1979 KZ1000 LTD B3 Help wanted - Bike will not start

The kickstart does hit the foot peg just a tad after 90 degrees. Cycles the engine but it does not go all the way down.

Looking at the head I think I found the culprit for the smoke emanating from the head.

Looks to my like the cheap blue cam cover gasket as I could feel traces seeping from it. I ordered an OEM replacement, about 5 times thicker and sprayed it with some Permatex copper gasket sealant, my favorite stuff.

Should be better now. I will go ahead and go through the carbs again. I benched synced them and will undo the bowls and clean everything before putting them back.

Still minus 17C this morning here so I have a bit of time left

So I am ready to put the carbs back on. They are Mikuni VM26 pumpers. I did a full rebuild in September but will clean them once more since they have been sitting for most of the winter. I also am going to rejet them.

The standard is;
Jet Pilot: 15
Main Jet: 105
Jet Needle: Y167-S (5CN18)

I am located 38M above sea level and I usually ride in temperatures of 20C. I have both the stock airbag and K&N pods and a 4 in 1 with a baffle, not very loud.

I figure I need to add +1 for pods, +1 for the 4 in 1 and +1 for for low elevation;

New setting;
Jet Pilot: 17.5
Main Jet: 108 ( I have a 109 with my Keyster kit)
Jet Needle: Y167-R

My Keyster kits came only with Pilot Jets of 15 or 20. Can I put 20's or should I get 17.5 ?

The original part # as per my parts diagram says 92064-1017 and that is a 15 size.

What I found is that the 17.5 is 92064-042 but in all the descriptions is says its for a VM28.

Are they the same ?

Thanks.

Got the answer for the Pilot Jet.

Dimensions;

OAL: 28mm
Thread length: 6mm
Thread width: 4mm

The 17.5 Pilot Jet is part # 92064-042 and fits both VM26 and VM28 so I ordered a set from Z1.

Hey everyone, wanted to post a brief update now that the riding season is finally here.

Got the VM26 rejetted with 109 mains, 17.5 pilots, Y167-R needle in the middle position and I finished balancing it with my motion-pro. vaccum tool. I am running the bike with K&N pods and with a MAC 4 in 1.

The bike is very pleasant to drive up to about 100-120 km/h and 5,000 RPM. That's when the bike starts to hesitate, if I crank the throttle I can go beyond 5,000 but it does not run nicely. I can see the pods have something to do with it as if I close my legs while riding it affects the way the engine behaves.

Also I am noticing that my 1-4 spark plugs looks richer than my 2-3 plugs.

So I have a set of ZE-Cross Over pipes in the mail and I plan to rejet and re-install the air box. I also changed the front forks to some 1977 model A and have the intention of reversing the front brake calipers.

Also made a friend a few houses across, the guy has a old Triple and a CB900F and he offered me this set of VM-33 for $200 CAD ($150 USD) Pretty clean, the slides move freely.

No main jets. 45 Pilot jets, 1.0 air jets, 0-8 needle jets, Needle ?.

Don't know how to ID the throttle valve 1.5 or 2.0 ?

I have read a lot of posts about the difficulties of mating VM33 to a stock 1000 engine. But also it seems there has been success using 120 mains with 17.5 pilot jets and a 0.6 air jet.

Should I buy it ?