550 Valve Guide O. D. Needed

If anyone has a new or used valve guide from any KZ/GPz/ZX/ZR 550 laying around and can measure the outside diameter, for me I'd greatly appreciate it. Specifically where the valve seal rides.

Thanks in advance.

I have a set of guides for a 750 twin, but I doubt they are the same.

FYI, those measure .472" diameter where the seal goes and .514" diameter in the area that gets pushed into the head.

Thanks BH, but the GPz550 Valve Guides according to www.buykawasaki.com only fit these models:

KZ550-A1 (1980)
KZ550-A3 (1982)
KZ550-A4 (1983)
KZ550-C1 (LTD) (1980)
KZ550-C2 (LTD) (1981)
KZ550-C3 (LTD) (1982)
KZ550-C4 (LTD) (1983)
KZ550-D1 (GPz) (1981)
KZ550-F1 (Spectre) (1983)
KZ550-F2 (LTD Shaft) (1984)
KZ550-H1 (GPz) (1982)
KZ550-H2 (GPz) (1983)
KZ550-M1 (LTD Shaft) (1983)
ZR550-B1 (Zephyr) (1990)
ZR550-B2 (Zephyr) (1991)
ZR550-B3 (Zephyr) (1992)
ZR550-B4 (Zephyr) (1993)
ZX550-A1 (GPz) (1984)
ZX550-A2 (GPz) (1985)
ZX550-A3 (GPz) (1986)

I appreciate you giving the information though.

Corey;
What are you trying to do?

Jay

A guy that can get Viton Valve Stem Seals needs the dimensions of my valve guides to see if he can get seals to fit the 550 line. He didn't have them listed, and since I inquired, he stated if I can the information fro him, there's a deal in it for me. I don't know about the factory seals I have for a head in need of rebuilding, and if the seals were sitting around for many years, could the rubber be too stiff? :blink: The head wouldn't go anywhere for this service but APE. It came on a 5,000 mile bike ported, and Megacycle Cam Clearanced, with Megacycle Cams, and R&D Springs, so it's only home will be torqued to that 615cc Big Bore Kit APE did for me back in 2006. All set in a track only I have in the avatar. Yea I know, but lack of space to work on this, and time have been the kiiljoy. I'd really like to go through a bottom end on another one of my engines as well.

Since you asked Jay, what do you, or anyone else reading this think about Viton Valve Seals?

CoreyClough wrote:

A guy that can get Viton Valve Stem Seals needs the dimensions of my valve guides to see if he can get seals to fit the 550 line. He didn't have them listed, and since I inquired, he stated if I can the information fro him, there's a deal in it for me.

Wow..small world. That's exactly what happened to me last year which is why I ended up making a fabrication drawing for the guides that go in my 750 twin (I had an extra set of guides). If it is Chris Schumann, tell him thanks for the seals he sent me.

CoreyClough wrote:

Since you asked Jay, what do you, or anyone else reading this think about Viton Valve Seals?

I read up on the material specs on VITON, and it is really the cat's pajamas for this kind of application. More resistant to oil and solvent and better handles temperature extremes.

Thanks BH. I don't know the guys name, but probably gave him the free information, and don't expect anything from it, but to get good quality seals to go in one of my heads is my main concern. I'll be using only the good oil, and not overheating or overcooling this engine if I can help it.

CoreyClough wrote:

Thanks BH. I don't know the guys name, but probably gave him the free information, and don't expect anything from it, but to get good quality seals to go in one of my heads is my main concern. I'll be using only the good oil, and not overheating or overcooling this engine if I can help it.

I don't think it's an overheating issue, it's just that the valves in air cooled engines get really hot. The more cold-hot-cold cycles rubber goes through, the faster it turns into rock. I have had terrible luck with valve seals so I would pay the extra for VITON every time now. Here is the specs:

www.dupontelastomers.com/literature/vito...A92B7900D3712585.pdf

Corey,
I know it's an old thread but I'm researching valve guides for the KZ550 motor. What did you find out regarding viton seals for the GPz/KZ550 motor?

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configuration

ydb1 wrote: Corey,
I know it's an old thread but I'm researching valve guides for the KZ550 motor. What did you find out regarding viton seals for the GPz/KZ550 motor?

You can get a brand new set of OEM seals for $16.79 shipped in the US. Not viton, but it's hard to fault OEM Kawasaki parts at that price.