A story that made me think, “Company presidents like this really are something special.”
First, they have an incredibly strong attachment and pride in their own company. If you’ve founded the company yourself, that might be natural, but what really gets me is the “love for their employees.” They take the employees they’ve nurtured with care and praise them proudly in public. Not a word of complaint or gossip.
That’s why talented people naturally gather around someone with such a big heart, and the organization grows by leaps and bounds.
Conversely, companies that casually badmouth their own staff elsewhere or treat them roughly—you can feel the cold atmosphere the moment you walk in. “A manager who wants to squeeze out cheap labor” and “employees who do the bare minimum and don’t want to go the extra mile.” You can’t create good work in a relationship that frozen.
Hiring people and taking on their lives is truly heavy and difficult work. That’s exactly why the person at the top needs to have their “heart and body” grounded and centered beyond just skill. I’m painfully aware that leaders whose “humanity and way of life” you can respect from the bottom of your heart—beyond just technique and track record—are truly rare in this world.
What’s the deal with the Zephyr 1100 starter clutch problem?
It looks structurally like it could be done from the outside… but it can’t on the ZEPHYR 1100 When I checked Kawasaki genuine parts… 92048-1065 Race, one-way clutch discontinued 16085-1252 Gear, one-way clutch discontinued
The only one still supplied is 13194-1096 Clutch (one-way). So we’re replacing just the cam roller section? I’ll do a bit more research and ask around…
Another crude oil crisis brewing at year-end and New Year’s?
For now, I’ve locked in just what we need ahead of time! Having the goods on hand lets us drop the extra worries and focus full-force on the work in front of us.
Still, it’s really not a carefree world anymore where you can just relax. Natural disasters, food crises and self-sufficiency worries, and prices that just keep climbing. Looking back, I think the Heisei era and before were times when you could still believe in the future and live with peace of mind. It makes sense that we’re now forced to think about self-sufficiency and preparedness.
…And yet, even as I worry about the state of the world, the work doesn’t stop! Engine oil is swapped out to trusted Shell Advance with a solid thunk( `ー´)ノ
Brake fluid is Golden Cruiser DOT4
All properly replaced.
I’ve stocked up on extra fluid too(*´ω｀*)
Head cover bolt area leak check
Looking closely at the head cover bolts, some have this “stepped” design.
The bolt’s step lands against the head side and bottoms out—that’s how it stops. So no matter how hard you crank to tighten it when oil starts seeping, it won’t tighten any further (forcing it will strip the threads instantly…).
The “step height” itself is the maximum dimension where the gasket can be properly crushed and sealed. When seeping appears, the only right answer—the absolute answer—is to replace the rubber gasket (O-ring) with a new one( `ー´)ノ
And while we’re at it, I’ve also tuned the carburettor sync carefully!
Hook up the negative-pressure gauge and tweak the screws just a bit—it snaps right into sync. Without plugging in a computer or special diagnostic machine, you can dial it in perfectly with just analog feel, your ear, and the gauge needle—that’s the best part of air-cooled carburettor bikes.
The scatter that was off-kilter comes into alignment, the idle grain becomes even and ticks over rock-solid. The blip response cleans up nicely too—it’s a really satisfying finish( `ー´)ノ
Lately it’s been nothing but inspection runs
With our Town Ace, a big bike fits one at a time. When we’re running two inspections a day, it’s “go in the morning and come back, go again in the afternoon and come back…” and we’re back at the factory after 3 PM.
Then a late lunch, a quick break, and it’s already getting dark outside. Prep the next day’s inspection and load it back on the transporter, and the whole day just melts away (laugh). But that’s exactly when you have to stay calm—rushing never leads anywhere good, so we keep a steady, sure pace.
The Zephyr 1100 in our care—even on the test ride, that “THE air-cooled four-cylinder!” meaty torque and unique heartbeat feel amazing. With refinement piled on through the 2006 final edition, the completeness and depth are truly something. The Zephyr series—400, 550, 750, 1100—each displacement has its own character, and they’re all genuinely flavorful classics( `ー´)ノ
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