KZ1000 questions.

Several years ago I bought a KZ1000. Off the top of my head it's an 83. It runs, or did several years ago, but that's about all I can say about it. My original plan was to strip the engine to use in an A-mod car. Ofter some consideration I think the A-mod is going to get something a little more modern and water cooled. So that leaves me with a bike. I'm thinking about putting it back on the road. The sum total of my experience with motorcycles is with a MR50 that was allergic to water. That was 30 years ago.

Question 1: Timing chains. This one has a hydraulic adjuster that apparently doesn't work. It sounds like the chain is slapping the case. I know from research that the earlier ones have mechanical adjusters. Will the mechanical ones fit on the newer engines. Should I stick with the hydraulic one.

Question 2: Slide valve carburetors, any special tricks to working on one. Anything that will bite me in the butt if I don't know about it.

Question 3: The rear sprocket is done. Should I replace the chain also. How do you tell if a chain is worn out.

Question 4: Parts, where do you get them. Any online places that are better than others.

I'll probably have a million other questions, but that will do for now.

Thanks.

First thing to do is get a shop manual. An aftermarket Clymer manual is okay, but you can probably find a factory manual on eBay. If the rear sprocket is worn out, it's best to replace it along with the front sprocket and the chain all at the same time. Dennis Kirk or Bike Bandit are two decent choices for aftermarket replacement parts, like chains, oil filters, tires, etc. There's an online parts catalog at the Kawasaki website that's pretty handy, it has a lot of exploded diagrams. I would imagine there's at least one KZ1000 forum out there that can help.

Parts Unlimited.com ?

Any time you do sprockets replace the chain too.

I'll second a manual, i've found factory ones are the only one worth getting but 83 old so you'll likely not find it on PDF. but look anyway you never know.

It's possible i have sprockets in stock from the shop i closed 10 years ago..I've still got 80+ rears in boxes and 50 some front too

I've poked around kzrider.com a bit. They've got a fair bit of info there.

Bought from bike bandit recently, no complaints.

There's a maximum length for a certain number of links of chain. If you stretch your chain tight and measure the distance between that many links, you can tell if your chain is worn out. Regardless, if you're replacing sprockets, you should replace the chain as well.

I've got Keihin CV carbs on my little KZ400. They're pretty complex, and always seem to need attention, but nothing unusual, IMO. Finding carb parts is next to impossible (mine's a '76 model).

I'd love to have a KZ1000. Good luck with it!

Thanks for the pointers. I'm sure I'll have some other questions in the future.

My ex b-i-l Bob has a KZ900 and knows a bunch about 'em. I think he's back from Oregon, I'll try to catch up with him.

Slide type carbs are chimp simple. There are two things to keep in mind: first, the needles are held into the slides with this weird hairpin clip. Once that's out the needle drops right out and there is a E clip that has a selection of grooves. Keep it in the same groove and be sure to use the same groove on all 4 carbs.

Next, the idle mixture screws are probably hidden under a plug at the front of the carb. That's so they can't be tinkered with (emissions). So you will of course cut the plug out and then remove the screw so you can properly clean the low speed passage. But before you do, turn the screw in till it seats, counting the turns. This is your starting setting for when you crank it up again. Turning the screw in leans it out and turning it out richens. All 4 carbs should have the same setting within 1/8 turn or something is wrong (dirt in passages, etc).

Don't worry J-man. When/if it come to tuning time I'm coming to your house.

Wonder how a Megasquirt would do on it...

Oh, crap. I remember what happened the last time the gate guy let you through.

44Dwarf wrote: Any time you do sprockets replace the chain too.

I have heard the same. If the chain is bad, replace the sprocket. If the sprocket is bad, replace the chain.