Help with a new bike..

Hi everyone. I recently looked at a 1978 KZ1000, the bike has 35,000mi on it. He is willing to give it to me for $1000.0 The bike runs pretty good, no smoke, no taps. But there was oil on the front of the engine.. He says it might be the tach drive, but I think head gasket.. Is it worth it or what.. Oil wasn't pouring out, but it was wet on the front...

Got a photo or two of it? What's new on the bike (can prove with receipts or is just plain obvious)?

$1000 isn't too much for a decent example at this time of year, not perfect but decent and running.

SCALESJ wrote: Hi everyone. I recently looked at a 1978 KZ1000, the bike has 35,000mi on it. He is willing to give it to me for $1000.0 The bike runs pretty good, no smoke, no taps. But there was oil on the front of the engine.. He says it might be the tach drive, but I think head gasket.. Is it worth it or what.. Oil wasn't pouring out, but it was wet on the front...

Hello, SCALESJ, and WELCOME to KZr!

Would suspect source of the mentioned oil seepage in this order, starting with the most probable:

Tach drive;
Half moons;
Valve cover gasket;
Exhaust gasket;
Loose exhaust clamp nut;
Oil cooler hose (if fitted);
Un-torqued head;
Head Gasket.

Good Fortune!

Got the bike tonight. Went with my father-n-law, cause he has the bike trailer..Pics to follow soon.. Gonna need to lower it some my feet are barely touching..

www.z1enterprises.com sells the seals for the tach drive. Contact them for fast,friendly service.
These seals dry out and leak,but check with Z1 first.

SCALESJ wrote: Hi everyone. I recently looked at a 1978 KZ1000, the bike has 35,000mi on it. He is willing to give it to me for $1000.0 The bike runs pretty good, no smoke, no taps. But there was oil on the front of the engine.. He says it might be the tach drive, but I think head gasket.. Is it worth it or what.. Oil wasn't pouring out, but it was wet on the front...

Most likely it is the tach drive as that is a very common sorce of oil leaks. The good news is that it is extremely easy and very inexpensive (only a couple bucks) to fix. Just take a look to see if most of the oil appears to be coming from near the fitting where the tachometer cable attaches to the cylinder head; if it is, replace that seal, clean the area, and see if any more oil leaks (it probably won't). ed