Jammed Pistons

Hey LarryC. I just purchased one of those Kawasaki ring compressors only to read that they are a pain in the butt to use. Have any suggestions for me on it's use and what are the two wire forms that come with it for? I do not see where they could possibly go. Thanks in advance.

Never need a Kawasaki ring compressor.
I have my personal piston install system and it´s works like a charm every time!!!
Maybe i have to do it/demonstrated this week!?!?
I have a valve clearance problem to the opposite side, believe it or not!!!

Kawasakikid wrote: Hey LarryC. I just purchased one of those Kawasaki ring compressors only to read that they are a pain in the butt to use. Have any suggestions for me on it's use and what are the two wire forms that come with it for? I do not see where they could possibly go. Thanks in advance.

Does your Kawasaki tool say, "57001-532" on it?? That is the one for 70mm pistons. Those little wire things go under stock pistons to set all four at the same height and level. That tool is the hot set up for installing pistons in Kz1000's!!!!! I have used that very same tool since back in 1977. I have done many many motors using that tool. I can install the block down on the pistons in under 10 minutes!!!! Never snagged a ring, or scratched a piston skirt using that tool.

When I needed money a few years back, I sold mine. WHAT A FRICKING MISTAKE!!! I went through a change of life putting my cylinder back on my Superbike last year without that tool.

Looks like it is in pretty good condition still for it age.

If you are thinking about selling that tool, I would have a great interest in buying it from you!!!!!!!

PLEASE PM me if you are interested in selling it!!!

Let me know if you're using aftermarket pistons with Teflon buttons instead of snaprings at the wristpins. I have a good method for that.

Yes that's the number. I wasn't aware that they were piston specific. I bought it for my 1105 bike. (73mm) If it doesn't work on anything except stock pistons I'll have no use for it. I've always used the finger method but never like the clumsyness of it is why I bought it. Seller didn't give me the info. you just did. I figured they opened up enough for any piston. I'll try it out this weekend.

I used that same tool on my 1105cc Moriwaki pistons all the time.

Anything after 73mm, the tool doesn't seem to work on them.

Just make sure all four pistons are level and not cocked when you drop the cylinder down on to them.

If you want to unload that tool, I would be interested in it, if I can afford it!!!

So do the wire forms sit on the cases? It seems from what I'm looking at that you can either get 1&4 0r 2&3 pistons to level out at the same time. Not all four at a time. What am I missing? when you get all 4 pistons level with each other there is so much spce under them the wore forms can't possibly be used if they are to sit on the cae to level pistons. I'm also seeing blogs where people are claiming thses won't work on 900 and 1000s. That they are for 650cc only. Please fill me in. Thanks.

Those wire piston holders only work with stock Kz1000 pistons. If you have aftermarket pistons like Wiseco, you will need something bigger in diameter to keep all four pistons level. You can use wooden dowel rods, or even the round shafts of Phillips screwdrivers!!! Here are a few photos of a pair of bigger diameter piston holders for the Kz1000S1. These work on my Moriwaki 1105cc pistons. Don't use anything that will scratch the piston skirts. I don't remember ever needing a smaller diameter wire on any set of piston I have ever seen.

If your piston tool has 57001-532 on it, THAT IS THE RIGHT TOOL FOR USE ON 70mm KZ1000 pistons. 57001-531 is for the 900cc 66mm pistons. Got no idea what the part number is for a 650cc tool, and I really don't care!!!! I am not going to bore you with a photo of the 57001-532 from the Kawasaki shop manual. I have been using the 57001-532 tool on Kz1000's since back in 1977, so I know it is the right tool.

Here are the Kz1000S1 piston holders next to one of the standard Kz1000 piston holder wires.


You can see the difference in the diameter between the two in this photo.

Ok. Now it makes since. Thanks so much for the explanation!