Unusual cam wear
- danam
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Unusual cam wear
30 Jan 2026 16:35 - 30 Jan 2026 19:47
Hi guys, I have <1000 miles on my 1975 z1 rebuild and it’s smoking so I’m looking i to it. While removing the cams i saw these aluminum shards from the cam caps on #3 cylinder both intake and exhaust. If you look closely you can see the shaved pieces I found under the cams.
The lobes must have made contact with the caps? If both cams were not aligned correctly wouldn’t they all have this result? It looks like the bearing shells are in correctly
Last edit: 30 Jan 2026 19:47 by danam.
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- SWest
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Re: Unusual cam wear
30 Jan 2026 19:50
You didn't have #1and #3 caps lined up with the cam guides.
Z1b1000 1975 Z1b
kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/598262-kz-...-will-it-live#672882
kzrider.com/forum/2-engine/597654-poser?start=240#704229
kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/598262-kz-...-will-it-live#672882
kzrider.com/forum/2-engine/597654-poser?start=240#704229
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- danam
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Re: Unusual cam wear
30 Jan 2026 21:21
I'm sorry I don't understand, the caps do not have any adjustable play to align at all. They bolt on and are not movable in any way.
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- SWest
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Re: Unusual cam wear
30 Jan 2026 21:53
The cams have two guides on them that fit in the caps. Easy to get the cams off just enought to cause what you see.
Z1b1000 1975 Z1b
kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/598262-kz-...-will-it-live#672882
kzrider.com/forum/2-engine/597654-poser?start=240#704229
kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/598262-kz-...-will-it-live#672882
kzrider.com/forum/2-engine/597654-poser?start=240#704229
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- Wookie58
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Re: Unusual cam wear
31 Jan 2026 01:11
This area is what controls "end float" - as Steve said if the cam was slightly to one side or the cap wasn't square when bolted down it would do this. It looks like there is enough material left to hold the cams in place (check end float when you re-assemble)
1982 KZ1000 Ltd
www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/617631...-82-begins?start=192
kzrider.com/filebase-alias?view=download...d-fault-diagnosis&ca
www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/617631...-82-begins?start=192
kzrider.com/filebase-alias?view=download...d-fault-diagnosis&ca
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- zed1015
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Re: Unusual cam wear
31 Jan 2026 01:52
As previous replies.
Those two caps are numbers 1 and 3 which are designed to control cam end float and you will notice they are machined differently on the underside to numbers 2 and 4 .
The fracture marks on the caps indicate that the shaved portions of aluminium were sheared off when the caps were bolted down due to a slight misalignment of the cams and caps on assembly.
The damage is minimal and won't have any affect on their function..
Those two caps are numbers 1 and 3 which are designed to control cam end float and you will notice they are machined differently on the underside to numbers 2 and 4 .
The fracture marks on the caps indicate that the shaved portions of aluminium were sheared off when the caps were bolted down due to a slight misalignment of the cams and caps on assembly.
The damage is minimal and won't have any affect on their function..
AIR CORRECTOR JETS FOR VM CARBS AND ETHANOL RESISTANT VITON CHOKE PLUNGER SEAL REPLACMENT FOR ALL CLASSIC AND MODERN MOTORCYCLE CARBURETTORS
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- slmjim+Z1BEBE
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Re: Unusual cam wear
Yesterday 04:24
Seems like that would have been felt during initial hand cranking after assembly when the lobes contacted the caps. Something similar to a physical stop.
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Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE
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1973 ('72 builds) Z1 x2
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1973 ('72 builds) Z1 x2
1974 Z1-A x2
1975 Z1-B x2
1993 CB 750 Nighthawk x2
2009 ST1300A
www.kawasaki-z-classik.com
A Forum tightly focused on all things Z1 and Z2.
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- asphalt900
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Re: Unusual cam wear
Yesterday 04:30
That wasn't caused by the lobes Jim but by the cam thrust face sharp edge. Scurry in assembly not paying attention.
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