PlanetMinis Forums banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

DeathSycthe's 84 Z50 Custom

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 23 Posts

Deathsycthe02

· Registered
Joined
·
57 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
hey guys im going to be building another z50. I have a couple questions, i am starting out with a 84 z50 in pieces.

First question is do you guy think the older style 72-7seventies "mini trail" tank will fit on with minor modification to the 84 frame or possibly bolt on? ill get a custom seat if necessary. i really like the look of that tank over the newer one. i have all the parts for a 84 other than the seat and gas tank.

Second question. I have a set of z50 forks but there missing the lower bearing race, i dont have the one that would be pressed on the bottom of the stem i also dont have any of the top headset or races. I can find the top race and bearings and top nut but can not find the bottom race without buying the entire forks(ebay). Now my question thought is, could i just buy 2 of upper sets and use the top race on bottom, are they universals top to bottom?? OR is there a good place to buy a complete headset/race bearing kit for a 84 frame!


other than those issues i will be slowly building this into a unique stocker sleeper 125 with clutch mini! i have all the parts other than bearings and some other random stuff.
 
#2 ·
The ID of the races are different, the lower one has a bigger ID than the upper one. The smaller ID will not slide down to the bottom of the steering stem. You can see in the pic you posted, the lower one is on the right.
 
#3 ·
Personally, I've bought tapered bearings from Allballsracing.com for all of the one's I've replaced, the upper (22.5 mm I.D.) and lower (24mm I.D.), both 41mm O.D. The bearings are decent quality, and by far better design than the old style balls without the cage, and IMO still better than the newer style Z's with the cage. You do have to knock the old races out of the neck on frame, and tap in the new races which isn't very hard to do, just make sure you stay as "square" as possible. Any questions on that and post em up, plenty of people here that will help.
 
#4 ·
I agree with chum, get a set of tapered bearings and call it a day.

The tank and seats mount differently between the k3-78 and 79-87 bikes. If you take a look at bare frames of the earlier vintage on eBay you will notice the raised tank mount is missing and in its place two small posts directly on the frame backbone. The bolt for the rear of the tank will also be in the wrong place. So not "bolt on" but definitely doable with a grinder, welder and a little patience. The seats mount differently also, but again this can be overcome. Seems like most guys want to swap over their k3-78 (4l) tanks for the later 79-87(5l) tanks. Search z50j1 z50jz tank conversion it will get you a good idea of the differences.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Thank you all for the fast reply's! I do see the differences in the sizes now, also thanks for the measurements! So if i go with the tapered bearings i dont need any of the races then right?!!!!! So the only old part used for the mating of frame and fork is the old top nutseal!


As for the frames/tanks i know what your talking about on the nubs and the 80s frame has the lift brace i was hopping it would've just given it a tank lift haha then maybe i could've just made a spacer for the back mount. i think i might just go for it because i really want this tank graphic.
 
#8 ·
So, do you have a 79-87 tank on hand? If so, what condition is it in? Changing the tank to the older style also means changing the seat. What about having a graphic made for the 79-87 tank that looks like the older style graphic??
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
motodevo said:
You can buy that style tank with mounts for the newer style frame if you buy a repro one off webike. What you want is a "4L"(early)style tank for a "5L"(late) frame

Like this
TANAKA TRADING : 4L Style Tank for MONKEY 5L Frame [ca775]
Click to expand...
I like this tank. I dont have a tank yet so i think thats what i will go with thank you!

66Cooper said:
So, do you have a 79-87 tank on hand? If so, what condition is it in? Changing the tank to the older style also means changing the seat. What about having a graphic made for the 79-87 tank that looks like the older style graphic??
Click to expand...
I dont have a tank yet. I also dont have a seat yet so i can do custom. I thought about doing the graphic on the newer style tank i just dont know if it will look the way i want i like the shape of the older!
 
#10 ·
If you want an older style seat to fit your frame, they have them to suit also, just like the tank you want to get one that is a 4L style seat for a 5L style frame. Later style aftermarket seat are easy enough to mod to fit the earlier frame though anyway. Here's an aftermarket later style seat on an early frame on one i am building, literally 5 minutes it took to mod the mounts to fit the early frame
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
motodevo said:
If you want an older style seat to fit your frame, they have them to suit also, just like the tank you want to get one that is a 4L style seat for a 5L style frame. Later style aftermarket seat are easy enough to mod to fit the earlier frame though anyway. Here's an aftermarket later style seat on an early frame on one i am building, literally 5 minutes it took to mod the mounts to fit the early frame
Click to expand...

Good to know! im thinking something like that once i get the tank.
 
#18 ·
Lookin' awesome man! And by the way, I just saw your post from over a month ago about the tapered bearings needing races.... The tapered bearings come with their own races that you tap/press in the neck, and no, they're not the same or interchangeable with the old ones. (I know you probably got it squared away by now, but just encase...) Anyway, keep up the good work!
 
Discussion starter · #19 · (Edited)
Chum said:
Lookin' awesome man! And by the way, I just saw your post from over a month ago about the tapered bearings needing races.... The tapered bearings come with their own races that you tap/press in the neck, and no, they're not the same or interchangeable with the old ones. (I know you probably got it squared away by now, but just encase...) Anyway, keep up the good work!
Click to expand...
Thanks! I ended up getting it figured out. I found the lower race! In the future, when i need a new set im going to get the allballs upgrade tapered set. For now i already had the top race and both bearings so i just sourced a lower race!!!
 
1 - 20 of 23 Posts
About this Discussion
22 Replies
7 Participants
Last post:
Quinc
PlanetMinis Forums
posts
2.1M
members
63K
Since
2003
PlanetMinis forum is the internet's largest mini bike community. View thousands of photos, event coverage, tips, tricks and performance mods.
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
CRF50 KLX110, DRZ110, TTR90 Chinese/Import Minis - General Discussion Z50, CT70 and JDM Monkeybikes Complete Bikes For Sale - All makes and models