Hole in engine.

So I just started up my 78' kz650sr tonight after letting it sit for a month or 2. Little bit of clattering, then a hard smack. Saw a bit of smoke coming from under the tank. That's when I discovered the hole. And the crack and hole in the valve cover. I haven't gotten around to taking it apart to see what happened, but as it is I think my engine is done. What I want to know is this -

Can I or should I replace the heads and valve cover?
- What else metal could still be in the engine - Will I be albe to find it.

OR - Should I just find a new engine and swap it out.
The bike is in great condition, lots of new parts and it ran great.

I'm leaning tword getting another engine. Less work and headache.

What other size engines will fit my frame? What years of 650 as well?

OPINIONS?
Condolences?

Blake

i wonder if a valve smacked a piston hard enough to push the valve and bucket back through camshaft.time for an autopsy

looks like a cam sprocket bolt came out and got between the cam and bucket. ouch had it happen myself once after a3:00 am thrash.let us all know the bad news. when it happened to me the head had over 20 hours of my port work in it.i kept the head just to remind myself to always loctite those cam bolts.

I'm gonna go with the cam bolt. I lost one last year and it did a bit of damage inside but nothing major. I DID loctite the new ones in - I think. The only thing is I never did find that missing bolt. I pulled the oil pan and got out any scrap metal. No luck on the bolt. I'll probably start pulling the engine apart this winter. Figure I'll wait until its cold and I've got time......

Blake

I have to laugh(not at you,Blake)...timebombs reply...timebombs NAME...in this topic!:laugh: :ohmy:

Yes,Blake,you'll have to perform an autopsy,bud.

So many things could have happened,but my guess too,is a sprocket bolt.

Chances are,that it could have even been a cam cap bolt.

All guesses though,so pull the cover off and lets have a gander.:S

what ever it is, its ugly,,, damn
depending on how many miles are on the engine wou may be able to just replace the head and what ever else broke