I think I scored big time

Last week I bought a titled frame from an 82 750 LTD as well as the complete engine less carbs really,really cheap. For a change it was even close about a 40 minute drive. I went and picked it up last evening. The engine was sold as having a smoking problem but it only has 18,000 miles on it. Since it came with an intact starter motor still attached, this morning I pulled the plugs and attached a jump battery so I could do a compression test to it. Testing it cold with no carbs attached I get an even 120 psi on all cylinders. Looking at the oil level it appears to be overfilled. Now I'm wondering if I should change the oil and throw it in one of the bikes I have around here. I suppose it could have a stuck oil ring or a bad valve guide seal but after seeing the oil level I'm beginning to have my doubts if there is any major problem with this engine. Since I hate to buy gaskets I really don't want to tear off the top end only to find nothing wrong. I'm thinking just throw some marvel mystery oil in the cylinders and let it sit for a while and then put it in a bike and give it a try. I'm looking for some input from you guys as to what you think I should do. Attached is a pic of the bike when they had it running.

Post edited by: The Gringo, at: 2007/09/10 20:40

With compression like that, I would throw it in a frame and work on it from there. You'll be scootin' down the road soon.

Good luck with the project. Sounds like you are well on your way.

I would throw the dice, put some carbs on it and run it then if it runs ok put it in any bike you want

I agree, mount it and run for the on-ramp. I bet that oil in the cylinders and exhaust system will clear out in a short time after it is running at full operating temperature, and you will have put yet another old KZ back on the road.
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Thanks for the input guys. Since both 750 LTD's are currently "porch dwellers" and the one I've been working on here lately already had the engine out, I just grabbed one of the neighborhood derelicts and had him help me move the engine from the back of the truck into the frame. I gave him a couple of bucks and luckily he came walking by before he had consumed too many forties as to render himself totally useless. I guess I'll spend the rest of the day putting it back together and we will soon see if my instincts are correct. I'll let you all know how this turns out. Worst case scenario I have to pull it back out and go back to "plan A" which was putting the GPZ 750 engine I have in it.

I'd slap some carbs and whatever is needed on the motor, change the oil with the proper amount and start it up. Let it run for awhile to see what happens. Bet it will clear up after a little run time. Everything looks good? Put it in a bike and give it some futher time running under load and see what happens.

El gringo es muy feliz


I spent most of yesterday putting this motor in one of my 81 750 LTD's got everything hooked up except for the exhaust. I got up this morning and decided to just use a 4 into 1 RC Engineering header I had laying around off a 650 since the stock system is a PITA to put on. Until I find out what I have, I don't want to kill myself on this little project. For carbs I used a set of BS34 Mikunis that I picked up at Mid-Ohio that are like brand new. Once I got my jump battery and my little test gas tank hooked up I tried to start it. I had spark but it was acting like the timing was all out of whack and would not fire up. After checking a few things I discovered that the plug on the wires from the pulse coils where it plugs into the ignitor wasn't matching up the various color wires correctly. Blue should plug into blue red to red etc. and this wasn't the case. By the time I discovered this I had to stop playing with the bikes and go into work.

As luck would have it I just bought a new ignitor and ignition setup off Ebay last month just to have for spare parts. Tonight I installed the new stuff and ripped off the old stuff. I really was kind of surprized that the 82 ignition wasn't a plug and play with the 81 bike. Anyhow once I got all that done it fired right up. Now that it has the proper level of oil in it it isn't smoking either. I still need to get a throttle cable that will work with the Mikuni carbs and I seem to have some sort of electrical gremlin in the right switch gear but I think I have a different one laying around here that will work.

Considering I got the entire engine for about what you would expect to pay for a used starter motor I'm pretty happy. :laugh: :whistle:

Post edited by: The Gringo, at: 2007/09/11 22:59

deleted double post

Post edited by: The Gringo, at: 2007/09/11 22:11

Right ON Gringo!:ohmy:
Good save!

Right on man! Another KZ lives again!

This morning I hunted down the spare rh switch gear that I had laying around here and after repairing a broken start button I hooked it up and started the bike up but then it started doing the same thing again. Finally I figured out I had a front turn signal that was shorting. I ran a couple of test tanks of gas thru it and man this thing runs good. Now I'm thinking I'm gonna try putting the original Kehin's back on it and see what happens. They look to be pretty clean and if I use these carbs I won't have to get a new throttle cable and I can save the BS34's for the GPZ engine that now I have no idea what I'm gonna put it in.:S Since these guys are planning on parting out the rest of the bike I may get in touch with them to see if I can do a little pre-ebay shopping for some odds and ends I might want. The big advantage is they are close and I won't have to pay any shipping. I think I'll hold off on telling them what was wrong with the motor until after I'm done shopping though, I don't want them trying to make up for their loss at my expense.:lol: