WTF 78 KZ1000 kicker

So about a month ago i pulled my bike out of the garage and kicked it over. took a few kicks as usual but started non the less. i take it out this week and go to kick it over and there was almost no resistance.... the kicker can be pushed all the way down with one finger but then springs right back. I had the points cover off to see if the nut was spinning as i kicked it and it would barley spin when kicking it. I checked compression and it pulled alot better numbers then i thought it would. 125 125 130 and 125 I'm kinda lost on what could be going on. Anyone have any ideas?

You're not by any chance pulling in the clutch lever when kicking are you? Ed

Is your clutch adjusted correctly? What weight and type of engine oil being used? If any of the "Car Oils" are used, the friction modifiers are not good on wet plate clutches, making them slip.

"he kicker can be pushed all the way down with one finger but then springs right back"...
Even with clutch plates/oil/sitcking to loose etc... this seems to me to be something different altogether...

Same time, loosen clutch adjustment and test, simple enough starting place.



Take off you kick start plate insuring spring arm/adjustment is correct, inserted into shaft hole, insetred into encase hole, not broken etc....

Had you / PO ever had this apart for the spring must be installed correctly (spring load orientation) to work correctly.

Off my KZ900 should be exactly as your '78 1000 for ideas but confirm in you manual exact configuration.

NOTE: Z1, KZ900 and up to 1980 KZ 1000 engines ~ 98% the same (other than displacements and some other minor details)....

Ogcoda wrote: So about a month ago i pulled my bike out of the garage and kicked it over. took a few kicks as usual but started non the less. i take it out this week and go to kick it over and there was almost no resistance.... the kicker can be pushed all the way down with one finger but then springs right back. I had the points cover off to see if the nut was spinning as i kicked it and it would barley spin when kicking it. I checked compression and it pulled alot better numbers then i thought it would. 125 125 130 and 125 I'm kinda lost on what could be going on. Anyone have any ideas?

there seems to be some confusing info here.
if the kicker goes down with no resistance,(crank cant be turning) how can there be 125psi compression? cant see it happening?
if the kicker goes down and the crank bolt under the points cover barely turns how can u have 125 psi ?

i would follow OMRs lead on the kick. seems like its not engaging .

i wonder if spring #3 is broken and not letting the cogs engage each other?
spring #11 would still return it but it would not engage.

leon

531blackbanshee wrote: i wonder if spring #3 is broken and not letting the cogs engage each other?
spring #11 would still return it but it would not engage.

leon

that was my first thought too. but then he said he checked the compression??? maybe he used the electric starter for that ??

mark1122 wrote:

531blackbanshee wrote: i wonder if spring #3 is broken and not letting the cogs engage each other?
spring #11 would still return it but it would not engage.

leon

that was my first thought too. but then he said he checked the compression??? maybe he used the electric starter for that ??

i am pretty sure that would have been the only way he could have checked the compression,given his current situation.

leon