83 KZ 440 belt drive to chain drive transformation

I have an 1983 KZ 440 LTD belt drive and i have been looking around and the drive belt for that thing on the sites i have visited is running bout $150 as where I can get a chain for $50... is it possible to change a beltdrive bike to a chain drive... and lastly is it even logical?? Would it just cost me just as much in the long run??

thanks,
jason

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I bought an '82 440 D4 that had been converted from belt to chain and the chain indeed does hit the bracket where the belt guard attaches in the front and is eating into the bracket. There is at least one other person I heard from that has had the same problem. He cut the bracket off and is going with no guard. I'm considering converting back to belt, but mostly because I want to get it back to its original condition. I don't see any way around cutting off the bracket unless you could fabricate some kind of chain guide. I think it's due to the the sprocket being significantly smaller in diameter than the pulley, making the chain lower and closer to the bracket, but that's just a guess. Good luck.

ok well thanks for the advice everyone sounds like its just as simple to just save up the money and buy a belt instead of causing myself more headache..

hypnohio wrote:

.... I don't see any way around cutting off the bracket unless you could fabricate some kind of chain guide. I think it's due to the the sprocket being significantly smaller in diameter than the pulley, making the chain lower and closer to the bracket, but that's just a guess. Good luck.

What about getting a swingarm from a 440 chain drive? I bet it would bolt-on.

As far as I can tell from the Kawasaki site, the swing arm is the same part for both the belt and chain drive. I would be happy to learn differently, however.

According to the info at Kawasaki.com, the 440 belt & chain drive models have different part numbers for the swingarm. It seems that they have used the same diagram to illustrate the parts, so you can't simply use your eyeballs to compare the diagrams. It might be a good idea look around at the various KZ440 swingarm photos at ebbaayy. I did & there are differences.

From cross-referencing stuff & knowing that a number of folks have done the conversion, it seems like the swingarm is the most likely problem in regards to the rubbing chain.

PS: assuming the swingarm is causing the fitment problem, then you'll need the chain guard as well.

Thanks. checked it out and the two swing arms definitely have different part numbers. It looks like #33001-1121 for an A3(82) or A4(83)should work. I think maybe I'll try doing the swing arm swap before going to belt.

Thanks. checked it out and the two swing arms definitely have different part numbers. It looks like #33001-1121 for an A3(82) or A4(83)should work. I think maybe I'll try doing the swing arm swap before going to belt.

Has anyone solved the chain rub dilemma on converted 440s? Every one I find at a reasonable price has a belt drive, and I'm not real keen on converting one only to have it rub or have to run it without a chain guard (which I won't do). But I also have to believe 40 year old belts don't have a great safety profile either...