1976 KZ400 Gift

A buddy of mine just gave me a 1976 KZ400 D3 for getting his 66 CB160 running. Not sure if this was a good idea but hey, it was free! He got it about 6 months ago as a project, wasn't able to get it fired up. Doesn't look in too bad of shape and I think if I can get it running, it would look cool with some drag bars, a bikini fairing, painted all black.
Carbs will definitely need to be cleaned but it came with an extra set so I'll be able to cannibalize parts if necessary. Also, think the gas tank is from another year...it doesn't fit right. Believe the 76/77 were interchangeable. Can anyone confirm? Also, where is good place to get a carb rebuilt kit? Can't seem to find the one for this year. Thanks.

Go to ebay for the carb rebuild kit its pretty cheap I just paid $30 for my 01 kz1000 and I don't have any leaks or problems. As for the gas tank im not too sure. But ill do some research and be back in a bit

www.kz400.com/Model%20history.html

Model history

1974 KZ400

1975 KZ400 D

KZ400 S Drum front brake, lacked electric starter.

1976 KZ400 D3 New colour design. Redesigned side covers. New air filter box.

Kz400 S2 Like the S1 but equivipped with a 2 to 1exhaust and lacked the tachometer.

1977 KZ400 D4 New carbs. New colour design.

KZ400 S3 Like S2, with D4 engine and carburetors.

1977 - 1978 KZ400 A Same engine and carbs as the 1974 - 1976 KZ and D/D3, 1978 models had the 1977 D4 carbs.

Equipped with a factory mounted fairing and panniers with integrated rear blinkers, and engine protection bars. Also named the DeLuxe.

1978 - 1981 KZ400 B B1 and B2 . New style gas tank, duck tail. 6 speed gearbox. New cylinder head design. New exhaust. New seat and sidecovers. New carbs. New mudguards



So with all of that being said yes 76/77 are the same tank

BRABBIT04161991 wrote: Go to ebay for the carb rebuild kit its pretty cheap I just paid $30 for my 01 kz1000 and I don't have any leaks or problems. As for the gas tank im not too sure. But ill do some research and be back in a bit

Believe it or not, I could not find any pre-1977 carb rebuilt kits on eBay. I did a Bing search and actually found an old KZR post where someone asked the same question years ago and was told those rebuild kits are almost impossible to find and that Honda jets may work. Found that Out West Motorcycles had them for $40/kit but has zero in stock...this is starting out great...lol.

jerryscyclesvintageparts.com/KAWASAKI-KZ...ts-76-78-P75773.aspx

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND LET ME KNOW IF IT'S THE RIGHT ONE IT SAY 76-78

Here's a cheaper one for $19

www.power-barn.com/servlet/the-1684/Keys...r-Rebuild-Kit/Detail

So if it's the gaskets you can't find but the kit includes everything else I'm pretty sure you already know that you can get either a universal paper gasket or a liquid gasket from your autoparts store

BRABBIT04161991 wrote: Here's a cheaper one for $19

www.power-barn.com/servlet/the-1684/Keys...r-Rebuild-Kit/Detail

According to kz400.com/WorkshopManFrameset-5.html , the Keyster part number is kk-0139. Also, not sure how 76 can be lumped in with 77/78 since it looks like the bike got new carbs in 77. I've got two sets of carbs, I'll try to clean them up best I can and put one good set together. Like you said, I should be able to source gaskets elsewhere.

Looking more at the kz400.com info, it looks like the gas tanks might be interchangeable from 74-77. They look real similar in the pics.

KZ400 Float Bowl O'rings at Z1E

KZ400 Carb items at Z1E

Good Fortune!

Patton wrote: KZ400 Float Bowl O'rings at Z1E

KZ400 Carb items at Z1E

Good Fortune!

Thanks...Z1E looks like they have a lot of stuff I may need.

I've got the carbs soaking so I thought I'd mock up the fairing with the drag bars. Kinda wish I would have got bars with a little rise in them...got an issue with the brake line being too long. Anyone know where I can get shorter one or another model line that would work?

these are great little bikes I love rid in mine. they handle like a bicycle and mine get 58-62 miles a gallon
I got my first 76 on christmas 2004 as a gift to myself and now i've got 4 of them!! the things multiply like rabbits, if you park 2 next to each other!!!! :woohoo: :laugh:
The 75's don't work well to interchange with the 76 77 (and maybe 78's too). I have one 75, an still a lot things will switch over.
the forum on the www.kz400.com website is a group of good guys like here, I have seen some of the same names here too. Everybody is helpful with answers. the search on that site works pretty well for issues and suchI think faffi is on both sites and he has a 400 if i remember, and can answer almost anything B)
I bought none of them running and 3 were baskets, but they all started basically right up when i got the together in the end.
As far as that tank I believe its off off the smaller kz like the 250 or 305 maybe? I happen to have one of those tanks too just never bothered to try to convert it over, I like the smaller profile on that one. it is about a gallon smaller too.
have fun with it!