Seeking New England USA Z1 mechanic

Hey Folks,

Picked-up a '74 Z1A back in the Fall - it has not been too kind to me. After the local Kawasaki dealership rebuilt the carbs and tested the electrics, the thing is just not running well. Latest suggestion from said dealership is to do rings. Needless to say it's pricey.

Had an email exchange with a very nice guy at PitstopPerformance in FLA - very far from where I am (NH). You guys probably know him. I am looking to potentially buy new top-end from him but need someone in the area that knows Z1's and can dial this sucker in.

Any tips on a Z1 guy in New England would be HUGELY appreciated.

Best,
Sean

www.z1enterprises.com is run by Jeff Saunders who is based in New York. Contact him and see if he or his company can help.

Thanks Mike, good idea. I have actually exchanged emails with Jeff recently, but did not ask if he knew anyone out this way.

Sean

call these guys. they might be able to set you up
Name: Harry's Machined Parts
Street: 15 Belmont St
Postal address: 01532 Northborough, MA
Phone: (508) 366-1455

i would suggest a compression and leakdown test before you rip the motor apart.
it could be a bunch of different things such as inproper cleaning of the carbs, carbs not synced right, valves out of adjustment, timing out of adjustment just to name a couple.
did they give you a reason why you need rings or are they just guessing?

Fixer 5000 - good call on Rick Stetson - Harry's Machined Parts. My first choice if I was in that neck of the woods - first class man and work.

Hey kawasakiman,

Thanks. Here's what they told me:

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Compression is 135 and 120 on the two weak cyl (middle cyl's) the leakdown is 11% and 19%. the leakdown is the real cause for concern. as typically anything exceeding 5% is a substantial leak.
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Sounds ugly. Still, could be a 'set' of problems, of course, including rings (such as the ones you suggest as possibles).

Regards,
Sean

Fixer and Jack,

Thanks for the recommendation / endorsement. Will check them out. That's not far at all from where I am.

Regards,
Sean

smurphy777 wrote:

Hey Folks,

Picked-up a '74 Z1A back in the Fall - it has not been too kind to me. After the local Kawasaki dealership rebuilt the carbs and tested the electrics, the thing is just not running well. Latest suggestion from said dealership is to do rings. Needless to say it's pricey.

Had an email exchange with a very nice guy at PitstopPerformance in FLA - very far from where I am (NH). You guys probably know him. I am looking to potentially buy new top-end from him but need someone in the area that knows Z1's and can dial this sucker in.

Any tips on a Z1 guy in New England would be HUGELY appreciated.

Best,
Sean

I'm in southern NH as well over by the seacoast. Here's a personal friend that's been a kawasaki tech for the past 25 years. He is the ONLY one I trusted to lay a wrench on my beloved GPz1100 when it had issues beyond my capabilities. He is based in Salisbury, MA. Fantastic guy to deal with, and very reasonable service rates.


Claxton Powersports Repair
142 Lafayette Rd. Salisbury, MA 01952

Rick Claxton
978-961-0475

You can try the oldkawman,mike Coogan
If you want his number pm me. He is in Swansee Ma.

Thanks GregZ - from your lead, found him on the web and dropped him an email.

Much obliged.
Sean

Hey Polar_Bus,

Spoke with Rick - very nice guy. I am going to make arrangments to get the Z1 over to him in the next week or two. Will be good to have someone who's into it taking a reading and getting it dialed-in.

Thanks again.
Sean