Valves

Finally I'm ready to replace my tired valve train. I was planning to do it last year when I did the overhaul but had to buy a car for my daughter. Piece by piece I've gathered everything I need. The valve springs were taken out of the KZ 900 I talked about 20+ years ago. Always had a ticking at start up and other symptoms associated with weak springs. Does anyone know anything about Doremi valves? They are lighter than the stock ones and the seller assured me they are made in Japan and they have had no problems with them. I bought some Kibblewhite springs and Viton seals. I have everything else I need so I'll pull the head in the morning. I had a three angle seat grind done about 5000 miles ago. It sat for 15 years so that shouldn't be a problem. I was digging through my junk bin looking for the special tools I made way back then. I found some old valves. They tell a story all their own. One was burned due to being too tight and being run anyway. I remember the chirping noise it made. I still have one that was bent in 78. I thought I'd share some pics. The new valves are on the left. I'll post some more pics as the job progresses.
Steve
This puter is really pissing me off. Sorry

Well the valves went in well but I discovered a hair line crack in one of the seats, 10:00 in the intake valve. Time to find a head. I passed up a bare one for $200 on ebay, wish I hadn't. The valve landings are a little wider than I'd like, they should be pencil thin but they should work The stock springs were short and the inner springs were rubbing on the outer springs. Should have done this a long time ago. Time to fine clean the head and a good flushing. There was a question about the seals not being of high quality on another thread. Well this was a kit bought from K/N 20 years ago. They were cracked and fell apart as I removed them. There was no internet back then so the choice was lean and the head is the toughest place for seals due to the heat involved. I guess I can't make a judgement there. I installed Viton seals and expect them to last until I get another head. When I do, I'll send it out and have it done by an expert.
Here's some more

pic's.
Steve
This computer is being retarded again. Sorry.

swest wrote: Well the valves went in well but I discovered a hair line crack in one of the seats, 10:00 in the intake valve. Time to find a head. I passed up a bare one for $200 on ebay, wish I hadn't. The valve landings are a little wider than I'd like, they should be pencil thin but they should work The stock springs were short and the inner springs were rubbing on the outer springs. Should have done this a long time ago. Time to fine clean the head and a good flushing. There was a question about the seals not being of high quality on another thread. Well this was a kit bought from K/N 20 years ago. They were cracked and fell apart as I removed them. There was no internet back then so the choice was lean and the head is the toughest place for seals due to the heat involved. I guess I can't make a judgement there. I installed Viton seals and expect them to last until I get another head. When I do, I'll send it out and have it done by an expert.
Here's some more

pic's.
Steve
This computer is being retarded again. Sorry.

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What head is this? If it needs a seat that's no problem.

fins look rounded, is that a pre gpz head?

I see the bottom carb bolt castings, has that head been skimmed much?

You can check this by measuring the gap between the small square protrusions on the underside of the casting on 1 and 4 exhaust side, use a straight edge on head gasket face and feeler gauge, not sure what the factory spec is though.

A valve specialist in the Uk (GS Valves) told me he thought all jap bike valves are poor quality, kawi bad and honda a bit better. Not sure about that though. Had a problem with a 2mm oversize stainless valve mushrooming at the tip but not sure whether it was duff valves or a very high lift cam and heavy duty springs,

It's a 1975 Z1 900 head. What you see is stock except for the new valves. I never heard of the Kawasaki valves being of poor quality. I have Andrews 1X drop in cams, Kibblewhite springs with 1015 barrels from a KZ 1000 and 10.25/1 Wiseco pistons. The crank is from a Z2 750 welded by VH. Liska cam gears with APE tension-er. Was planning a 1075 bore but with the crack in the head, I'll have to wait. "Good enough for school."
Steve

Ready to put together. I was hoping to gain some adjusting room. I did on the intake side but the exhaust, I lost a bit. The exhaust valves were loaded up with carbon and it was that that sealed kind of. I'll put up pics at the end of this thread. Time to run it and let the valves seat in, then a final adjustment.

swest wrote: It's a 1975 Z1 900 head. What you see is stock except for the new valves. I never heard of the Kawasaki valves being of poor quality. I have Andrews 1X drop in cams, Kibblewhite springs with 1015 barrels from a KZ 1000 and 10.25/1 Wiseco pistons. The crank is from a Z2 750 welded by VH. Liska cam gears with APE tension-er. Was planning a 1075 bore but with the crack in the head, I'll have to wait. "Good enough for school."
Steve

They're not poor quality. You said it had a cracked valve seat. I'd like to see an up close pic of that if you can take one.

I tried to but the camera just blurred out. I can blow up the pic and barely see it. As I think of it, I seem to remember it being there 20 years ago when I re did the valves. Back then I threw it together when I quit the shop I was working at. He was a crook and was dealing on the side. I went back to pounding nails. I drove by and the place had been torn down.
The question is, used head and roll the dice or new seat?
Larry, what is the cost of installing a new seat?
Steve

Got it running. Too lean. That's a good thing. I have the jets. When it was burning oil I had to lean it out. Had to order some valve shims from jetsrus. I know the valves will seat in, so I ordered the next step down for my collection. Plugs clean and time to roll.