i need a way to support carbs on a 77 kz650 with pods

i just put a set of pods on the 77 kz 650, and was wondering if anybody knows of a way to support the rear of the carburettor's so there not just hanging from the manifold's? thanks

Since the cables are secured to the carbs I zip-tie cables to the frame. It's worked for me since about 81, but I run stacks which aren't very heavy. See Avatar.
Mark

thanks alot mark, ill try that out tommorow. by the way i love the way your bike looks

I used to do the zip tie thing but for me they would only last about 6 months. The way to do it that works great takes a little fabricating. Look at the valve cover rearmost bolt. Right behind it there's a metal piece of your carburetors that stands vertically. If you make a bracket of some kind bolted to your valvecover bolt that wraps around this metal piece on your carbs holding the carbs it essentially supports your carbs because it holds them from sagging rearward.
Sorry I can't be more specific, but if you look at the situation with a little imagination, a piece of junk metal, a drill and a file, you can make something nice that works great in about 30 minutes.

I've had pods on my bike since new, 1978. The carbs have been hanging off the manifolds for almost 30 years with no problems. I don't see it as an issue.

baldy110 wrote:

I've had pods on my bike since new, 1978. The carbs have been hanging off the manifolds for almost 30 years with no problems. I don't see it as an issue.

It's not really, except it takes it's toll on the inlet rubber manifolds when the carbs are hung without support. I had to replace them a couple times before I supported my carbs on my 1978 with pods. All other Kawasakis with airbox I've never had to replace the manifolds. Replacing them is not fun because the bolts are seized to the head most likely, so better of preserving them if at all possible.

Would agree the vast majority of pod users probably suffer no consequences any worse than possibly shorter useful life span of manifolds.

But heard from a very reliable source that under severe conditions (at speed on rough road) unsupported carbs with pods or stacks have been known to tear or break away from the manifolds.

Hold the carbs with both hands. Not much stress on either grip. Now, drop one hand -- and feel the substantial extra grip strength needed to hold the carb with just one hand.

Now shake it up and down. :lol:

Post edited by: Patton, at: 2007/05/18 20:18

Post edited by: Patton, at: 2007/05/18 20:19

Post edited by: Patton, at: 2007/05/18 22:22

The unsupported carbs hanging on the carb holders could stess the rubber in the carb holders and will probably shorten their lifespan. The support idea is a fine one although if the carb holders are new, you probably won't have a problem. I have seen stress marks on the carb holders of bikes using pods. By the time an owner had cracked carb holders, he should probably have swapped them out anyway. As those things age, the rubber gets less pliant and even if not cracked, they just won't seal as well.

thanks alot for all the sugestions guy's. i am putting new carb holders on the bike, but i'll try to fabracate a mounting bracket to keep stress off the holders. thanks