TOPIC:

How do fish the replacement chain around the crank? Assume u use the existing one and carefully fish it. Also is the existing one broke or what?. R

The existing chain is not broken, it merely has 97,000 miles on it. To install the new chain you have to cut the old one and attach the new one to it with a master link, then turn the engine while maintaining tension on both ends to keep it from coming off of the sprockets. When the new one is through, you disconnect the master link to the old chain and rivet the two ends together.

The peen over master links are made so they can done that way. The one I got so long ago was an endless bronze HP chain I got from Hollywood Kawasaki. The plates were a little wider so it rode on the plastic on the sides of the sprockets. Didn't cause any problems but I was uncomfortable with it all that time. .They also sold me a points setup with GM points and a cool timing light built in and it had a micro switch. It worked if you were in a dark room. They also sold me a duel roller chain setup with a purdy blue anodized rear sprocket. Both were a waste of money but being young I liked cool stuff. Still have the points setup laying in the dirt and the chain was prone to having the pins work their way out. Cool isn't always better.
Steve

Since I didn't split the case a while back I would have had to peen one on too. Z1 talked me out of it since I only had 29,000 miles and would be running a mild 750 cam along with 80lbs on the Ape springs vs 90. They told me the softer link that you needed was then the weak spot but if done right the odds say it would a been ok. I chickened out since it would have been my first peen job but later wished I would a run the motor to Red Line to have had them peen it.

This is a little slow but I recently purchased a hyvo type cam chain for my 1980 KZ750 with a open rivet link from Raw Power Motorcycles in the United Kingdom. I t comes endless so it can be installed that way or cut and installed with the rivet link. The chain is manufactured by Borg Warner in Japan and cost 75.00 shipped. Service was very good. So far I haven't installed it. it doesn't look like a very easy job doing it in place.
Hope this is helpful.
art

This a is from another Forum, ADV Rider. He could practice rivetting the chain because he bought a 152 links cam chain instead of a 150 links. Once he was comfort on rivetting, he cut the unnecesary links and rivetted with a master link from K&L. 5000 miles since then, everything OK.

Thanks for the replies. I ordered a cam chain from RawPower out of the UK, but it came in with the wrong master link, so I returned it. I guess I'll reorder from Z1enterprises. Still looking for the right tool to rivet the solid nosed master link. I wonder if anyone makes a miniature quad stake attachment for my BIkemaster rivet kit. Mark

Well I took the plunge and bought a new cam chain and open rivet from Z1Enterprises. The install went very smoothly. I bolted a piece of wood to the head that gave me a nice working space. I blocked in a small anvil that was used as the backing for the peening operation.
A small ball peen hammer was used to flare the head of the rivet pins. I carefully avoided hitting the side plate. The link moved freely and after 200 miles with many revs up to 8500rpm I am feeling rather good about the state of the repair. The bike, with 95,000 miles is running better than ever. Thanks again for all of your advice. Great forum, Mark

Well here is the two year update. 15,000 miles later and the cam chain has performed flawlessly. As Lou Reed said in New Sensations, "I love that GPz so much I could kiss her!"

Glad to hear that. Did you take any pics for instance?

Sadly no

OK. Did grind off the cam chain to install the master link? Which tool did you use to rivet the pins?