Standard Piston?

Sorry Wireman, I meant to ask if anyone had experience of trimming the end gaps of first oversize piston rings to fit a standard piston, my European Z500/4 isn't supported anymore by Kawasaki and I can't find standard rings:(

Post edited by: tellietubbie, at: 2006/01/14 22:44

how about a standard post i cant see anything: :whistle:

I don't think that would be a good idea, but it might work in a pinch. I think you will have increased ring tension causing increased drag on the cylinder wall and possibly increased wear, I'm also not sure how round the rings are going to be after you compress them that far.
I have seen stranger things done though.

Any possibilty of getting a 550 jug and pistons and just making it into a 550?
Or getting oversize pistons to go with the rings?

If you can get a part number for the standard rings, I can check to see if Kawasaki in Japan still has any.

I don't have any parts reference for this bike.

Thanx for that Steell, everyone does the 500 to 550 thing and I,m trying to restore it to origional,plus,after new jugs,pistons, re jetting,:blink: I'd have a bike I didn't want Jeff sent a msg about contacting Kawa Japan so I 'll give that a go.Thanks again for your i/p. Pete

Hi Jeff, thanks for your reply, I'm about to get my hands on an origional 500 parts list with numbers but its going to be a few days yetB) ,as soon as I've got it I'll take you up on that . Many thanks.Pete:)

i wonder if that wouldnt tend to eggshape the rings just a little making them more likely to break?

Probably, I'm gonna have to find another way to do this, I think its important to keep it as origional as possible so maybe another Jap 500/4 could be of use? We'll see, thank for your i/p Wireman.All the Best from England:)

Klasmo Bikes have got the STND piston rings listed.
Kawasaki parts #: 130081004

Price: 34,86 € for each set.

KLASMO LINK

Ibsen, you made my day:P ,thanks a lot guy!

Klasmo is probably much quicker for you - and the prices are not too bad

If they don't have it in stock, it does look like it's available out of Japan - the approximate cost would be around $35 per piston

Nice one Jeff, the info on this site is IMPRESSIVE, and the clientel most agreeable. Thanks again Guys.