIA BUt it gave me a excuse to check out a few other issues but the advantage of a spin on filter seems clear
Title: This forum is dead dead dead
Post by: Uded2me on September 15, 2013, 09:08:32 PM
d e a d
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: Summit670 on September 16, 2013, 12:15:55 PM
No need to cut hole for front drain plug because the fairing is open under there.  I did trim a little out for the rear plug, plus I cut a circular access for the filter rather than the more extensive trimming which was in the instructions.  1987 model.   

Some people don't bother draining the front plug because not much comes out anyhow.  It only adds a few minutes to the process so I have always drained from both plugs.
Title: This forum is dead dead dead
Post by: Uded2me on September 16, 2013, 01:33:51 PM
d e a d
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: Mr Orange on September 16, 2013, 03:37:31 PM
I've had the Bergmen adapter on my Connie sine they first came out but I read someplace that they might be coming to the end of production so now would be the time to switch over.

http://www.bergmenengineering.com/Spin-On%20Oil%20Filter%20Adapter%20Kit.shtml (http://www.bergmenengineering.com/Spin-On%20Oil%20Filter%20Adapter%20Kit.shtml)
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: Bergmen on September 16, 2013, 05:18:05 PM
I modified my belly pan like this:

(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u580/Bergmen/Motorcycling/SPOOFAK/18-BellyPanModIdea_zps50e4ba3f.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/Bergmen/media/Motorcycling/SPOOFAK/18-BellyPanModIdea_zps50e4ba3f.jpg.html)

Then I removed it altogether:

(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u580/Bergmen/Motorcycling/ZGRX%201200%20Concours%20Project/IMG_1042_zps5fcf361d.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/Bergmen/media/Motorcycling/ZGRX%201200%20Concours%20Project/IMG_1042_zps5fcf361d.jpg.html)

That was close to six years ago and I never looked back.

Dan
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: RFH87_Connie on September 17, 2013, 06:38:35 AM
I cut the complete cross piece of plastic off so it looks like the one in Dan's picture on the right.  I didn't cut its overall length though, just the cross piece.
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: Bergmen on September 17, 2013, 12:29:55 PM
I've had the Bergmen adapter on my Connie sine they first came out but I read someplace that they might be coming to the end of production so now would be the time to switch over.

http://www.bergmenengineering.com/Spin-On%20Oil%20Filter%20Adapter%20Kit.shtml (http://www.bergmenengineering.com/Spin-On%20Oil%20Filter%20Adapter%20Kit.shtml)

There has been some talk between Murph and myself concerning sunsetting this product. This transpired after what appeared to be a case of market saturation that was showing up in orders slowing down over a period of several months. We talked about discontinuing since I didn't want Gary to get stuck with expensive inventory unsold on the shelf. When we posted this situation on a couple of forums (not this one) people started coming out of the woodwork and sales have been revived. There are no technical reasons for considering discontinuance.

So, who knows. We are watching this somewhat carefully because of the reason stated above. Gary is well stocked at this time so they are available.

Dan
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: cugsy on September 18, 2013, 12:57:50 PM
Just a quick aside chaps - Dan, I love that look. Wheres me spanners? I got to get rid of that fairing. Its ugly.
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: Mr Orange on September 18, 2013, 07:39:02 PM
When we posted this situation on a couple of forums (not this one) people started coming out of the woodwork and sales have been revived. There are no technical reasons for considering discontinuance.

So, who knows. We are watching this somewhat carefully because of the reason stated above. Gary is well stocked at this time so they are available.

Dan

A whole new set of owners were alerted to it's being out there who probably weren't out there at its introduction.

Different question, which front end did you swap in?
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: T Cro ® on September 18, 2013, 07:43:32 PM
A whole new set of owners were alerted to it's being out there who probably weren't out there at its introduction.

Different question, which front end did you swap in?

That's a ZRX1200 front end and motor too. I run a ZRX front end too and its da bomb...
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: Gitbox on September 20, 2013, 07:25:45 AM
Where the heck do you guys find a whole ZRX front end? Do you buy a whole bike and strip it?
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: T Cro ® on September 20, 2013, 07:39:45 AM
Where the heck do you guys find a whole ZRX front end? Do you buy a whole bike and strip it?

That's exactly what Dan did; he bought an entire bike in completely good shape as he wanted both the motor, carbs, ignition system and front end. He then sold off the resulting carcass. As I recall he caught a lot of grief for it over on the ZRXOA forum.

Me I bought an entire front end from one member of the OA except for a couple bits and pieces...
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: cugsy on September 20, 2013, 09:14:35 AM
I don't suppose that the front end bolted straight on ...did it? As if? Lots of jiggling and swearing?
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: T Cro ® on September 20, 2013, 09:34:03 AM
I don't suppose that the front end bolted straight on ...did it? As if? Lots of jiggling and swearing?

Actually it is as close to a bolt-on operation as you can expect to find as the steering bearings are the same size as well as the same stack height. The only thing that requires some custom work is the upper triple tree as it was designed to hold its own gauges and thus must be cut off and the key switch/steering lock need a little work too. I did everything with nothing more than a hacksaw, files and drill. But keep in mind we are using an entire complete front end including the  17" wheel, brakes, fenders etc....
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: Bergmen on September 20, 2013, 11:43:15 AM
A whole new set of owners were alerted to it's being out there who probably weren't out there at its introduction.

Different question, which front end did you swap in?

Tony described it very well. I had been researching a ZRX1200 engine swap for some time. When I was ready to launch the project I decided I wanted a complete motorcycle for a couple of reasons. First, as Tony indicated, I needed a lot more than just engine. Second, I wanted a running bike to make sure the engine, etc. was in good condition (many engines come out of crashed or salvaged bikes and the condition cannot be demonstrated).

I caught a little grief over on ZRXOA until I explained my reasoning. Even the former owner was impressed and endorsed my decision (and project in general). He actually seemed somewhat proud that he played a part in it.

It's all good.

Dan
Title: Re: bottom of the fairing??????
Post by: hardtarge on September 22, 2013, 10:00:04 PM
I miss that thread.    Many many hours reading that one as it played out week after week.