650-CSR & 750H Ltd engine Painted ???

Does anyone know for sure whether or not if the 81 650-CSR or 750-4 Ltd engines are painted silver?
Mine is the csr, but I'd guess the Ltd would be the same. When attempting to clean up the engine, there's some silver flaking when using a bristle brush by hand. doh.

Yes, I have the 750-4 LTD and it is silver painted.

Thanks. How did you make that determination?

I was polishing the ignition cover and decided to move a further into the engine... silver paint came out leaving a bare aluminum casting surface.

Also I did see some silver flakes on my cylinder head.

Thanks. My guess was that it had to be paint flaking off. I was thinking of testing it with a paint stripper or something, but I took another closer look at the thing, and it appears that the cylinders, cylinder head & valve cover are painted, but not the crankcase. I guess they painted it for uniformity in appearance & to fill casting flaws.

Martin, I have a 1980 KZ750 Ltd that I bought new in 1980 and the engine is not painted from the factory. If you bought a used bike, previous owner has touched it up with heat resistant silver paint.

Thanks, but the engine is 100% stock, so it was definitely painted at the factory. I could be wrong, but I don't think the earlier 650s were painted. If your 750 wasn't, then it's possible Kawasaki started doing so in the 1981 model year --- the 80 750H has some differences from the later models (the muffler stays for instance).

You are correct; the early KZ650 engines were not painted (thank goodness!). I didn't know later ones were. Ed

At this point I'm not absolutely certain if it is or not, but it sure seems like it. i haven't tested those silver flecks yet, but I can't imagine the metal flaking off from a mild scrubbing by hand w a nylon brush. doh.