Brand new rider, Old school Kawasakis

I started riding 3 years ago, on a whim. Just got a hair across my bum to take a riding class, and started looking for a bike. A friend suggested a local mechanic, who had a pretty mint looking 75 Z1900.

After a month of riding, (and an unfortunate learning experience,) I garaged my beloved Z1 against the cold Maine winter.

Next spring wanting to repair my learning experience, and fix a 30 mile per tank carb leak, I hooked up with a friend who rode a 79 KZ900. He suggested a Pingle petcock, and sold me a rebuilt carb, and 4 into 1. After fixing some wiring issues, relating to the learning experience, he suggested having a mechanic open up the motor, because of a valve tick.


3 weeks later, the mechanic told me the engine was toast. I was so heart broken, I couldn't tell you exactly what was wrong. And if I was to be honest, I'm not really a gearhead. Fortunately, my friend with the 79 KZ, had a 77 KZ1000 he was parting out, that ran, and he gave it to me. He said that the 1000 should slip into a 75 Z1. (For the record, it doesn't.)

So my current ride is a 77 KZ1000 with a 75 Z1 body. I'm working on getting it back from the shop, to repair a valve cover leak, and work out throttle and idle issues.

I know that I will have many questions. Thanks in advance.

Welcome KawaCafe! That is the kind of introduction we like. I would like you to elaborate on just what was 'toast' about the Z1. These are fairly forgiving motors and just about anything can be rebuilt/repaired. And that 77 motor should have fit in the Z1B frame...it is the same basic motor :dry:

all you have to do to get it to fit is take off the valve cover before you try to install the engine and as far as your engine being shot there is not one piece in that motor that is not available either nos or aftermarket also i hope you kept your stock pipes they are worth hanging onto.

welcome aboard.....nice photo......i am digging the color and pipes....way to go..it'll all fit with each other...you may find more merged stuff in there allready.....welcome,,,craig

KawaCafe wrote:

...wanting to...fix a 30 mile per tank carb leak...valve tick...mechanic told me the engine was toast...I couldn't tell you exactly what was wrong....

Carb leak might have resulted in fuel intrusion into crankcase which ruined the oil and toasted the engine. :pinch:

Such fuel intrusion into crankcase typically results from malfunctioning float valve accompanied by obstructed overflow circuit (or carb without overflow circuit).

Properly functioning petcock is not the "cure" because fuel intrusion can happen while motoring along.

Good Luck!

Welcome from a fellow noob!!

Welcome to the site. Did you keep the old motor? Did they trade the new motor for the old? What kind of carbs were on the old motor and do you still have them? Did they give you a new exhaust instead of the old stock one? A valve tick shouldn't be a toast motor...Russ

Russ Jackson wrote:

...A valve tick shouldn't be a toast motor...Russ

True. However valve tick may be symptom of oil contaminated (thinned) by fuel intrusion into crankcase. Insufficient lubrication of cam area.

Good Luck!

Patton wrote:

Russ Jackson wrote:

...A valve tick shouldn't be a toast motor...Russ

True. However valve tick may be symptom of oil contaminated (thinned) by fuel intrusion into crankcase. Insufficient lubrication of cam area.

Good Luck!

Alot of this seems like it doesnt add up. I am interrested in how this turns out. What is that original exhaust worth? And whenever someone offers different carbs that isnt a good sign. A guy tried that trick on mine. The old those carbs are wrong trick and I can replace them with these. Why sell him re-built carbs instead of re-building the existing?...Russ

I'm guessing the nice man who "sold " him a 4 into 1 stole the original pipes and sold them on eBay for $1500.00

As best I can remember, the rods were about to push through. Like I said, I'm not a gearhead, so I don't know why the engine was no good. While the mechanic who told me this was definitely a hack, if he and my friend were in kahoots to screw me out of a few bucks, that would suck. Pretty unlikely.

The 4 into 4s were shot. Rusted out, and in need of baffles. Although a small amount of money changed hands between my friend and I, it was essentially a trade. 77, for the 75, and I take any parts from the 75 I needed.

I'm happy with my setup, though. The 77 frame is better, and I like the 75 body.

Perhaps just a typo in the original post, but for the record, there is no 1979 KZ900. (Probably meant a 1976 KZ900).

You can trust me 'cause I never make misteaks. :lol:

Good Luck!