Hello From UK

Well I finally joined the Forum today after looking regularly on her since I bought my '81 KZ440 last year. It was imported from Colorado early in 2021 and the PO carried out a recommission but could not get it running. A good friend of mine who is a serial Kawasaki restorer got the crabs and electrics as well as a few other issues sorted  for me and all I then had to do was clean and polish it and get it registered which I finally did in October.
On my first run it died on me after 5 miles and I eventually got it going only for it to keep cutting out after a few minutes. I road, walked, pushed it home and checked the usual suspects and after many runs around the block when I ended up pushing it back home again I managed to find out the cause: the ignition pick up was shorting out after getting warm so I sourced a second hand one and after more testing was confident of travelling further.
The next problem -which I am still trying to resolve - is a slipping clutch . I replaced the springs and plates only to discover the PO had already done this! I was going for a test ride after the rebuild today but the battery is now discharging after about 10 days lack of use so I'll probably need a replacement .
The seal on the clutch cover / ignition looks a bit dodgy as well so I'm expecting an oil leak from there and will need to source a new seal by the look of it.
Happy days-it's all good fun I suppose.
I'm 64 and have been riding since I was 15 and have now owned over 100 bikes in that time. Most I have been Japs from the 70's - noughties but I've also owned a few Brit and Italian bikes and even a KTM690. I'm also currently the owner of a '96 Ducati Monster 750, 2019 Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor and 2015 Continental GT535 and a 1981 Honda CB250RS.

Welcome to the forum!  You probably already know this but you need to use motorcycle specific oil in your bike.  If not that could be a possible cause of your clutch problems.

 

Welcome aboard. 

The next most common cause of a slipping clutch is improper adjustment. If the bike has a factory style cable, there are three adjustment points that need to be adjusted in the proper order. See pages 25 and 26 of the factory service manual.

www.kzrider.com/modules/ServiceManuals/kz440.pdf

Thank you.
Yes I always use a bike specific oil these days.
My bike is the belt drive model and I have searched around the 'net as there is no conventional adjuster mechanism on the left side of the engine -just cable adjustment at the handlebar  lever (perch I think you call it in US) and on the top of the (right side) engine (clutch) cover.
I've had another look at the bike today and managed to charge the battery up and take it for a good run. GOOD NEWS -clutch does NOT now slip but I'll need to disassemble it all again as the seal is weeping. Fortunately I live close to a long standing Kawasaki dealer with a good stock of classic OE spares and they had the item in stock.