Brat-ish build: '81 KZ-440B

I don't see a center stand on that bike .
You'll need to jack up the rear and spin the wheel.
Rim could be bent.
Are all the spokes tight?
Wheel bearings shouldn't be a problem from sitting.
Maybe the wheel is not lined up straight with the frame?

Nebr_Rex wrote: I don't see a center stand on that bike .
You'll need to jack up the rear and spin the wheel.
Rim could be bent.
Are all the spokes tight?
Wheel bearings shouldn't be a problem from sitting.
Maybe the wheel is not lined up straight with the frame?

thanks for the response Rex:

yea there is no center stand, and i have no mc jack. So i'm wondering how i'm going to get the bike up to take the wheels off in the future. anyone have any tricks?

I haven't checked the spokes, actually i have NEVER touched spokes before. How do i go about checking them? Do they thread into the rim?

I crudely checked the wheels alignment by looking at the notches on either side of the swing-arm and it appears to be correct.

still waiting on the carb and petcock rebuild kits....

I adjusted the valves today. As others have done before me, I created the master tool (aka a bent feeler gauge). I used the 0.2mm gauge. It was my first time doing it, so it took a few minutes to understand what i was actually measuring. Also, i could have used an extra couple hands while holding the light, tightening the lock-nut, and holding the screw in place so it wouldn't move while tightening.



Then I adjusted the clutch. The PO gave me a new clutch kit, but i'll adjust it first and if i ever get around to riding it, see how it is.

Also, the springed bar that connects to the rear drum...it's bent up more than gumby. This is affecting the angle of the cam thingy and the bar. I think because of this my rear brake might be rubbing slightly at a certain part in it's rotation. Could this be causing the rear wobble i'm getting? What is the rod with the spring called? I tried looking it up but couldn't find a parts diagram on z1enterprises or performancepartsplus.

Thanks guys!

as you can see, the bar is bent. the fsm says that when the brake is depressed, the lever and the spring bar should be at a 80-90 degree angle. mine never gets to 90, it's always greater.

what is this part called so i can replace it?

How about a pic.

Nebr_Rex wrote: How about a pic.

updated with pics.

No need to replace the rod.
You can take the nut off and the pin on the other end and straighten it by hand.
But that wouldn't cause your wheel to wobble.

Nebr_Rex wrote: No need to replace the rod.
You can take the nut off and the pin on the other end and straighten it by hand.
But that wouldn't cause your wheel to wobble.

would brake rub at one spot cause the wheel to wobble? Like, as the wheel is rotating, if it drags at a single point, could that cause the wheel to be thrown off balance?

jbeebe1 wrote:

Nebr_Rex wrote: No need to replace the rod.
You can take the nut off and the pin on the other end and straighten it by hand.
But that wouldn't cause your wheel to wobble.

would brake rub at one spot cause the wheel to wobble? Like, as the wheel is rotating, if it drags at a single point, could that cause the wheel to be thrown off balance?

Brake rub usually isn't related to wheel wobble, and doesn't cause the wheel to be thrown off balance.
The rub is due to something amiss in the drum-shoe department.

Any reason to suspect collision damage to the bike's rear end?

Good Fortune!

Normally no,use a couple of jack stands and raise the rear and see where it wobbles.

Nebr_Rex wrote: I don't see a center stand on that bike .
You'll need to jack up the rear and spin the wheel.

The B1 440s didn't come with center stands, but the mounting ears and spring tabs are there and you can easily install one. The rub is that LTD stands won't fit the B, apparently because of of minor differences in the frame (the top of the stand contacts the frame cross tube). Old 400 stands will fit. Mine came off of a '76, I think. If you do that, you'll also have to invent a stop for the center stand when it's raised.

Many owners keep on hand a center-stand which is used for maintenance only.
Often after converting to 4>1 exhaust system.

Good Fortune!