popping the head loose

I have a couple questions on my KZ650B that I'm restoring. once all the head nuts are off shouldnt the head pop off from the cylinders? I realize the gasket is between there and glues it together, shouldnt it come off if I rap it a few times with my rubber mallet? (no I wont break any fins in the process)

Most of my engine work is RD400, H1 and H2 - I was wondering what those strange bumps are on top of the engine so I opened it up and found these 2 pieces of unnecessary hardware.... good for boat anchors?

before pulling those cams, I checked valve clearance - they were all around .003 - .004". Thats good isnt it??

also, when these engines are fresh, how much timing chain noise should there be?? I'm used to some newer ZX7s, with no noise.

on a kz, at least all the ones i have heard you can always hear the cam chain, but it shouldnt sound like a chainsaw or anything like that. As far as the head goes there should be pry points, that and a few ggod rap's with a rubber mallet should do it.

On my KZ750, the head always pops loose easily. Grab the intake manifolds and wiggle.

Valve clearance of .003" - .004" is dead perfect for my engine, probably pretty good for yours too.

As for cam chain noise: every rice burner that I hear going down the road including mine has the metallic zing of cam sound in the exhaust note.

my bike has a loose ring at present so you can't here the chain..i recomend the loose ring for covering engine noises....lol.............tap it with a rubber mallet in a switching sides pattern and like old kaw said you will be fine oldkaws4ever wrote:

on a kz, at least all the ones i have heard you can always hear the cam chain, but it shouldnt sound like a chainsaw or anything like that. As far as the head goes there should be pry points, that and a few ggod rap's with a rubber mallet should do it.

there's those 2 little bolts down inside the timing chain galley.... just found them:angry:

The '77 KZ650 FSM calls for .00315" - .0071" valve clearance. Those 2 "weird" pieces you found are spare rear axles with integrated sprockets. If you look carefully, you should find a spare drive chain in there too. Ed

yeah I thought so... very thoughtful of them

jzanutto wrote:

there's those 2 little bolts down inside the timing chain galley.... just found them:angry:

OOPS. Mine has three 10mm bolts well hidden threaded upward into the head as well.....:ohmy:

jzanutto wrote:

...when these engines are fresh, how much timing chain noise should there be?? I'm used to some newer ZX7s, with no noise....

Proper carb sync often significantly reduces cam chain noise.