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The elusive KZ550 transmission into a KZ650/750 tr
- seanof30306
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I found another thread where Steell was installing one in (I believe) a GPZ 750, but there was no detail, and although they both said it was successfully installed, and they would give more info after the bike was running, there was nothing else.
In that thread, Steell put up a link to another thread that apparently went into much more detail, but it was a dead link. I've searched here and the archive extensively, but can't find anything. I looked Steell up, and it says he hasn't been active on here for 10 months, and there is no email address.
Is there any detailed info on this swap? As often as it comes up, I'd think a detailed "how-to" with pics would be pretty popular.
"That @#$%!!! KZ650"
79 KZ650 B3
Dual front disc brakes
Z1R 18" front wheel
Pumper carbs w/pods
MAC 4-1 w/ drilled-out baffle
Dyna S ignition w/ Dyna Green coils
WG coil mod
'81 CSR charging system
17/41 gearing
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- harm
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- Tom
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It sounds like a clearance issue that maybe easy to fix for someone willing to take the time with it.but 6th gear would not engage once it was torqued down.
Looks like your the one!Is there any detailed info on this swap? As often as it comes up, I'd think a detailed "how-to" with pics would be pretty popular.
Tom
Holland, MI
1980 KZ550 ELR
2011 Concours14
2017 KX450 [/color]
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- hardr0ck68
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- Who put the what in the where?
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early zx600 trans is the same as a kz550 but the zx750 offers a lower set of gears but otherwise looks like it will work out the same as a zx600/kz550 trans
I did not do a final torque of the cases but I installed the zx600 trans and tightened up the cases, I found that I could easily select all 6 gears. I wonder if Mark had the rotton luck of trying the swap with a trans that included a bent shift fork.
Another thing i noticed, fifth gear (I believe...it is the farthest to the right side of the transmission) on the output shaft had ALOT of play in my trans. This may be a problem, and may not...hell it could be perfectly normal, the play is only noticeable with the transmission removed from the cases. But it also may be why mine worked (parts worn so badly or dammaged and because of that they slop around enough to make it work) I hope that is not the case, but if it is I will take measurements and figure it out.
Worst case I will use a spare set of cases, install the trans tourque everything down then sawzall the top off of the cases so I can see everything work and find out what is blocking the engagement.
I am waiting on my crank and rods (sent to APE and carillo respectively) before I start piecing the bottom end back together. I am also thinking of having my zx600 transmission undercut. So it may be a month or so before I start putting humpty dumpty back together again.
Check my project for progress. If you decide to do this mod start a thread so others can follow. I know Mark is still interested and I am hell bent.
I also miss Steell, he rubbed some of the liter bike guys the wrong way... but he knew his stuff. The asshats that gave him a hard time made this board that much less useful to the 650/750 riders.
1977 kz650 c1
bought it because I was told it would never run again...I like to prove people wrong.
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- rstnick
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Rob
CANADA
Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me
1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R
2005 z750s
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- seanof30306
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And hardrock (I work at a Hard Rock casino, by the way), do you have those ZX600 gear ratios? Here are the ratios I have for the KZ650 and KZ550:
1st 2.33 -- 2.57
2nd 1.63 -- 1.77
3rd 1.27 -- 1.38
4th 1.04 -- 1.125
5th 0.89 -- 0.961
6th N/A -- 0.851
"That @#$%!!! KZ650"
79 KZ650 B3
Dual front disc brakes
Z1R 18" front wheel
Pumper carbs w/pods
MAC 4-1 w/ drilled-out baffle
Dyna S ignition w/ Dyna Green coils
WG coil mod
'81 CSR charging system
17/41 gearing
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- hardr0ck68
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here is what I have collected. The CBR 600 gearing is just to see that the new bikes run.
