kz650 cylinder head

wondering if theres any difference in a 1981 kz650 head to a 1978 kz650 head. i see no differences but i dont wanna chance any problems.

it appears from what i see. the 81 head must be different. everybody on ebay has them listed from 1977-1980 and then 1981 on. im lost

In 81 Kaw switched to the hyvo cam chain instead of the single link used on all the earlier models. Some of the 81 builds had the single link, some had the hyvo. The later hyvo head won't have the provisions for the cam chain rollers necessary for the earlier motors. Visual comparison is really the only way to tell if you have a hyvo head or not.

When I changed my 1980 kz650 ltd head out for a 1979 kz650sr (spark plug thread bad didnt see it when I bought bike) head my cam tenchiner pulley shaft for some reason was to narrow for the shaft so I had to mill a little off on the bridgeport.