Dented oil filter!

There's some differing opinions as well as different pictures in different manuals as to the order of assembly, but I can assure you as it came from Kawasaki, the order was: Metal bucket facing open end up right on top of the oil filter cover, then spring, then washer, then filter. Page 73 of the factory KZ650 service manual explains it in pictures as well as words.

KZCSI, I don't know what bike you're describing, but that is not how the filter on a KZ650 goes in. Starting with the cover (with gasket & bolt installed in it) next goes the fence then the spring then the washer then (last) the filter. I've included the text from the Kawasaki FSM below. It looks to me like there's an AWFUL lot of metal in the filter. I wonder if it was so clogged up the the oil pressure deformed it before the bypass valve opened. I would be sure to clean the bypass cafefully as it may be full of metal particles. I found it interesting that the fence is solid rather than perforated. What bike is this on?

[img size=150][/img]

Hey Ron,

Could be. I don't have any experience with 650's. I wasn't really aware of the model he's working on. I was just going from memory and my KSM for my KZ1100.

I just checked the Clymers manual for KZ750 fours, 80 & 81, and see that that "fence" has a flat profile right where the mounting bolt goes through. All the shields or fences I've seen had an offset right where the bolt goes through. I can't really see from his picture what sort of fence he has. Do you know for sure that he riding a 650?

kzcsi

Make sure your oil pump isn't damaged, or isn't what actually croaked and is the culprit of the trashed filter and metal particles. :S

KZCSI wrote:

... 650? ...

? ? ? '84KZ550 ? ? ?

? ? ? F2 LTD shaft ? ? ?

For reference if applicable, here's the Kawasaki.com parts diagram for oil filter on '84KZ550F2 (LTD shaftdrive) --

[please see next post]

Memo: Left-click on image to enlarge.

I pulled the oil filter out of a spare 550 engine I have and can see that the fence does fit against the cover plate. I was mistaken about the fence causing the problem.

I took a couple of pics just to confirm the height of the filter.

KZCSI

This oil filter misunderstanding happened to me years ago. A fellow, who I was working for, let me ride his bike to warm up the oil before the oil change. I was hanging out with him while he then changed the oil in his bike. When he was completing the work, I asked him if he was sure he was putting the fence on the right way. He got the manual and showed me that the fence was placed on top of the oil filter. So, I was looking like the crazy one. I then went home and retrieved my manual so I could show him that the fence was supposed to be on the bottom of the filter for my motorcycle. His bike was a KZ1100 (on top) and mine was a KZ750 (on bottom).
Just thought I would share my experience.

You had me concerned with the fence for a second.. Yeah, it goes on the bottom..though it would seem to make more sense to have it on top, then the oil could get to the filter easier..

Either way, it seems like my #2 cylinder now has absolutely no compression at all. I tried tossing some oil down the sparkplug hole too, and nothing.. either one or both of my valve(s?) are toast I think.

Is it possible to throw off timing if you tighten the cam chain too much?

I'm gonna pull my valve cover/head today and take a look..I really hope it's not a big deal.

The good thing is that 1, 3, and 4 are all perfectly within spec.

The *really* good thing is that my wife said she thinks I should get a new bike because she isn't happy I'm riding something unreliable! :woohoo:

UNRELIABLE,,,, you should go wash your mouth out with soap!!!!

if the other cyls are up on compression ,and that much metal, I am thinking a hole in the piston,, hope not

Her words, not mine! :silly:

I figured out why the #2 had no compression, and likely what happened to the oil filter.



Seems my piston didn't like being in one piece.

:blink: :blink:

The cylinder walls have 2 large gouges in them now, so it's definitely time to start weighing my options.. *sigh*