Changing primary clutch basket with cylinder fixed on engine possible?

www.aperaceparts.com/tech/techkz1000.html

What features does the J-motor have (in addition to easy clutch removal) that may be considered improvements to the earlier design?

🙂

daveo wrote:

What features does the J-motor have (in addition to easy clutch removal) that may be considered improvements to the earlier design?

🙂

It all depends on how you differentiate improvements from alterations.
Personally i consider the J type motor a combined backwards and sideways step with some upgrades and alterations being made mainly for marketing purposes .
Apart from the easier clutch basket removal ( which isn't really a big deal ) losing the kickstart and using a weaker aluminium clutch basket was a backward step and all the other improvements such as the stronger gearbox and big valve head could have been incorperated into the original case design which funnily enough are the two main components  ( along with the later Unitrack cams ) that are often retro fitted into the earlier engines with the rest being consigned to a box in the corner of the garage or listed on ebay.





 

Am I right in thinking the switch to a Hy-Vo cam chain is also stronger and quieter ?

Just to add more re chains  I have found this doc of interest. Though dated (1997) it is full of info that I never really thought about chains and how they do what they do. 

Camchain change from the peanut 219 to HyVo chain took on it's advantages and disadvantages. During the early and last use of the peanut 219 era, Kawasaki 1979/1980 thought it'd be conscious to incorporate a sleeve/bearing retainer tensioner. Failure was imminent. As far as the J motors they suffered from a floppy rear camchain guide. Even New with OEM components were suspect. Often persons adapted "manual" adjusters to replace. But all too often persons don't know how to set those manual tensioners. Should do a sticky for this too!!         

I'd like to hear more about the clutch basket removal without splitting the cases on a J motor.

asphalt900 wrote:

Camchain change from the peanut 219 to HyVo chain took on it's advantages and disadvantages. During the early and last use of the peanut 219 era, Kawasaki 1979/1980 thought it'd be conscious to incorporate a sleeve/bearing retainer tensioner. Failure was imminent. As far as the J motors they suffered from a floppy rear camchain guide. Even New with OEM components were suspect. Often persons adapted "manual" adjusters to replace. But all too often persons don't know how to set those manual tensioners. Should do a sticky for this too!!         

How can you tell if the guide is broken or just "floppy"?

SWest wrote:

I'd like to hear more about the clutch basket removal without splitting the cases on a J motor.



 

On the J/GPZ there is more case clearance around the clutch basket and the cover is bigger .
The clutch also has largish removable bearing center behind the hub which when withdrawn allows the basket to be dropped to one side out of engagement with the crank and then lifted out of the cases.

 
 

 


Pages 121-123 re the J-motor: