80 kz650 head gasket

swest wrote: Liska is the make of the aftermarket rollers. I knew mine were shot going in. It cost at least that.
Steve

Right right, I figured that out, and they do make a chain tensioner and a top idler for the kz650, both cheaper than kawi, but I realized I do have a photo of the top idler sprocket from when I had the valve cover off a montha go. I'll post tomorrow morning and ask for people's thoughts on its condition.

You have to take it off and rock it. The solid rubber ones I'm concerned about.
Steve

swest wrote: You have to take it off and rock it. The solid rubber ones I'm concerned about.
Steve

Rock it? How is that they degrade, what am I looking for? I thought it would be an issue of the sprocket teeth being worn down.

If the rollers are "rubberized" they come apart and get sloppy.
Steve

I replaced the #6 with a Liska for 86.00 from Z1........ some of the dampers from them too.

Maybe add
4 - 92075-232 roller guide
2 - 92075-123 roller damper
1 - 12055-004 cam chain roller
4 - 92075-289 rubber dampers
and maybe the #13 and #14 springs for the cam chain adj and the 11009-1980 gasket for it..... my 78 spring is different but it made a big difference old one was weak.........and the 4 cam end plugs I think you asked about are at the end of the head 4 - #92066-1111 and the 2 - #92055-1147 are oval oil passage o rings for the block

The 18 top idler assembly was one thing I didn't replace and since I didn't split the case I didn't replace the chain..... only had 29.000 miles so am hoping it'll last for a while yet..... Didn't trust peening it keep it in place.... Z1 told me its hard to do right (and talked me outta it) as the link is very hardened and the softer link they sell is not as tough.

KZB2 650 wrote: I replaced the #6 with a Liska for 86.00 from Z1........ some of the dampers from them too.

Maybe add
4 - 92075-232 roller guide
2 - 92075-123 roller damper
1 - 12055-004 cam chain roller
4 - 92075-289 rubber dampers
and maybe the #13 and #14 springs for the cam chain adj and the 11009-1980 gasket for it..... my 78 spring is different but it made a big difference old one was weak.........and the 4 cam end plugs I think you asked about are at the end of the head 4 - #92066-1111 and the 2 - #92055-1147 are oval oil passage o rings for the block

The 18 top idler assembly was one thing I didn't replace and since I didn't split the case I didn't replace the chain..... only had 29.000 miles so am hoping it'll last for a while yet..... Didn't trust peening it keep it in place.... Z1 told me its hard to do right (and talked me outta it) as the link is very hardened and the softer link they sell is not as tough.

Thanks, that's very helpful. you also, like steve, replaced the (side) idler assemblies/cam chain guides? My bike has 23,000 miles on it, and when i had the valve cover off recently, the top idler felt, I think, ok, that is - i handled it and it didn't feel like It was falling apart, but I didn't know really to check for its condition. Possibly that bodes well for the side ones as well.

If the idler is OK than the inside ones should be replaced if bad or old. They get hard and come apart. You don't want to do it again or break a chain. :dry:
Steve

I'm just trying to figure out what I'm actually looking for in evaluating them. If they are loose on their axle? If they are very hard? Very soft? If the material is coming apart/ they feel brittle / look brittle?

The inside race has roller bearings then there is a rubber space around it. The sprocket is around that. That's what gets hard and comes apart. The rubber rollers like on the adjuster and the center idler get hard and come apart with heat and age. This was what was left of my center roller. A broken cam chain was imminent. :ohmy:
Steve

Even though my inner rubber roller 004 looked pretty good it was a must to replace too....... even though its old stock it hasn't gone through 38 years of heating and cooling. I wouldn't trust them for that reason.

Not to mention the acids in the oil. :dry:
Steve

swest wrote: The inside race has roller bearings then there is a rubber space around it. The sprocket is around that. That's what gets hard and comes apart. The rubber rollers like on the adjuster and the center idler get hard and come apart with heat and age. This was what was left of my center roller. A broken cam chain was imminent. :ohmy:
Steve

Wow, that's shocking to look at. Anyway, the photo is really useful, I get it now.
Anyone happen to know if the kz650 cam chain roller, (part #12055-004), is the same as the one for the z1 (part #12055-002)? This old KZR thread ( www.kzrider.com/forum/2-engine/93090-ape...l=component&type=raw ) says they have the same inner diameter, but no one checked the outer diameter. the 650 part is discontinued, hard to find, and expensive, the z1 ones are readily available and cheap.

EDIT: It looks, from this impressive thread, lamp.kzrider.com/forum/2-engine/23814-z6...m-chain-idler-wheels , that they are indeed the same

EDIT #2: The question still stands, as the above speaks about the sprockets, which do seem to be the same.