Trying to Rescue a Late 1970s (1977??) Kawasaki KZ1000

Kelly E
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Never Give Up. Never Surrender

10 Jan 2023 17:16 #878733 by Kelly E

Replied by Kelly E on topic Trying to Rescue a Late 1970s (1977??) Kawasaki KZ1000

wdhewson wrote:
Thanks guys, those are some very pretty bikes.

My efforts go mostly into the mechanical side (to avoid calling friends with trailers), but I'll try harder than usual to make things look good.

I started with the brakes, which is my habit, just to make sure she's safe if it ever rolls at speed.The rubber brake lines certainly need replacement and those little friction pads in the front calipers don't have much "meat" left.

Those are some crusty calipers, even worse than mine were. All of the pistons were gouged on my 77' KZ 1000B1 LTD and we got stainless steel caliper pistons for all 3 calipers from brakecrafters.com. My bike is an early 77' #500442 and with the help of them we figured out that my bike has the same rear brake caliper and mount as the KZ 750. It's original as far as I know since the bike has been in the family since new.

The Rust Bros. Garage Collection
1974 Honda CB 550 K0
1975 Honda CB 400F Super Sport
1977 Kawasaki KZ 1000 LTD
1980 Suzuki GS 1100E
1982 Honda CB 900F Super Sport
1983 Honda CB 1100F
1984 Honda Sabre 700
1984 Honda Interceptor 1000
1990 Moto Guzzi 1000
1994 Kawasaki ZG 1000 Concours

And more

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gd4now
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Denco where did you go?

10 Jan 2023 17:28 #878734 by gd4now

Replied by gd4now on topic Trying to Rescue a Late 1970s (1977??) Kawasaki KZ1000

I do not have an answer for you but will say have seen like info on (K)Z650

1977 KZ650 B1
Pods and Denco header

OLD KAW OWNERS SMILE ALOT

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gd4now
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Denco where did you go?

10 Jan 2023 17:34 #878735 by gd4now

Replied by gd4now on topic Trying to Rescue a Late 1970s (1977??) Kawasaki KZ1000

You have found a nice looking machine! I look forward to following what you choose to do with it.

1977 KZ650 B1
Pods and Denco header

OLD KAW OWNERS SMILE ALOT

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wdhewson
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12 Jan 2023 05:05 - 12 Jan 2023 05:07 #878758 by wdhewson

Replied by wdhewson on topic Trying to Rescue a Late 1970s (1977??) Kawasaki KZ1000

I cleaned up the head tube a bit and think the manufacturing date of 4 77 is visible on the side opposite the serial number, so you guys were quite right about 1977.

Here's the rear sprocket, which looks like an aftermarket JT one with a count of 41 teeth. Do you think this will be good gearing? I live in flatlands with lots of "nice" straightaways!!

And I rebuilt the rear caliper and everything looked pretty good, so lots of cleaning but no new parts. With the exception of a bleeder valve repair insert which uses a 1/8" pipe thread brass insert. Hard to buy these now due to liability.

Nothing quite like the rip of a Big KZ

Last edit: 12 Jan 2023 05:07 by wdhewson.

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SWest
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10 22 2014

12 Jan 2023 11:18 #878773 by SWest

Replied by SWest on topic Trying to Rescue a Late 1970s (1977??) Kawasaki KZ1000

With my 18" wheel I ran 16//35 for HWY and 15/35 for short rides. When I switched to a 16" alloy wheel I'm running 15/33 and will switch to a16 tooth countershaft sprocket for long rides. Drops the RPM's at 70 MPH to around 4500 where the 15 is at 5000. Lose a bit on takeoff but smoother at speed.

You could pull tree stumps with that 41.

Steve

Z1b1000 1975 Z1b
kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/598262-kz-...-will-it-live#672882
kzrider.com/forum/2-engine/597654-poser?start=240#704229

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JR
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12 Jan 2023 16:11 - 12 Jan 2023 16:18 #878785 by JR

Replied by JR on topic Trying to Rescue a Late 1970s (1977??) Kawasaki KZ1000

wdhewson:

from the JT sprockets website it looks like your sprocket JTR488-41 is for a 530 chain.
If indeed so then a PO probably did the conversion from 630 to 530 chain and sprockets. I'd suggest you count the teeth on your front sprocket and then divide the rear 41 by the front # which will give you the gear ratio which you can compare to Steve's #s

To convert 630 numbers to 530 numbers divide the 630 #s by 5 and multiply by 6.
Thus a 630 34T rear sprocket becomes 34/5 x 6 = 40.8 or 41T to the nearest whole # for a 530 chain

and then of course your rear wheel diameter will matter also.

1980 kz750E1, Delkevic exhaust

Last edit: 12 Jan 2023 16:18 by JR.

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wdhewson
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12 Jan 2023 19:11 #878789 by wdhewson

Replied by wdhewson on topic Trying to Rescue a Late 1970s (1977??) Kawasaki KZ1000

Thanks guys, great helpful input.

The chain on this project bike is such a big butch looking thing that I just assumed 630. But I think the chain just looks big due to thick side plates and thick O-rings.

In 530 I think pin to pin is 5/8ths inch and the width of rollers between inner plates is 3/8ths inch.

Armed with an old tape measure, I think these pictures do tell us she's a 530.

This pleases me as sprocket and chain selection should be greater for the 530.

Nothing quite like the rip of a Big KZ

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JR
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13 Jan 2023 08:27 - 13 Jan 2023 10:58 #878803 by JR

Replied by JR on topic Trying to Rescue a Late 1970s (1977??) Kawasaki KZ1000

630 and 530 chains are pretty much the same width. Yes pin center to pin center on the 530 is 5/8 inch and on the 630 is 6/8 inch

1980 kz750E1, Delkevic exhaust

Last edit: 13 Jan 2023 10:58 by JR.

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Scirocco
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Never change a running system

13 Jan 2023 09:07 #878804 by Scirocco

Replied by Scirocco on topic Trying to Rescue a Late 1970s (1977??) Kawasaki KZ1000

RB Racing and Gearing Commander offers a chain length and final gearing calculator.

rbracing-rsr.com/chainlength.html
www.gearingcommander.com/index.htm

My 1975 Z 1 B 900 Project

www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/605133...ears-deep-sleep-mode

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wdhewson
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14 Jan 2023 18:23 #878834 by wdhewson

Replied by wdhewson on topic Trying to Rescue a Late 1970s (1977??) Kawasaki KZ1000

Gentlemen,

Here's a bunch of instrument photos.

At first I thought the speedometer wasn't working but I think it was OK, just needing a higher rpm input than I anticipated.

A few questions............

Do these look like the correct instruments for a 1977 KZ1000A?

Both instruments have these screw tightened bezel clamps, which made disassembly, cleaning, and inspection quite easy. But is this a one off repair or an aftermarket fitting?

Thanks for the advice.............

Nothing quite like the rip of a Big KZ

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Warren3200gt
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15 Jan 2023 02:38 #878840 by Warren3200gt

Replied by Warren3200gt on topic Trying to Rescue a Late 1970s (1977??) Kawasaki KZ1000

Look genuine to me. That's how they were mounted originally. The clocks also look genuine. Repop don't have the nippon denso (ND) logo bottom centre of each clock face.