1977 KZ650 Manual Cam Chain tensioner

Hello all,

Being new to me, I have no idea when it was last adjusted. Any tricks or is it as straight forward as in the manual? Align timing loosen holder bolt, adjust tensioner bolt and tighten? Engine warm or cold?

I am not hearing a ton of noise, but as I mentioned I have no idea on when last done and am not terribly familiar with the raquet made by these fours what is considered "noisy".

What say ye?

R

No tricks, and the engine can be cold or warm. I've always used the instructions in the Kawasaki Service Manual for adjusting the tensioner on my '77 KZ650-C1 since the bike was new and never had problems. Ed

Yea, there is nothing to it. Set the engine to the correct mark, loosen the 6mm nut, then the 6mm bolt. This allows spring pressure in the tensioner to take up slack in the chain. Tighten the 6mm bolt, then the 6mm nut and you are done. The whole thing takes 5 minutes max. There is actually no adjusting that you actually have to do. The tensioner does all that for you. All you do is unlock it, let it do its adjusting, then lock it. It works well and reliable.

RonKZ650 wrote: Yea, there is nothing to it. Set the engine to the correct mark, loosen the 6mm nut, then the 6mm bolt. This allows spring pressure in the tensioner to take up slack in the chain. Tighten the 6mm bolt, then the 6mm nut and you are done. The whole thing takes 5 minutes max. There is actually no adjusting that you actually have to do. The tensioner does all that for you. All you do is unlock it, let it do its adjusting, then lock it. It works well and reliable.

Are you referring to the manual (aftermarket) tensioner, or the stock automatic adjuster?

Randombeat wrote:

RonKZ650 wrote: Yea, there is nothing to it. Set the engine to the correct mark, loosen the 6mm nut, then the 6mm bolt. This allows spring pressure in the tensioner to take up slack in the chain. Tighten the 6mm bolt, then the 6mm nut and you are done. The whole thing takes 5 minutes max. There is actually no adjusting that you actually have to do. The tensioner does all that for you. All you do is unlock it, let it do its adjusting, then lock it. It works well and reliable.

Are you referring to the manual (aftermarket) tensioner, or the stock automatic adjuster?

Unlike some later models, the stock tensioner on the 1977 KZ650 is manual - not automatic. It is spring loaded, but not automatic, so you should follow a maintenance schedule to unlock it and let it take up the slack properly. Later models were automatic in that they didn't require manual intervention to set them (until they broke :laugh: ) Ed

Randombeat wrote:

RonKZ650 wrote: Yea, there is nothing to it. Set the engine to the correct mark, loosen the 6mm nut, then the 6mm bolt. This allows spring pressure in the tensioner to take up slack in the chain. Tighten the 6mm bolt, then the 6mm nut and you are done. The whole thing takes 5 minutes max. There is actually no adjusting that you actually have to do. The tensioner does all that for you. All you do is unlock it, let it do its adjusting, then lock it. It works well and reliable.

Are you referring to the manual (aftermarket) tensioner, or the stock automatic adjuster?

The stock tensioner that was labled as "manual" used up tihrough 1978. If he's talking of true manual aftermarket tensioner, disregard the instructions. No need to go aftermarket manual when the stock manual one never caused any problem in my opinion.

RonKZ650 wrote: The stock tensioner that was labled as "manual" used up tihrough 1978. If he's talking of true manual aftermarket tensioner, disregard the instructions. No need to go aftermarket manual when the stock manual one never caused any problem in my opinion.

+1 I've never had problems with mine either. Ed

650ed wrote:

Randombeat wrote:

RonKZ650 wrote: Yea, there is nothing to it. Set the engine to the correct mark, loosen the 6mm nut, then the 6mm bolt. This allows spring pressure in the tensioner to take up slack in the chain. Tighten the 6mm bolt, then the 6mm nut and you are done. The whole thing takes 5 minutes max. There is actually no adjusting that you actually have to do. The tensioner does all that for you. All you do is unlock it, let it do its adjusting, then lock it. It works well and reliable.

Are you referring to the manual (aftermarket) tensioner, or the stock automatic adjuster?

Unlike some later models, the stock tensioner on the 1977 KZ650 is manual - not automatic. It is spring loaded, but not automatic, so you should follow a maintenance schedule to unlock it and let it take up the slack properly. Later models were automatic in that they didn't require manual intervention to set them (until they broke :laugh: ) Ed

Dag nabbit... Thought I could "adjust" mine...

Bought a new NOS spring for mine and there was a big difference in strength of it. Old one was notably shorter and weaker.

So the question to be answered here is it a stock tensioner or aftermarket. Pics please. I replaced my stock one for a aftermarket one. I don't like it. Too easy to get it too tight. For a novice it could ruin the motor.
Please show a pic of what you have.
Steve

Stock tensioner. Job done. By the book went fine. Thanks. R

So, after a longish ride, the tensioner is leaking some oil at it base, not a lot but it is leaking. How does removal and replacement of the gasket go? Is it bolt and unbolt or is there load and little parts? Any help appreciated.

R