TOPIC:

Hi,
I have a 1983 KZ440 with the advanced timing mechanism. I went to adjust the valves this morning and there was a little bit of oil underneath the points cover. It was such as small amount that I though it may have just been dirty water that had gotten in somehow. I wiped it up, adjusted the valves, and hopped on for a ride. I was gone for about an hour and when I stopped and parked the bike some oil started pooling out of the cover. I opened the cover and it poured out a puddle that was about a foot in diameter. To be honest, I don't even know where to start... Any help would be appreciated.

-Money

Pic and you need a manual.
Steve

A picture is worth a thousand words....

If it's coming from your ignition cover, there is two possible sources for oil:
1) The oil pressure sender is possibly loose from the case (bottom of the space, just behind the ignition plate
2) The engine seal behind the timing advance plate is leaking.

In the driveway after I shut it off. The bottle is for reference.

This is after I opened the points cover. I've wiped it up but you can still see where it was.

Here's the advance timing mechanism under the cover. There's still a little oil in there.

I had a manual digitally but my kids destroyed the iPad. I should probably get different kids.

-Money

Looks like the points and clutch housing are the same one. If so you can take it off and replace the seal.
Steve

That's it, Steve.

Thanks. Now I gotta try to find that seal.

-Money

That's why I always ask for pics. Can't help work on what you can't see.
Steve

Dang. I brain cramped on the oil pressure sender huh? So many KZs, so little time.
Glad you found the culprit. The scariest part is over now. Just gotta get the parts.
In the pic of your timing advance plate, the weight/arm appears to be missing it's little pad that runs against the shaft? Dunno, it may just be my teeny phone screen or my aged eyes.
Maybe you can have the kids read the manual on a PC & then recite it to you in the garage next time? Kids have to be good for something right?

Wrench,
I don't know what you mean about the pad... This is my first KZ so I only know this one.
As for the kids they're too young for that but whenever I'm' working in the garage they find their way out to "help". Memorizing the manual wouldn't be a bad idea for them though,

The weight/arm has a small notch in the side closest to the shaft. On all of my KZs there is a tiny pad which sits in that notch (in your pic above, notch is at 12:30 position). I thought pad may be plastic or nylon or maybe felt. I believe it stops the weight from running against the shaft but don't know for sure?
It may be there but it looked absent to me.
Ah. Your kids are youngins yet. Nice! Still a chance to teach them the wonders of Daddy's space - the garage!
I have a 5yr old granddaughter who loves to help me when "Pawpaw's fixin' the motorcycle". She knows the difference between screwdrivers i ask her to get now.

Since I'm still not sure here's a couple of pictures.

Something I saw online said "Teach your children to love motorcycles that way they'll never have money for drugs."

Here's a picture of what I've done to the poor girl. Of course that's before the wiring got all tucked away. And the Mikuni carb is no longer on as I've gone back to the dual carb setup.

Hey there. I attached a modified pic of yours.
The red arrow is pointing at the notch where it appears the pad is absent.
The yellow arrow is pointing at the place the arm touches during rotation without pad.
I don't know how much it matters; just an observation in a photo is all...


Ah, the ol' ridged frame bobber style. Definitely a style for the young man's back although I see you did put springs on the solo seat. My son is all about this kinda' styling too but I'm too old (or perhaps more accurately, my back is too old ) to enjoy it. I'm glad you have yours finished. It's good looking.

I never thought about it that way (get your kids hooked on motorcycles...) and maybe that was my Dad's reasoning too all those years ago but in the end I have the fondest of memories of him and I, in the garage, working on another motorcycle. Come to think of it now, I didn't have any money for drugs either.

Happy Father's Day!