PLEASE HELP NO SPEED :(

hey there fellow bikers
i just my first bike and its a 1976 kz400 i love my bike but i have a few issues i need to work out. i cleaned my carbs so now its running a lil better so i got that marked off the list but i still cant go any faster then 55 mph without the bike feeling like i need to shift gears. when i get around 45-50mph i hit fifth but i cant go faster then 55. i mean i can twist more but i dont want to mess anything up. it seems like i should be shifting a gear at 55 -60 mph and it would roar down the road. is there something clogged or what. i have an oil leak from my cylinder head covers on both sides. i have the gaskets ordered already. could that be my problem

can someone please help

Several things to check:

1.Adjusted the valves for proper clearances?

2.Did a compression check?(these engines will run on 120 PSI but 125 is better).

3.Proper heat range and gap on the sparkplugs?

4.Air filter clean?

5.No crud in the gas tank or carb float bowls?

6.Replaced the sparkplug wires and caps? (they get hot and fail).

7.Charging system working?

well i cleaned the carbs so i know its not that . my air filter is clean but i did wanna change to the k&n pod filters. im kinda afraid to mess with the valves cuz if i dont get it right then im S.O.L

at20 wrote:

hey there fellow bikers
i just my first bike and its a 1976 kz400 i love my bike but i have a few issues i need to work out. i cleaned my carbs so now its running a lil better so i got that marked off the list but i still cant go any faster then 55 mph without the bike feeling like i need to shift gears. when i get around 45-50mph i hit fifth but i cant go faster then 55. i mean i can twist more but i dont want to mess anything up. it seems like i should be shifting a gear at 55 -60 mph and it would roar down the road. is there something clogged or what. i have an oil leak from my cylinder head covers on both sides. i have the gaskets ordered already. could that be my problem

can someone please help

Is engine combusting on both cylinders?

Test while engine is idling by spraying water mist onto exhaust header pipes. Water should sizzle and instantly vaporize. If water rolls down pipe, the cylinder isn't combusting (for whatever reason).

Good Fortune!

Brakes dragging??

Clutch slipping??

Too much oil in crankcase??

And on and on.

Could be caused by many different things, such as ignition timing, advancer function, compression, valve clearances, defect in ignition system, etc., etc.

Gonna need a manual.
Might be a downloadable manual around here somewhere.

Good Fortune!

Check out this site!

Click here > www.kz400.com/

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wow u guys just named off a ton of stuffs. u make it seem like i just got a lemon is that stuff hard to do

so since it could be hundreds of things what are a few things easy things i can try to fix it i dont wanna have to put my bike in the shop so i appreciate yall helping me with all this info

at20 wrote:

so since it could be hundreds of things what are a few things easy things i can try to fix it i dont wanna have to put my bike in the shop so i appreciate yall helping me with all this info

The manual available at www.kz400.com/ likely has a "trouble shooting" section which may be helpful. And will also contain loads of pics and detailed info about necessary routine maintenance, such as valve clearance, ignition timing, carb settings, tuning, lubrication, etc. (in addition to the more technical procedures).

What was result of the water mist test?

Good Fortune!

at20 wrote:

well i cleaned the carbs so i know its not that . my air filter is clean but i did wanna change to the k&n pod filters. im kinda afraid to mess with the valves cuz if i dont get it right then im S.O.L

Changing to pods will be like do not pass go, do not collect $200, go directly to S.O.L.

Good Fortune!

i still cant go any faster then 55 mph without the bike feeling like i need to shift gears. when i get around 45-50mph i hit fifth but i cant go faster then 55. i mean i can twist more but i dont want to mess anything up. it seems like i should be shifting a gear at 55 -60 mph and it would roar down the road

So, are you saying that you could open the throttle more and it will go faster, but you're worried because the engine sounds like it's screaming?

as far as the water test i haven't done that yet.

but for the air pods are u saying that would be a bad idea

yes thats what im saying . after 55-60 u would think by hearing it i was doing 90-100