Kick starter question Edit: (Pics of bike added)

This may sound stupid but I'll ask anyway, I can turn the 78 kz1000 over with the kick lever by hand. Should I be able to do this? It spins fairly easy by hand, there's definatly some resistance and I can hear it chug chug as the motor spins. I have not had time to work on it and get it started since I brought it home a month or two ago, I have not done a compression test on it nor do I have a compression tester. I was just going to try and fire it up and see from there.

The reason I ask is I can not turn my cb750 over by hand from the kick lever but it has a rebuilt motor, so should I be able to turn it over by hand this easily? From what the PO said the motor has 15,000kms on it and was in good running shape when he put it away, but I never really believe what a seller says 100%.

I had some spare time and hooked a battery up to it, all the electrics seem to work which was nice to see. By the end of may I should be able to get at it and get it ready to fire up. Still trying to track down a factory service manual...

Done a compression check? Valves been checked? A new/rebuilt engine might have 180-200 PSI, put some years on it, and now 165 or so is about what you've got. An engine will produce little power at 100 PSI and now it's rebuild time.

look for a manual in the file base. top right corner of this page. there is 1 under 1974 i think. its in there somewere for sure. the 78 will be pretty much the same dif wireing, but i think there may be a wireing diagrame in there for the later years.

Will check for it, thanks Mark. But can you easily spin your motor by hand with the kick start lever? I know a compression test will be the only way to really know what shape my motor is in till I get it running, a friend of mine was concerned I might have minimal compression because of how easy it spins.

I can push mine down by hand, I wouldn't say I could "spin" it around quickly but It is not hard to push it down. hope that helps a little.

Chris

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationNo eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationPlenty of Kawasaki Service Manuals for your bike available on eBay. You don't say which model you have, so be sure to get the right manual for your '78 KZ1000. Here are a couple samples, but there are many others offered:

KraZy Chris wrote: I can push mine down by hand, I wouldn't say I could "spin" it around quickly but It is not hard to push it down. hope that helps a little.

Chris

Good to know, thanks Chris.

I'd say the same about mine, I can turn it over fairly easily by hand but I doubt I could start it that way. Unlike on my cb750 which I can maybe turn it over half way by hand. Stock motor on that one but it's a fresh rebuild.

Oh heres a couple pics of the bike when I brought it home, I'm nearing the end of a basement renovation at home so I havent had much time to work on getting it fired up. Hopefully by the end of may I'll have some spare garage time etc...

It's a 78 kz1000A2 model, looks to be in good shape but need some tlc to get it back to rideable condition. Its been off the road since 97, it came with a spare bottom end and a clean title.