Gearing:
KZ550
Gear ratio
1st 2.57
2nd 1.78
3rd 1.38
4th 1.13
5th 0.96
6th 0.85
1989 zx600 tranny gears
input output ratio
1st 14 36 2.57
2nd 18 32 1.78
3rd 21 29 1.38
4th 24 27 1.13
5th 26 25 0.96
6th 27 23 0.85
1987 750R (gpx)
Input Output Ratio
1st) 13 38 2.92
2nd) 16 34 2.13
3rd) 21 35 1.67
4th) 21 29 1.38
5th) 23 28 1.22
6th) 24 26 1.08
KZ650
Gear Ratio
1st) 2.33
2nd) 1.63
3rd) 1.27
4th) 1.04
5th) 0.89
6th)
2006 CBR 600
1st) 2.67
2nd) 1.94
3rd) 1.66
4th) 1.41
5th) 1.26
6th) 1.16
1977 kz650 c1
bought it because I was told it would never run again...I like to prove people wrong.
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- seanof30306
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Also, from those radiators and white oak floors I see in the pics in your project thread, you're either a renter, or have a really understanding wife (or both).
"That @#$%!!! KZ650"
79 KZ650 B3
Dual front disc brakes
Z1R 18" front wheel
Pumper carbs w/pods
MAC 4-1 w/ drilled-out baffle
Dyna S ignition w/ Dyna Green coils
WG coil mod
'81 CSR charging system
17/41 gearing
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- hardr0ck68
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- Who put the what in the where?
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I go by hardr0ck68 because of my family says I am hard headed, my name is Rocco and .68 is the caliber of paintballs (a former hobby of mine). It is a handle I have used for years.
You will need to mix and match some bearings from the 650 tranny to the zx600 tranny (the left side roller bearings and add a 1mm shim from behind the 650 bearing, the on the input shaft if I remember correctly) but once you have it apart it becomes apparent. I will take many detailed pictures when I do my final assembly.
1977 kz650 c1
bought it because I was told it would never run again...I like to prove people wrong.
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- seanof30306
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"That @#$%!!! KZ650"
79 KZ650 B3
Dual front disc brakes
Z1R 18" front wheel
Pumper carbs w/pods
MAC 4-1 w/ drilled-out baffle
Dyna S ignition w/ Dyna Green coils
WG coil mod
'81 CSR charging system
17/41 gearing
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- seanof30306
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kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&...view&catid=2&id=3960
koolaid_kid started the thread, he was doing the swap on his own. From what I gathered from reading the thread, he eventually actually took his engine to Steell to have the conversion done.
GPZephyr chimed in saying he'd done the swap, and posted pics, but they aren't there anymore. Later, he posted that he'd been riding the bike, and that it worked great. he's posted on here as recently as this past Sunday, so it shouldn't be that hard to get him to update us and maybe repost those pics with a detailed how-to. Does anyone know him? I've sent him a pm, hopefully he'll come into this thread and update us.
koolaid_Kid hasn't been active for a year and a half, but I've pmd him as well.
What I'd really like to do is find the thread Steell refers to; in that GPZ 750 6prrd thread; the one with the dead link. It sounded like he went into detail on the swap. Even knowing the self-proclaimed "King of Cheap" as little as I do, I'm betting he probably did it for $1.94, too.
"That @#$%!!! KZ650"
79 KZ650 B3
Dual front disc brakes
Z1R 18" front wheel
Pumper carbs w/pods
MAC 4-1 w/ drilled-out baffle
Dyna S ignition w/ Dyna Green coils
WG coil mod
'81 CSR charging system
17/41 gearing
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- hardr0ck68
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- Who put the what in the where?
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1977 kz650 c1
bought it because I was told it would never run again...I like to prove people wrong.
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- cafekz750
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GPZephyr chimed in saying he'd done the swap, and posted pics, but they aren't there anymore. Later, he posted that he'd been riding the bike, and that it worked great. he's posted on here as recently as this past Sunday, so it shouldn't be that hard to get him to update us and maybe repost those pics with a detailed how-to. Does anyone know him? I've sent him a pm, hopefully he'll come into this thread and update us.
The picture is there, you just can't see it. You have to click on the bold black line. I have attached the photo that GPZephyr took.
1981 KZ750H2 - V&H 4-1 pipe, pods, jetted, clubmans, homebrew rearsets, 18" rear wheel and more.
Parting out a 1982 KZ750H3 to fund future projects
2 other non-Kawasaki motorcycles
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