Engine help

When I got my Kz650 too the engine was completely taken apart except for the cylinder block and the lower end including clutch plates they took everything off top end and were pretty good with putting all parts in containers and labeling I went through containers andlooks like everything is there but thing that worries me is that I read this forum more and more and go back and check things and like they didn't label cam shims or nothing like that. I have had the project for 2 years and now I am wondering if It can be rebuilt or I am actually in possesion of junk.

the shims are done on a valve by valve basis once its torqued down on the motor.the 650 has the shims under the buckets which is a pain the ass to adjust since you have to pull the cams to change the shims
are you having the head rebuilt,how about the bottem end?
its kind of a crap shoot putting a motor back together that you dont know the history on without a comeplete tear down

Cam shims should have a mark on the back side. If in doubt get a micrometer(a machinist's measuring tool) and mark on the shims their thickness with a magic marker.

A cheap vernier caliper from the local Harbor Freight store will work too.

On the 650 and 750 engines, the shims go under the bucket(a shim holder)requiring removal of the cams for proper valve clearance adjustments.

I want to do a complete tear down I want to stay original if I can but if its not an option then its not an option but I want to completely rebuild

Get yourself a factory shop manual then. I know Chilton,Haynes, and Clymer are out there, but I trust what Kawasaki published.

I buy my manuals from two places:

1. www.repairmanual.com

2. www.manualsnmore.com

And you might luck out and find a factory manual on E-bay

www.kz650.info is another good website.

You can rebuild it. You'll have to put the shims in and the cams then measure your clearance and adjust from there.

Mark