Engine Lube Question - fresh rebuild

79MKII wrote:

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:

I don't see any oil paths on the outside either. There would be a hole in the gasket where the o-ring cut out is milled. The oil must be going up the center or someplace else, because it has to get up there somehow.

The knock pins on mine are also around the front studs just like yours.

Post edited by: bountyhunter, at: 2008/02/05 19:41

I looked at the drawings on your engine:

1) The top of the crankcase does not seem to show any oil passage in the area at the base of the cylinder, but the cylinder base gasket has a hole for one over on the right side only.

2) The head gaskets show holes for oil passages on both left and right.

www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/ka...0a3a-us-1979/o/m3933

pop-up induced duplication

Post edited by: bountyhunter, at: 2008/02/05 19:55

That's what I was picturing, but I though it was on both sides. It makes sense being on the right, very near the oil gallery. I'll have to do some more research and find out where the oil goes from there. I was just hoping someone with a fresh memory could say "you should have your head filled with oil after a few cranks" or "it should look pretty dry unless it's cranking 5000 rpm's" or something like that. I'll try to take a good look at the manual and see if that helps. I'm just not sure enough oil is getting to the cams...

Post edited by: 79MKII, at: 2008/02/05 20:31

i thought the oil went up the outside studs...dont you have brass washers on the outside for this reason?
check out this stuff
red line assembly lube

77KZ650 wrote:

i thought the oil went up the outside studs...dont you have brass washers on the outside for this reason?
check out this stuff
red line assembly lube

I do have the copper washers but I'm not sure if the studs are the only place that feeds the head or maybe they are returns?? Either way, the studs don't go up as high as the cams, so there has to be a passage from the studs up to the cams. That was the original question waaaay back when - does the oil come into the cylinder head anywhere other than the cam journals?

That redline lube looks great. I'm sure it's very similar to what web cam supplies. I put that sticky red stuff all over! I just don't want things to burn up after that wears off. It's only supposed to help until the oil gets pumped up there.

One way is [prior to initial start]to remove plugs,ign off, in first, push up and down the road for 5-10mins.This gets oil where it's needed.

I havent looked at bike bandit, but seems like it was on one side of the block, I think the right side has the oil passage.
since you have the valve cover off, and you have lube on the cams, add some oil on top and fire it up, you should see some oil working its way from the bottom.
You might shoot a PM to Jay, bet he knows the right answer

Post edited by: BSKZ650, at: 2008/02/06 08:09

FSM for '77-'79KZ1000 refers to an oil passage on each side of cylinder block running to top of cylinder head.

79MKII wrote:

77KZ650 wrote:

i thought the oil went up the outside studs...dont you have brass washers on the outside for this reason?
check out this stuff
red line assembly lube

I do have the copper washers but I'm not sure if the studs are the only place that feeds the head or maybe they are returns?? Either way, the studs don't go up as high as the cams, so there has to be a passage from the studs up to the cams. That was the original question waaaay back when - does the oil come into the cylinder head anywhere other than the cam journals?

That redline lube looks great. I'm sure it's very similar to what web cam supplies. I put that sticky red stuff all over! I just don't want things to burn up after that wears off. It's only supposed to help until the oil gets pumped up there.

comes up through outside studs and returns through cam chain area,unless youve got really loose valve guides .

I went through the FSM carefully, and it does explain the lubrication system pretty well, but not in the detail that I was looking for. It says the oil returns through drain holes below the cam followers and also through the cam chain galley.

It didn't really answer my original question though which is "does oil come into the head anywhere other than the cam journals?".

I'd like to try starting it with no cam cover but I've never known anyone to do that. Won't it throw oil everywhere? Anyone ever done it?

I know I definitely could'nt start mine with the cam cover off as there is a cam chain guide in the center of the cover underside which presses down on the cam chain on that section between the sprockets. You may have something similar.

Wonder if it could be started with half moon cam end plugs removed ???
Must be some way find if the oil passage is clear. Could you put a clear tube over the passage and suck oil up with something like a turkey baster or pour oil down ????? or blow compressed air down???
I'm just rambling. Dont pay to much attention.
Good luck