Engine Lube Question - fresh rebuild

Once again I'm counting on you guys to talk me through my latest issue. Where else can a KZ guy turn?

How much oil should I have in the cam area before starting? EVERYTHING is new and I've been turning it over with no spark plugs to make sure it's getting oil everywhere. The oil light goes off when cranking, the oil pours out of the galley with the plug removed, but I don't see any oil around the cams. I have the cam cover off while cranking and really can't see much going on. Is this normal?? I'm terrified to start this thing until I know for sure. I'm afraid something might be blocked, maybe around the base gasket?? Any tips/opinions??
Thanks!

Post edited by: 79MKII, at: 2008/02/04 22:02

I usually just douse the cams with a little fresh oil before bolting on the valve cover.

I would have some cam assembly lube on it and also pour some oil on it also, the top is the last place to get oil, so oil it first on a new start up

79MKII wrote:

...How much oil should I have in the cam area before starting? EVERYTHING is new and I've been turning it over with no spark plugs to make sure it's getting oil everywhere. The oil light goes off when cranking, the oil pours out of the galley with the plug removed, but I don't see any oil around the cams. I have the cam cover off while cranking and really can't see much going on. Is this normal?? I'm terrified to start this thing until I know for sure. I'm afraid something might be blocked, maybe around the base gasket?? Any tips/opinions??
Thanks!....

Is this the '79 KZ1000 MKII, and not the '78 KZ650 SR or '99 ZRX1100 (in signature), or some other model?

Post edited by: Patton, at: 2008/02/05 08:20

Post edited by: Patton, at: 2008/02/05 08:21

I understand what all you guys are saying but as he says, after cranking and oil light goes off there is NO sign of oil up top! I Gotta say that would bother me too, shouldn't there be some indication of oil being pumped up there? Does it take a higher RPM (as in running, not cranking) to get oil up top on these bikes?

My understanding is that there isn't much oil pumped up to the cams during idling (oil pressure isn't much to begin with). I have disassembled a top end where the PO had let the bike sit on the side stand while idling for long periods of time -- presumably to make carb adjustments, etc.. The number 4 exhaust valve was galled along with all four of the exhaust valve bucket wells. :pinch:

as long as you put plenty of assembly lube on the buckets ,shims cam lobes and cam bearings when you assembled things id just splash a little oil up there from a bottle and and start cranking as long as you turn it over without plugs a few times she will be ok.its not like a small block chevy that will shoot oil 10' in the air,these motors only run 3-5 psi unless you modified the oil pump

Yes, this is the MKII rebuild, sorry for not mentioning that. I cranked it for quite a while and thought I'd at least see some fresh oil up top and I don't see any. This is what concerns me. Everything was assembled with the lube that came with the cams, but I don't want to start it if there is something wrong with the lubrication system. I changed the oil pump so that has me concerned too. I took it apart and inspected it to Kaw specs, but I haven't seen it work. I removed a deep sump set up I had so that's why I switched pumps.

I wish my memory was better but it seems that there should be oil visible in the head after so much cranking. That's all I'm worried about for now.

Does it come into the head from anywhere other than the tiny holes in the cam journals?

79MKII wrote:

Does it come into the head from anywhere other than the tiny holes in the cam journals?

Mine has passages at the base of the cylinder head that seal with O-rings. Did you install new o-rings at the cylinder base?

Mine also has steel "pipes" (maybe an inch long) with an o-ring on each end which go into the top of the cylinder and stick up into the head. The head goes onto them and that seals the oil flow into the head.

The oil goes up that passage and through those metal pipes which act as a restrictor orifice. Then it flows into the head and goes to the cam journals and pools above the lifter.

On mine, those o-rings were basically hosed.

If your pump output is good and you have clear path all the way up (and o-rings are sealing), I think you should get the oil out the top.

Post edited by: bountyhunter, at: 2008/02/05 17:41

Mine has the knock pins between the case/cylinder and the cylinder/head but no o-rings. What model do you have?

79MKII wrote:

Mine has the knock pins between the case/cylinder and the cylinder/head but no o-rings. What model do you have?

I have a '79 750 Twin.

Mine also has the knock pins between the crankcase and cylinder base, but there are a couple of o-ring feeds there as well just aft of the knock pins. That is where the vertical oil flow goes up to the cylinder and head.

At the top of the cylinder, the steel tubes with the o-rings that join the cylinder and head act like knock pins (align the head and cylinder) and also double as the oil restrictor orifices. That's why they have o-rings top and bottom.

Post edited by: bountyhunter, at: 2008/02/05 19:06

Post edited by: bountyhunter, at: 2008/02/05 19:07

I think the knock pins on the MKII are actually around the front outer studs. I thought there were oil outlets behind them too, but looking back at pictures I don't see them:huh: I'll check the manual to make sure but I don't think the 1000's have the orings there. I'd just like to check the head for oil when the engine is cranking but I'm not sure where to check.

I wanna fire this baby up but I don't want to burn up the cams.:blink: