Central Ohio experienced mechanic?

My brother's '76 kz900 engine has a strange ocsilating (sp?) noise that we can't diagnose. Sort of like a chain with a tight spot or a mis-matched gear set. Bike only has 8,000 original miles. I had the head off and replace the front cam chain idler gear because it had separated. Everything else looks like new. Noise is still there. I don't want to take it apart again if I don't have some idea what to look for. If anyone knows of a knowledgable mechanic in cental Ohio that could listen to it, that would be helpful. If I can't find anyone, I may bring it to Mid-Ohio for a listen. Thanks for any suggestions.

if your in a pinch call rice paddy i really don't like them that much they can be dicks. but they can either work on them or tell you who can. they are on 11th ave and grant ave. right by osu campus.

You might want to contact Johnny's Vintage Motorcycle Co. in Wadsworth 330-335-7365. He has a Japanese guy named Hilo working there who is a pretty good mechanic and they work on old KZ's all the time.

Gman wrote:

My brother's '76 kz900 engine has a strange ocsilating (sp?) noise that we can't diagnose. Sort of like a chain with a tight spot or a mis-matched gear set. Bike only has 8,000 original miles. I had the head off and replace the front cam chain idler gear because it had separated. Everything else looks like new. Noise is still there. I don't want to take it apart again if I don't have some idea what to look for. If anyone knows of a knowledgable mechanic in cental Ohio that could listen to it, that would be helpful. If I can't find anyone, I may bring it to Mid-Ohio for a listen. Thanks for any suggestions.

With a little more information about the noise, perhaps we could help diagnose its source.

Such as, is the noise evident when the bike isn't moving and with transmission in neutral?

For example, some mysterious things can result from a kinking drive chain.

Good Luck!

I just called a place in Grove City Ohio called Motorcycle Parts and Service Inc. 614-836-5859 4100 Venture Place 43125 and they work on old bikes. I haven't had any work done by them but they were extremely nice on the phone. Rice Paddy reffered them. Rice Paddy doesn't do work on bikes. Some of the guys there are great and some could care less. One will tell you they don't have something and the next will go look. Rice Paddy is in a very bad part of Columbus. I wouldn't go at night...Russ

Thanks for the tips. I don't really care for Rice Paddy but I may try the other place. Patton, the noise is always there and never changes. Just sitting there running in neutal, in gear, clutch engaged, not engaged, any gear, it is always same. Definitely inside the engine.

Just in case the routine cam chain adjustment hasn't already been done strictly per FSM guidelines, here they are for the KZ900 models.

Remove points cover.

Crank and warm-up engine.

Use 17mm "nut" to hand turn crankshaft clockwise in normal direction of rotation. (Never use 13mm bolt head from end of crankshaft).

Stop turning exactly when T mark aligns with case mark. Never go backward. If go too far, repeat again clockwise and keep doing it over and over if necessary until getting it to stop exactly when T mark aligns with case mark.

The alignment of T mark without bypassing case mark is easier to achieve with sparkplugs removed.

The TDC top-dead-center position puts rear of cam chain in its slackest position, where the adjuster can exercise maximum effect.

Loosen locknut on the adjuster.

Loosen bolt on the adjuster. (It automatically removes slack per design specs).

Don't "kick over" the motor, as that will likely undo what you've just accomplished.

Tighten bolt (snug -- not Godzilla).

Tighten locknut (snug -- not Godzilla).

Re-attach points cover.

Replace sparkplugs if they were removed.

Given the very low mileage, I would think the camchain and adjuster to still be in good condition.

Good Luck!