79 KZ650 SR - cam chain idler sprocket shaft damper question.

So I´m just about to install the front and rear cam chain guide sprockets on the 79 650 SR engine I´m rebuilding when an unexpected and kinda dumb issue pops up:

My Clymer manual says this about removing the idler sprockets and shafts: "Be careful when removing these two items as there are two small rubber dampers on top of each sprocket shaft."

This is also how it appears on the buykawasaki diagram, dampers on top of the shafts - however there´s a picture in the Clymer manual that clearly shows the two rear rubber dampers (on the idler sprocket shaft that also holds the cam chain tensioner) sitting below the shaft.

So, which way is correct? I did a search and couldn´t find anything so if any of you could be bothered to check with your 650 FSM I´d appreciate it, thanks.

Post edited by: OnkelB, at: 2008/01/03 16:01

I think they were on the top of the sprocket shaft on the engine I was tearing down last week.

Now you have me wondering too.
I'll check the FSM when I get home.

OnkelB, kawasaki.com shows this...



Post edited by: Bluemeanie, at: 2008/01/03 16:20

Yeah John, that´s what makes the most sense to me too and the way I expected it to be esp. since the new rubbers are marked 'up' on one side (actually it would make the most sense if the rear rubbers were on top and the front rubbers below given the direction of chain travel), but the pic in my Clymer (fig.20, pg. 58) clearly shows the rubbers below and the round side of the shaft pointing up, which is what confuses me.

I know that Clymer has been wrong before, but so have the buykawasaki diagrams on a few occasions, so I wanted to doublecheck before sticking the head back on - it´s been almost three years since I tore the engine down and I simply can´t remember.

Mario, that would be great, thanks.

Post edited by: OnkelB, at: 2008/01/03 16:33

OnkelB, scanned this from my FSM, hope it helps.. oops, screwed up, see below.

:S

Post edited by: Bluemeanie, at: 2008/01/03 16:39

Here we go...

They were always all rubber side up, but I doubt it makes a huge difference really.

Thanks John, but I got that one - the one that confuses me is the upper rear guidesprocket shaft, the one the tensioner hangs from.

Yeah Ron, that´s what I always thought too until the pic in my Clymer threw me for a loop - thing is if you look at the bottom side of the head there´s actually a cavity at the rear so you could mount the sprocket shaft with the round side up.

My FSM shows both sets of rubbers up.

My manual shows both sets up also.

Bluemeanie, does figure E41 say "UP" makrs.
Instead of "UP" marks?

Mine does! :laugh:

Post edited by: mariozappa, at: 2008/01/03 18:46

Yea, thats what mine says too... "makrs". Ain't translation a bitch? :woohoo:

Having performed this surgery countless times on my '77Kz650 I can tell you that the rubber pucks sit on the top of the shaft.

As Ron said, it probably doesn't make too much of a difference which way the "Up" markings are placed but make certain that the flat side of the rubber pucks fit snug against the inside of the roller shaft up against where the roller shaft fits into the cam gear bearing.

Cheers-Colin Firth-Ontario Canada