1981 kz1000 clutch

Just bought a 1981 kz1000. Clutch is rattling, and doesnt grab until clutch is almost all the way out. so I'm planning to replace the clutch/springs. I'm not sure where the best place to purchase is or if I should replace the whole basket. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I have no experience with Kawi's. Thanks people...

If not already done, would first perform routine clutch pushrod adjustment.

Good Luck!

Hello, Mike, and WELCOME to KZR!
We're glad you're here!

Good Luck!

Thanks I'll try that as soon as I can get my hands on a manual and find the pushrod adjuster...

pushrod adj.is under the clutch cover in the middle of the pressure plate.if you need parts www.z1enterprises.com/
or
www.kzzone.com/
can hook you up.

leon holmes

p.s. you might check the file base on here for a manual

small 2 bolt cover in the middle of the sprocket is the one your looking for yesterday or the day before i described how to do the clutch adjustment on another thread here so i can't do it again my hand is cramping up.

Here's the adjsutment procedure for earlier Kawasaki's, it might be suitable for your model:


As to 1973 Z1 through 1979 KZ1000, performing the clutch pushrod adjustment is shown in the factory service manual (and owner manual) as required routine maintenance. Seems this is sometimes overlooked, ignored or simply disregarded in a headlong rush toward addressing the plates and springs for correction of a clutch slippage problem.

If the clutch pushrod gap has reduced or vanished (from perfectly normal ordinary gradual wearing of the clutch plate material), the simple quick cheap easy fix is often a clutch pushrod adjustment. The "other" fix is replacing the clutch plates, which returns the clutch plate material to "thick as new" thereby restoring the required gap in the clutch push rod (and without having to deal with the dreaded 30 second clutch pushrod adjustment).

Where measurements after clutch disassembly are found within specs, boo on any failure to having first tried adjusting the pushrod gap.


Here it is, straight from Mama Kaw's lips:

"Clutch push rod adjustment -- Need and Purpose"

The FSM (factory service manual) covering Z1 and KZ900 includes a periodic maintenance chart requiring clutch push rod adjustment at 2000 mile (3000 km) intervals and explains the need there for in separate text, which explanation is quoted verbatim as follows:

"Besides cable stretch, clutch plate wear also causes the clutch to go out of adjustment, with a decrease in push rod play. Due to this wear, the push rod gradually moves closer to the clutch release lever (at the lower end of the clutch cable) until it touches the adjusting screw. When the rod is touching the screw and therefore has no play, the clutch will not engage fully and clutch slippage will occur. Note that the clutch push rod does not necessarily have play just because the clutch hand lever has play, and so hand lever play alone cannot be used to determine whether or not the clutch requires adjustment."

The FSM covering '77-'79 KZ1000's includes a periodic maintenance chart requiring clutch adjustment at 5000 km intervals, and explains the need there for in slightly different language, which explanation is quoted verbatim as follows:

"Clutch plate wear also causes the clutch to go out of adjustment. This wear causes the play between the push rod and the adjusting screw to gradually diminish until the push rod touches the adjusting screw. When this play is lost, the clutch will not engage fully, causing the clutch to slip.
NOTE: Even though the proper amount of play exists at the clutch lever, clutch lever play alone cannot be used to determine whether or not the clutch requires adjustment."

i got my banshee and my z1r confused,sorry:blush: .
here is a picture of the adjuster screw #15 it is where timebomb said it was,and adjust like mfolks posted.
www.babbittsonline.com/pages/parts/viewbybrand/default.aspx

leon holmes
go to the link and fill in the info then go to the clutch and you will see the pieces that have been referred to.