To helicoil or not to helicoil...(cam caps)

larrycavan wrote:

Get yourself a tube of this. Poke every 6mm bolt in the end of the tube to coat the threads before you install it. Works like a charm. Coat at least 50% of the threaded length.

I use this stuff every day and don't strip out bolt holes. Also works nice for cam bearing insert lube.

What do you end up torquing to with that stuff? Aren't the standard torque values for clean, dry threads?

Before reinstalling the cam cap bolts, it's imo important to first assure that the thread holes are clean, meaning basically not containing any excess oil or other foreign material.

May just apply air pressure from a blow gun, or maybe apply a short squirt of starter fluid, carb or brake cleaner from a spray can.

As noted, lightly lube bolt treads before reassembly.

Good Fortune!

John T wrote:

RonKZ650 wrote:

Exhausts will strip every time if you go too far.

Exhaust studs? or the nuts holding the collars...?

I never put a torque wrench on them... just tight'n by hand... then usually crank the nuts down a tad more... after the engine gets hot..


another thought... instead of oil or grease on the threads, anyone use blue loctite?

For some reason the 6mm bolts that hold the cam caps on the exhaust cam will strip, but never the bolts on the intake cam although using the exact same torque specs. At least that's been my experience. I just don't over tighten any more and have no more problems. You can get that "iffy" feeling at 5 ft-lb. I stop there in that case. No need for loctite. These bolts can't work loose even if they are torqued to only 2 ft-lb because by the constant pressure from the camshaft they can't work loose. Guys have claimed the bolts have worked loose, but I think they are mistaken.

sm0kinace wrote:

larrycavan wrote:

Get yourself a tube of this. Poke every 6mm bolt in the end of the tube to coat the threads before you install it. Works like a charm. Coat at least 50% of the threaded length.

I use this stuff every day and don't strip out bolt holes. Also works nice for cam bearing insert lube.

What do you end up torquing to with that stuff? Aren't the standard torque values for clean, dry threads?

Standard torque values. And, as Patton added....clean out the bolt holes.

I don't know why, but those are the only bolts on the whole bike that no matter what I tighten to, always give me the Heeby-Jeebys when I tighten them. For some reason they always make e nervous. I think just the idea of tightening something critical into aluminum threads, that makes it feel funny. This is why I think I will feel better when i put steel Heli-coils into those holes.

Here's a thought...and a bit off topic.... ( apologies in advance )..

Since the KZ based motors are so incrediby durable, why did Kawasaki drop the entire line of KZ based motors ? or am I mistaken here ? I think the Zephyr 750 was continued in the early 1990's ?

gpzman2000 wrote:

Here's a thought...and a bit off topic.... ( apologies in advance )..

Since the KZ based motors are so incrediby durable, why did Kawasaki drop the entire line of KZ based motors ? or am I mistaken here ? I think the Zephyr 750 was continued in the early 1990's ?

Huh? The good old air cooled KZ1000 was still produced at least as late as 2005. Check out model KZ1000-P24. They were so reliable the cops were still using them, and that's not light duty. Ed

gpzman2000 wrote:

Here's a thought...and a bit off topic.... ( apologies in advance )..

Since the KZ based motors are so incrediby durable, why did Kawasaki drop the entire line of KZ based motors ? or am I mistaken here ? I think the Zephyr 750 was continued in the early 1990's ?

One reason is that water cooling offers performance advantages.

Earlier air-cooled Kaw cop bikes, model history:
Click > en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_police_motorcycles

Latest Kaw cop bike -- water cooled Connie:
Kawasaki 1400GTR, also known as the Concours 14 or ZG1400
Click > en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_1400GTR

Good Fortune!

Patton,

Cool link on the copcycles

Anybody know which cities have police departments using Kawasakis ?

Houston, still (saw several last year)...although they are being phased out I suspect. Around here, many of the local police departments give allowances which let patrol officers buy their own bikes and convert them to police duty....so you see police Hondas, HD, ZX14s, BMWs, Motor Guzzis, etc.

Timesert

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