TOPIC:

So, I've been gathering information for this swap. I know Mark Wing and at least one other person put them into kickstart KZ650s, but 6th gear would not engage once it was torqued down.

I found another thread where Steell was installing one in (I believe) a GPZ 750, but there was no detail, and although they both said it was successfully installed, and they would give more info after the bike was running, there was nothing else.

In that thread, Steell put up a link to another thread that apparently went into much more detail, but it was a dead link. I've searched here and the archive extensively, but can't find anything. I looked Steell up, and it says he hasn't been active on here for 10 months, and there is no email address.

Is there any detailed info on this swap? As often as it comes up, I'd think a detailed "how-to" with pics would be pretty popular.

I miss Steell's contributions to this site.

but 6th gear would not engage once it was torqued down.

It sounds like a clearance issue that maybe easy to fix for someone willing to take the time with it.

Is there any detailed info on this swap? As often as it comes up, I'd think a detailed "how-to" with pics would be pretty popular.

Looks like your the one!

I am doing this swap. If you are interested check out my thread in the projects section.

early zx600 trans is the same as a kz550 but the zx750 offers a lower set of gears but otherwise looks like it will work out the same as a zx600/kz550 trans


I did not do a final torque of the cases but I installed the zx600 trans and tightened up the cases, I found that I could easily select all 6 gears. I wonder if Mark had the rotton luck of trying the swap with a trans that included a bent shift fork.

Another thing i noticed, fifth gear (I believe...it is the farthest to the right side of the transmission) on the output shaft had ALOT of play in my trans. This may be a problem, and may not...hell it could be perfectly normal, the play is only noticeable with the transmission removed from the cases. But it also may be why mine worked (parts worn so badly or dammaged and because of that they slop around enough to make it work) I hope that is not the case, but if it is I will take measurements and figure it out.

Worst case I will use a spare set of cases, install the trans tourque everything down then sawzall the top off of the cases so I can see everything work and find out what is blocking the engagement.

I am waiting on my crank and rods (sent to APE and carillo respectively) before I start piecing the bottom end back together. I am also thinking of having my zx600 transmission undercut. So it may be a month or so before I start putting humpty dumpty back together again.

Check my project for progress. If you decide to do this mod start a thread so others can follow. I know Mark is still interested and I am hell bent.


I also miss Steell, he rubbed some of the liter bike guys the wrong way... but he knew his stuff. The asshats that gave him a hard time made this board that much less useful to the 650/750 riders.

You can find Steell here: www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/forum/index.php

For a minute, I was afraid he'd passed away. Why is he no longer active here?

And hardrock (I work at a Hard Rock casino, by the way), do you have those ZX600 gear ratios? Here are the ratios I have for the KZ650 and KZ550:

1st 2.33 -- 2.57
2nd 1.63 -- 1.77
3rd 1.27 -- 1.38
4th 1.04 -- 1.125
5th 0.89 -- 0.961
6th N/A -- 0.851

I hope the format doesn't get screwed up when I post...
here is what I have collected. The CBR 600 gearing is just to see that the new bikes run.

Gearing:
KZ550
Gear ratio
1st 2.57
2nd 1.78
3rd 1.38
4th 1.13
5th 0.96
6th 0.85

1989 zx600 tranny gears

input output ratio
1st 14 36 2.57
2nd 18 32 1.78
3rd 21 29 1.38
4th 24 27 1.13
5th 26 25 0.96
6th 27 23 0.85


1987 750R (gpx)

Input Output Ratio
1st) 13 38 2.92
2nd) 16 34 2.13
3rd) 21 35 1.67
4th) 21 29 1.38
5th) 23 28 1.22
6th) 24 26 1.08



KZ650
Gear Ratio
1st) 2.33
2nd) 1.63
3rd) 1.27
4th) 1.04
5th) 0.89
6th)




2006 CBR 600

1st) 2.67
2nd) 1.94
3rd) 1.66
4th) 1.41
5th) 1.26
6th) 1.16

According to that, the ZX6 has the exact same ratios as the KZ550, and the only overdrive gear is 6th, just as on the KZ550.

Also, from those radiators and white oak floors I see in the pics in your project thread, you're either a renter, or have a really understanding wife (or both).

I think you will get the idea, the tab's that I insert in my own notes did not come through but yeah.

I go by hardr0ck68 because of my family says I am hard headed, my name is Rocco and .68 is the caliber of paintballs (a former hobby of mine). It is a handle I have used for years.

You will need to mix and match some bearings from the 650 tranny to the zx600 tranny (the left side roller bearings and add a 1mm shim from behind the 650 bearing, the on the input shaft if I remember correctly) but once you have it apart it becomes apparent. I will take many detailed pictures when I do my final assembly.

So, if the ZX600 gears you got from the guy on ebay are whack, are you just using them for a trial fit till you get another transmission?

OK, here is the thread where Steell is discussing the GPZ 750 trans swap he did:

kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&...view&catid=2&id=3960

koolaid_kid started the thread, he was doing the swap on his own. From what I gathered from reading the thread, he eventually actually took his engine to Steell to have the conversion done.

GPZephyr chimed in saying he'd done the swap, and posted pics, but they aren't there anymore. Later, he posted that he'd been riding the bike, and that it worked great. he's posted on here as recently as this past Sunday, so it shouldn't be that hard to get him to update us and maybe repost those pics with a detailed how-to. Does anyone know him? I've sent him a pm, hopefully he'll come into this thread and update us.

koolaid_Kid hasn't been active for a year and a half, but I've pmd him as well.

What I'd really like to do is find the thread Steell refers to; in that GPZ 750 6prrd thread; the one with the dead link. It sounded like he went into detail on the swap. Even knowing the self-proclaimed "King of Cheap" as little as I do, I'm betting he probably did it for $1.94, too.

yeah I got a new zx600 trans, the new one had the clutch included. I am going to use the zx600 clutch as well in the swap. Many people report that the kz550 input shaft does not have enough threads to get the clutch nut to seat properly... so I figured I would just use the smaller, lighter clutch.

seanof30306 wrote:

GPZephyr chimed in saying he'd done the swap, and posted pics, but they aren't there anymore. Later, he posted that he'd been riding the bike, and that it worked great. he's posted on here as recently as this past Sunday, so it shouldn't be that hard to get him to update us and maybe repost those pics with a detailed how-to. Does anyone know him? I've sent him a pm, hopefully he'll come into this thread and update us.

The picture is there, you just can't see it. You have to click on the bold black line. I have attached the photo that GPZephyr took.