Hi,

I am trying to bring to life a very early K (0013425). It has spent nearly all it's life unused, 16,000Kms recorded and the tools still wrapped in brown paper. It actually looks good from a distance - the silver paintwork is in excellent condition - no scratches but the rest of it was a celebration of aluminium oxide.
I have spent a month or two cleaning it up. I had the fork legs re chromed, and regreased the head bearings and am now moving towards starting.

With a fuel pump I am hoping it will run

The tank has clearly had water in it. I cleaned it out and partially filled it with diesel and powered the pump externally... I think I was being optimistic expecting anything...but it did growl ..but no pumping. It was pulling about 3 or 4 amps. The terminal posts and all the retaining nuts were rusty but the diesel lubricated them, and all but one came off easily... the last nut eventually freed up with a bit of work. Now all the retaining nuts have been removed I CANNOT BUDGE THE PLASTIC RING. Everything looks normal in there - its not a big mess - I don't know why it will not move ? I have not removed a K fuel pump before....and am not sure if this is normal.... Can anyone suggest how to get the pump out ?

The fuel pump on an 85 is 'held' in place by a rubber fuel damper. At least on my 85 that damper has dissolved into gooey tar and broken bits.

Thats with American fuel and a bike that had sat in a garage for a decade.

You've got a problem with a jammed fuel pump from the sound of it. Take your hand and wiggle it out - expect that damper to fall apart. Remove the tank, drain everything out of it and after it dries out use compressed air to blow the crap out.

Fuel pump - assuming there is zero gasoline on this - try reversing the polarity on the terminals with 12 volts and see if that frees up the stuck impeller.

If that works, you'll need a new damper and initial screen, new in tank fuel lines and a new filter. If that does not work you'll need a new fuel pump as well.

Sorry Mate - but this is a fairly standard procedure in bringing a brick back to life.

Thanks for the comments Beemer01.
Oh this pump is not going anywhere soon !
It is not possible to move it really.
As for the pump suspension ? it appears to be in rude good health. Sitting in water for years must be good for them.

So I have all the nuts off, fuel line removed, power cables undone...but the plastic retaining ring is not coming off. It is still down hard. Force doesn't seem to do much apart from removing the ends of my fingernails.

What is supposed to happen ?

It's like the whole unit has been bonded in...

Any suggestions ?

Look !

it's six months later and fuel pump is still stuck

It`s a retaining lug 180 degree apart on plastic ring, which must be pressed towards centre.
Take care, these lugs easily breaks due to age.
Have a look at the pictures in this link.

Inge K.