noises.....

I've spoke w/ a few mechanics and they're telling me it may be the cam chain tensioner. Does anyone know how far down I'd have to take the engine to get at it? Thanks again

I dont think that you need to tear the engine down at all.

The cam chain tensioner is held on by 2 bolts at the base of the engine under the carbs.

Perhaps you could try tighting up the cam chain before tryig to replace it.

1. Disconnect the neg lead.
2. Remove the points cover
3. Use a 17mm wrench to turn the crank 2 full turns past the 2/3 timing mark and line the corner just past the 2/3 timing mark up with the line through the sight hole.

4. back the tensioner bolt off and then screw it in to set the tension.

Maybe that will help.

Sounds like excessive cam chain noise.

Perhaps the camchain isn't being tightened quite enough by the automatic tensioner.

If not already tried ---
Engine should be warm, with the crankshaft set at TDC when doing the adjustment. [Edit - see steell's later post that the 1984 KZ700 camchain tensioner is entirely automatic and not like the earlier style which required re-setting the tensioner as part of routine maintenance]

Finding TDC is usually done by setting the crankshaft at top dead center position by aligning the T mark on the timing advancer with the permanent timing mark on the engine case, while turning the 17mm crankshaft "nut" in direction crankshaft turns when engine is running -- don't turn the engine "backward". [Edit -- this method of setting the crankshaft at TDC is applicable to older models of large fours, and and a different procedure may be necessary for the 1984 KZ700]

This TDC position is supposed to allow the most slack at the rear of the timing chain where the tensioner presses against the chain to automatically set the tension while the set bolt is loose before tightening it back up and locking it down with the lock nut. [Edit - see steell's later post that the 1984 KZ700 camchain tensioner is entirely automatic and not like the earlier style which required re-setting the tensioner as part of routine maintenance]

The spring inside the automatic tensioner presses against the cam chain at the designed pressure of the spring, and only removes slack at the rear run of the cam chain where the tensioner presses against the cam chain.

Good Luck!

I just played the video and my opinion is the cam chain also as I hear it at idle as it rattles at low rpm.


Remove the tensioner and check for a binding in the operation of the mechanism or replace it with a mauual one. I think I have seen them at www.kzzone.com , www.z1enterprises, and www.redlinecycle.com

If interested, here's the APE tensioner available at Z1E.
As KZ700-A1 application isn't specifically listed (shows KZ750), would check with Z1E before ordering to assure proper fitment.

APE Tensioner from Z1E

Good Luck!

OK, here's an awful wuestion. What do I have to take apart to find the timing mark and where is the timing advancer?

KZ700A1 wrote:

... What do I have to take apart to find the timing mark and where is the timing advancer?

The "point cover" is the round cover plate which
covers the points or electronic ignition
(such as Dyna-S).

The cover is held on by two screws and is easily removeable. Usually there's a gasket under the cover.

Here's a pic of the KZ900, and yours should be similar.

[click on image to enlarge view]


Will show a pic of the marks to find in a following post.

Will see end of the crankshaft underneath the points cover.

There is a bolt that screws into the end of the crankcase. Don't touch the bolt.

There is also a larger 17 mm nut for hand turning the crankcase clockwise to enable seeing the timing marks on the advancer unit as the marks come into view.

The marks on the advancer unit will look similar to these.

(Ignore the green circles)

[click on image to enlarge view]



The objective is to align the T mark on the advancer with the permanent mark on the engine case. The permanent mark on the engine case should be easily visible and readily noticed.

All this will be covered much better in your manual when it arrives.

Good Luck!

KZ700A1 wrote:

I've tried to adjust the timing chain tensioner

Perhaps the correct procedure wasn't followed.

Thanks for all the pics. I set the engine @ TDC, unscrewed the large nut holding the spring & pointy(sorry) piece in place. They seemed well oiled and in good shape, so I put everything back together and fired her up. She sounded good for a minute, but progressively went back to the same clackety rattly sound. I'm guessing this means I need a new tensioner, right? I've heard a manual one is less $$ and easier to maintain, but I'd like to get confirmation. Thanks again for everyone's help! I'm not much of a mechanic, but I'm not much of a quitter either and don't know what I would do without the knowledge and patience of everyone here. If any of you are ever in Pittsburgh, let me know, I'll buy you a cold Iron City!!

Here's a diagram from Kawasaki.com showing the 1984 KZ700A ignition. It's obviously different from the earlier style advancer shown in my previously posted pic, and may require a different method for finding top dead center position for the crankshaft. Glad you were able to position it at TDC while re-setting the camchain tensioner. [Edit - see steell's later post that the 1984 KZ700 camchain tensioner is fully automatic without needing periodic routine adjusting or re-setting].

Will post a diagram of the 1984 KZ700 tensioner in another post.

[click on image to enlarge view]

Here's a diagram from Kawasaki.com showing the 1984 KZ700A camchain and tensioner.

Good Luck!

[click on image to enlarge view]