heads w/ wrong cam caps ?????

Hi,guys quick question, cylinder head with wrong cam caps,there's not enough clearance for proper oiling to top end. now the question can I polish my cam shafts to get proper clearance for oiling, kinda like they do crankshafts in cars using plastigauge ..........thanks in advance for all help...

The cam journals are machined while the caps are bolted on. So if there's not enough clearance it means you're out of round. Not a good idea to polish down your cams, because chances are you'll have too much clearance out the sides or somewhere.

What kind of head is this?

I'm not getting this either... Pictures?

I just assumed he meant ones that didn't come with the head he has.

You either need the caps for that head, or take it to be bored along the cam bearing journals. Otherwise look for a complete head, used.

T_Dub wrote:

I just assumed he meant ones that didn't come with the head he has.

You gave the correct answer Tyler. The head might well be fixable without too much difficulty.

what does something like that cost?
i have two extra j heads without caps.good info to keep in my back pocket for future use.
well matching caps that is.

Depending on the amount the bore is out, it may be able to be line honed. Otherwise they have to be machined. It's an area of your engine that needs to be veeeeeery accurate. I'd imagine its possible to get a set of caps that match your head so poorly that they would be impossible to match. Chances are that Ma Kaw used a very accurate horizontal milling machine for this process.

A machine shop would be able to give you a estimate on cost. They will have to remove some material from both the head and the caps, were they come in contact to each other. Then either "Align Hone" or "Re Bore" the camshaft bearing journals, this may end up taking a larger outside diameter set of bearing shells. All doable but then there is the cost of the valve job, cleaning, parts, maybe milling for straightness on the head gasket area, etc.
Better be fond of that head, as I would say you would be approaching $500, parts & Labor.

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KAWASAKI-LTD-KZ1...&hash=item5186b2b160
This is a low mileage head on Ebay. I think you had "J" Motor in your post. If it won't open in your browser, just use the Item #5186b2b160 in Ebay's search box. You can ask for some better photos.

If the caps are not too far out, a few strokes with a hone will make it work. Sunnen has a mandrel for doing those heads.