First time checking valve clearance

Syncing them is fine tuning. It compensates for variances in the carbs and individual cylinders.
Steve

Just got my bike back and it's running worse now than when I put it in the shop. Keep in mind my battery is almost dead as well. I do t know if this can affect how it runs at all? Also now I have some smoke coming from the top end somewhere. Oil maybe?

A bad battery will tax the system enough to make it run like SHT.
Steve

swest wrote: A bad battery will tax the system enough to make it run like SHT.
Steve

OK that makes me feel a little better. Hopefully a new battery fixes it then because the mechanic said it was running great. Just need to find somewhere around me that has a battery in Stock that fits. I don't really want to order one and be without the bike any longer. Any suggestions on the type I should get?

Buy a new battery. The 1977 KZ650 will not run with a bad battery because the charging system is the excited field type. That type charging system is excellent, but it absolutely requires a charged battery in good condition; otherwise the engine won't run or will barley run.

Any motorcycle shop or Sears should be able to supply the battery you need. The 1977 KZ650 uses a YB10L (12v 10AH) battery. Yuasa or Die Hard are good brands.

Also, do yourself and us a favor and PLEASE add your bike's year and model to your signature line. Different KZ models are all very different, so you may get bum information if we misunderstand what bike you have. Please don't make us search through a bunch of postings to find your model. We may quickly tire of doing so and may stop trying to answer your questions. If you don't know how to add that info just ask.

Ed

You can get them anywhere. Look at the numbers and post them here or a pic.
Steve

Well I just took the battery to auto zone and the battery tested good so I guess I'll take it back to the shop unless you guys have any ideas

Pics of plugs?
Steve

Tightened down the cables on the battery again and it fired right up and pretty well. Still need a new battery though. The one the po had on it is too tall and the terminals make contact with the seat unless I throw a shop towel over the battery. Now I just need to flush the tank and replace the vacuum petcock with a gravity fed one. Also I think the timing chain is slapping or something. I have a lot of noise in the bottom end at low rpm's. I'm going to do a plug chop as soon as I get a day off. I was running lean before the bike went into the shop

I blew up a battery that way. Gasses can ignite with the sparks. You got it from a shop this way? Sounds like the carbs need to be synced. Do you have a manual?
Steve

The po is the one that put on the battery that is too big. Carbs were cleaned and synced by the shop. Also I just realized the terminals are both broken on one side so they are only making contact on one side. Idk what the po was thinking. I'm still thinking I'll be alright after the battery because it was running great after I tightened the connections. Still worried about the noise in the bottom end though

Still no model in signature line? Why?