Can anyone tell me what this part is?

I seem to have oil leaking from here and I don't have a clue what it is. Please forgive me if it's something that I should know, but I am slowly learning as I go. Would really apprciate some feedback, thank you much! I might have drawn an arrow to the part I was asking about, and I do apologize for not doing so. The part in question is the one on the right side of the pic, the only part that really pokes out.

Thats your cam chain tensioner.
Sombody here will tell you more about that than me.

Your reply is greatly appreciated! And thanks to Google, I think I have a pretty good idea of where to start. Thank you very much.

WOW I help somebody before anybody els chimed in:woohoo: :woohoo:
First time for every thing..
But I am happy to help lord knows I've have been helped alot here and lerned alot and you will to in time.
Good luck with the bike.

That's a cam chain tensioner. However, it looks like you are loosing oil above that (head gasket or cam cover gasket) In the left side of the picture, the top three fins are oily.

The problem will likely be the tach drive which is on the other side of the engine.

Inside the tach drive is an oil seal and an o-ring. Both likely need to be replaced.

The oil showing behind is just wind driven to the rear from riding.

Well at least I got the cam tentioner rite.

OK, so now its time to get a manual and tune this baby up. Now that u know where the cam chain adjuster(tensioner)is, u will need to read up on it. i don’t know this model, so u need to find out if it is automatic or if u must adjust it yourself.
Have fun.
don’t let it frustrate u, post back if u need help.

Kcguy wrote:

I seem to have oil leaking from here and I don't have a clue what it is. Please forgive me if it's something that I should know, but I am slowly learning as I go. Would really apprciate some feedback, thank you much! I might have drawn an arrow to the part I was asking about, and I do apologize for not doing so. The part in question is the one on the right side of the pic, the only part that really pokes out.

If this is a 1982 KZ440 LTD belt drive, here's the diagram from kawasaki.com, which seems to show the cam chain tensioner on front of engine , which would seem consistent with what appears to be a header pipe in the posted pic.

Just guessing. :S

Good Fortune!

[Click on image to enhance view.]

Here's a KZ400 pic, likely close to KZ450.

Good Fortune!

[Click on image to enhance view.]

On the twins, the tensioner is on the front because the engine rotates opposite of the fours. I believe the tach drive is also on the front on the twins.

wagonmaster69 wrote:

WOW I help somebody before anybody els chimed in:woohoo: :woohoo:
First time for every thing..
But I am happy to help lord knows I've have been helped alot here and lerned alot and you will to in time.
Good luck with the bike.

Woo hoo, way to go Rudy.

Mark