I Have a couple of questions

First off i love this bike, 1978 KZ1000

The cable coming from the valve cover to the tack is leaking either from where the black part of the cable goes over the metal end or from where the nut tightens it down. i took it apart and cleaned it once and the seals looked ok. Would a new cable fix it or should i just glue the black rubber part to the metal?

Next is there anyone in the Columbus Ohio area that has a valve shim tool that i could borrow? my buddy has a 82 Yamaha seca 650 and the valve shims are the same size so we are going to split the cost of a shim kit. but i can't afford the nice shim tool at this time. I'm getting some pop back and back fires and i'm pretty sure the shims need adjusted then I'll do a carb sync and tune.

Thanks Rob

Your oil leak is coming from the tach drive unit. It sees alot of heat, and the o-rings get hard.
On the 900, the drive unit has two o-ring seals and another seal that has a metal sping-like thingy in it.
With new seals, the drive unit is almost impossible to install...lube the new o-rings well, and gradually work the unit into the hole. Wiggle, jiggle, and push it in, but don't tap on it with a hammer. That'll probably cut the o-ring.
Here's a picture of the unit and the seals (for 900, but I think your's is the same).

my 76 kz only has 1 oring. i just put some gasket silcone on it and it stopped leaking.

Where would i get a new o-ring for this? I looked on z1 for it and couldn't find it.

Zacknhs wrote:

Where would i get a new o-ring for this? I looked on z1 for it and couldn't find it.

www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=1585

thanks for the link. i went to rice paddy, they wanted $35 for the oil seal kit. it included the metal nipple that seal the small oring and a paper gasket.

i also found out that the nut that holds the cable to the metal nipple is cracked in half. rice paddy didn't have any that they would let me have. so dose anyone know where to get that nut.

never mind i found what i needed i ordered a new cable and a seal. and i got the side cover gromets i needed any ways. thanks for the help.