Replacing Oil Seals on '78 KZ1000

Lately, my '78 has been leaking a little oil from the shift lever shaft, so I ordered an oil seal kit from Z1. I figured, while I am in there, I would just go ahead and replace all the seals around the front sproket area. I looked through my FSM to see what it said about replacing these oil seals, and it wasn't very helpful. Basically, it just said to inspect the seals, and if they are bad, to replace them. :blink:

Okay thanks. :S

So, I've pulled off the sprocket cover. I have not yet removed the front sproket. Before I get too far into this, I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if I will need to remove the transmission cover plate to replace the seals, or can I just pull the seals out from the outside and replace them without removing the tranny cover.

Thanks.

If i understand correctly, you will need to remove the Mission cover to replace the seals. I did this a while back and its pretty straight forward.

Aw, shucks. That's what I was afraid of. That means I'll probably have to get a new gasket too.

Thanks.

well duh!!:laugh: Unfortunatly yes you will unless you have specials skill that the rest of dont:laugh:

If I understand your problem correctly, you only have to pull the sprocket cover to change the sprocket shaft seal. If you have a seal puller you can get under the lip of the seal and pry it out. If not you can drill a small hole carefully in the seal and screw a sheet metal screw into it and pull it with pliers. Under the seal you will find a spacer or collar. Pull that out and there will be an o-ring on the shaft. Use a wire hook to get it out and replace it. You might use a heavier o-ring or double up on the original size to compensate for wear. Put everything back together with some good lube and you are ready to go.

michikawi wrote:

If I understand your problem correctly, you only have to pull the sprocket cover to change the sprocket shaft seal. If you have a seal puller you can get under the lip of the seal and pry it out. If not you can drill a small hole carefully in the seal and screw a sheet metal screw into it and pull it with pliers. Under the seal you will find a spacer or collar. Pull that out and there will be an o-ring on the shaft. Use a wire hook to get it out and replace it. You might use a heavier o-ring or double up on the original size to compensate for wear. Put everything back together with some good lube and you are ready to go.

Now, see, THAT'S what I wanted to hear. Galaxian, what's your frickin' problem? :laugh:

I guess I'll take a look at it closer once I remove my sprocket. Hopefully I won't have to remove the tranny cover.

As can be reviewed in the image, for the individual gasket prices you might as well order from Z1 a lower end gasket kit for about the same price. Add ~ $40 for all the lower end seals... Hell of a deal!

I figure if your loosing one seal the others may not be far behind...

OMR

Ok i may have forgotten to mention that i needed to change the mission gasket so once i pulled it i changed the oil seals as well. I guess the 5-7 it would cost for a gasket vs the amount of agravassion it would take to change oil seals without pulling the cover. i would take it off every time. Not to mention its very easy to damage the oil seals even with the cover off. Ask me how i know about that LOL. So i can not imagine how you would get them off without removing the cover. Again there are ten ways to skin a cat its just a matter of how long is it going to take and how much swearing may be involved. I didnt mean to steer you in a direction you didnt plan on going to.

MichiKawi - have you actually done this or are you answering theoretically. Beacuse sometimes theory and practice differ greatly. I am not bashing just trying to get a sense of experience since i am here to learn as well as to help (by help i really mean i am useless ).

galaxian wrote:

Ok i may have forgotten to mention that i needed to change the mission gasket so once i pulled it i changed the oil seals as well. I guess the 5-7 it would cost for a gasket vs the amount of agravassion it would take to change oil seals without pulling the cover. i would take it off every time. Not to mention its very easy to damage the oil seals even with the cover off. Ask me how i know about that LOL. So i can not imagine how you would get them off without removing the cover. Again there are ten ways to skin a cat its just a matter of how long is it going to take and how much swearing may be involved. I didnt mean to steer you in a direction you didnt plan on going to.

Galaxian--no worries, I was only joking.

Last night, as I took a closer look, I think that both you and michikawi are correct. While I think I COULD pull the seals out with the cover plate installed, it is going to be a very, very difficult job to get the old seals off, and the new seals back on. I think it will be much easier with the plate off. So I will probably go that route. A new gasket is only like $3 at Z1E, so I'll just need to wait a few days for it to ship here.

Thanks for your advice.

I know its all in good fun:) . Good luck!!

Not hard to do. You can handle it.
As long as you have the trans cover off, install a over shift bushing.
Cheep part, no tools necessary to install it...

XENU

FastKaw1 wrote:

Not hard to do. You can handle it.
As long as you have the trans cover off, install a over shift bushing.
Cheep part, no tools necessary to install it...

XENU

What is it, and where can I get one?

Thanks.