replacing head gasket 1980 KZ750 twin

1980 KZ750G twin I want to replace head gasket it is leaking from between exhaust pipes in the front. My question is do I have to remove the engine from bike frame or can I remove upper portion with engine in frame.
Thank You any help is appreciated
Johnnyblades

Are you absolutely certain it's the cyl head gasket leaking, and not the tach drive, or maybe even the valve cover?

Yes you can remove the head and block with engine in the frame.



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slash5 wrote: 1980 KZ750G twin I want to replace head gasket it is leaking from between exhaust pipes in the front. My question is do I have to remove the engine from bike frame or can I remove upper portion with engine in frame.
Thank You any help is appreciated
Johnnyblades

Leaking how much? My 750T has always leaked a little oil from the front of the head gasket. I roll up a paper towel and stuff it in between the cooling fins. I have never seen a 750T that didn't show the oily trail from the front back where the oil seeps out and gets blown backwards.

Thank You both for your input, I will either ride the way it is or will tackle head gasket over winter.My 1980 KZ750 twin runs great as it is I personally can't handle a leaky engine.their is not enough oil leaking out since I have never even had to add oil. this is my first Kawasaki, I have owned triumphs and bmw's honda's and bsa. both british bikes have had all my attentions to keep them on the road daily. This KZ has been pain free, only the minor leaking.
Thanks johnnyblades

slash5 wrote: Thank You both for your input, I will either ride the way it is or will tackle head gasket over winter.My 1980 KZ750 twin runs great as it is I personally can't handle a leaky engine.their is not enough oil leaking out since I have never even had to add oil. this is my first Kawasaki,

That sounds normal for a 750 twin. It's annoying, but they do seep oil at the front of the head gasket.

On my '79 twin I had a slight leak that I thought was the head gasket, but it turned out to be the cam chain tensioner (right between the pipes).

Also, if it's a slight weep, you should try re-torquing the head nuts (when the engine is stone cold). Let it sit overnight, remove the valve cover and then loosen all the nuts and tighten them down to spec. Check your manual as there's a specific order the nuts need to be loosened (and tightened).

Thanks for all the help people, I have been in contact with my local repair shops on my 1980 KZ750 and have had no luck in anybody knowing anything about a bike this old the last comment I got from a Kawasaki mechanic is "your bike is way older than me and I would have no idea how to work on it"
therefore I am so glad I found this website and help from riders that have owned bike that need them just as much as we need them.
thanks johnnyblades

Is there a trick to replacing the head gasket. I have the head off but can't get the new gasket to fit over the rear cam thing AND on the bolts at the same time.