Longtime lurker, new member.

Hello out there. I have been lurking on here for a while, never as a registered user. I have always been impressed be the selflessness and comradery that are displayed in these forums, people with KZs just want to help out people with KZs.

Last summer I spent a good deal of time on here looking up tips and tricks to get my 1978 KZ1000 LTD ready for the ride of her lifetime. In September I left on a 16,000 mile trip through the states and Canada. Needless to say the trip was hard on her. The last 1000 miles of the trip I knew something was wrong with the engine, but I was pretty much broke by this time of the trip. I crossed my fingers and headed home. Luckily I made it, unluckily I damaged the engine in doing so. I took it to a mechanic the other day and had him do a diagnostic on it and it came back with terrible compression and some top end damage.

I like doing things myself, but engine repair has always been one of those things that has intimidated me. I was curious if there was anybody in the Seattle/king county area that has some spare time on their hands that could help me rebuild the engine. Im not looking for you to rebuild the engine while I watch, I want you to guide me in the process while i get in there and do it myself. I'd like compensate you in someway for your time; either with a bunch of beer, or i have a bunch of random skills that maybe you could use.(found out im pretty good with a paint gun) Anyway if you made it though all that heres some pics from my trip.

-vic

Well it looks like you had the trip of a lifetime there anyway. The old bike will need a bit of TLC, but that would be worth the price for the trip.
Maybe someone in the Pacific NW will chime in, anyway welcome to KZR and hopefully you will be back on the road running again soon.

Hi Vic,

Those pics are pretty much worth the help you're asking for. Be glad to answer your request but I'm seven hours away.

Don't give up though, we can walk you through anything.

Glad you've forsaken lurkin!

Bill

welcome to z-jungle,that looks like a fun trip!
what was the compression numbers on cylinders,did he adjust the valves to see if it helped any?

Welcome to KZR! They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and yours are proof of that. Sounds like an epic trip. I'm sure you'll get the old girl running soon.

wow welcome...crazy pics...insane views and real deal ride it appears...great pics!!!

now before you go nuts and tear the thing apart or order things that may or may not fix the problem...remember there were 1000's of these in Washington state over the years and there more than likely will be a extra engine/bike on C-list sometime soon near you,,,,,often for less than the cost of top end work....i am not saying that the engine you have will cost a ton to fix ,or that you should give up on fixing it...i am saying that often ,life can have a sense of humor and a engine may get listed for sale close to you for a song....
welcome.....sounds like you need a good manual for the 1000 and read the engine tear down and rebuild chapters at work on breaks for a while....and start an engine thread on here.....something that happens is folks take too big a bite and dont get the one thing they needed fixed,leading to frustration and loss of momentum....pick a date/goal to have the bike together if you are gonna start into the engine....ask questions on here and search ...

welcome Craig

welcome.

craig said a mouthful,all of it true.

you have made the first right step you rode the bike far enough to develop a relationship that will carry you through this rough patch.
(dang i sound like a marriage counselor :silly: )

if you don't know how to build a house buy a bunch of material and set it where you want the house.everyone that comes by will tell you how to build it :pinch: .

really tho you have come to the right place this forum has helped countless newbies through some pretty impressive rebuilds.as craig said start an engine thread get a manual and start,ask questions when needed and keep everyobody posted as you go.
there is your safety net.
the good thing is we are all to far away to drink your beer :laugh: .
although stuff that needs painted can be shipped :whistle: .

don't be scared these are some fairly easy engines to learn.

keep us posted,

leon

thanks guys, Ill be starting a thread soon.

vic

Amazing pics and trip! Best of luck with your rebuild. There is a lot of help here!