Mikuni BS34 info

They look like the BS34's used on the 81-82 KZ1000 CSR and LTD.

But you really need to start a new thread all your own

Kelly, welcome to KZR. Great to have another Oregon rider on board. I actually bought my '78 KZ1000 from your neighborhood (Rogue River) .

Yes, those do indeed look like BS34 carbs. If you've worked on auto carbs before, you sound handy enough to tackle this job. Don't be intimidated by four carbs in parallel, synching, etc. If I were you, I wouldn't spend $300-400 to have someone work on your carbs--unless you really don't feel comfortable with mechanic work, and if that's the case, you should buy a newer bike. With the help of the manual, and the resources on this site, you should be able to do the work yourself--and learn something in the process.

First get your hands on a factory service manual. You can download a PDF version of the manual for your bike from here:

www.metrovationinc.com/christemple/kz.pdf

It sounds like your carbs need to be opened up and thorougly cleaned. The overflowing carb is likely caused by a stuck float, or worn float valve. Sometimes a good *whack* on the flow boal with screwdriver handle will free a stuck float and fix the problem. But realistically, you really need to remove the float bowl and inspect the float and float valve to make sure there is not some spec of debris holding the valve open. While you are in there, remove all the jets and spray carb cleaner in all the passages, then blow them out with compressed air. Make sure all the passages and jets are clear.

As for synching the carbs, the procedure is explained in the manual. You'll either need a set of vacuum gauages (available at Z1Enterprises.com, and other places). Or, for just a few bucks, you can build your own manometer using a yardstick, some vinyl tubing, and some gear oil. Your can read about it here.

I built my own fancy set of vacuum gauges (pic below), but I find that the cheapo vinyl tube gauge allows me to make more accurate adjustments.

Thank you skyman...it's amazing how many goodies are stashed in the barns and out buildings here in OR...every barn has an old jewel in it waiting to be fired up again...i just found one and it's this KZ 1000!

So the Kawaski shop in medford said there is no "rebuild kit" available for these carbs, but the individual parts are available...$28 each for just the float valve goodies! Geez! they also said the same as you about the the fuel pouring out...need to inspect and clean those valves.

I will look into the vacuum gauge program you mentioned but in the mean while...the bowls are comming off today, and the parts cleaned...do you think i will have access to clean all of the different tiny passage ways from within the bowl? And....what are the diaphram looking covers on the tops of the carbs...what are those and do they care if they get carb cleaner on or in them? Somewhere in these threads it was mentioned that if the fuel is pouring out of the carbs like that, then it has also gotten into the piston bore and perhaps past the rings and into the crank case oil...is this true?

thanks for the link to the online manual...i am on that next.

thanx again...this place is cool...i will be back soon.

i seem to have posted my stuff in someone elses thread...apologies, i am new and it seemed apropriate at the time since i am dealing with the BS34's...should i move my posting on this to my own thread...or just leave it here since it already is? I don't want to step on any toes here.

peace
~K~

Kelly,

I would recommend that you become familiar with a company called Z1 Enterprises ( www.z1enterprises.com ). They are hands down the BEST source for parts (and good advice) that you will find for these old Kawis. Jeff Saunders, the owner, is a frequent poster here on this site. He and his crew are an invaluable resource for vintage Kawi owners. I would recommend that you go to his website to see what they have for carb rebuild kits. I am SURE that they have what you need, and they'll give you the best pricing you'll find anywhere. If you don't see it on their website, call them. They can get it.

Many Kawi dealers aren't too anxious to help out owners of vintage bikes. Most will not service them at all. And some refuse to even sell parts for older bikes, or take the time to help you find the right part. At Z1E, they SPECIALIZE in older bikes.

But before you invest in the rebuild kits, first clean your carbs and see how the bike runs after that. If you are able to solve your fuel overflowing problem with a good cleaning, why waste money on rebuild kits?

Regarding the diaphrams, you will want to CAREFULLY remove these before spraying carb cleaner around in the carbs. The diaphrams are made of rubber, and carb cleaner will eat it. These diaphams are PRICEY to replace, so treat them with great care. You do not want to tear or puncture them as your bike will not run properly if you do. Your carbs are called "CV" style carbs (constant velocity). These carbs use vacuum pressure to lift the needle slides which allows fuel to flow through the mid-throttle range--where most of your riding is done. If the diaphrams leak, the slides will not raise properly, and your engine will not run right.

The other style of carbs use mechanical slides where the throttle cable directly raises and lowers the slides.

You should also remove any parts that have o-rings before spraying with carb cleaner. It eats rubber and will deteriorate o-rings.

As for gas leaking into the crankcase, yes, you need to check for that. Open up your oil filler cap and take a sniff. If you smell gasoline, then you should change your oil before running the engine again.

Skyman ...your info has helped imensely...the manual link allowed me to tear into these carbs right away...so thank you for that and these other points.

So the carbs are apart, i left them on the rails...cleaned everything up real nice and have lots of pictures if anyone is interested in knowing what is inside the BS34's...i havent figuired out how to post multiple pictures without doing a separate posting and i still feel weird about stepping on Grinch77's toes here.

sorry for hijacking your thread Grinch.

so tomorrow i need to round up some O-rings somewhere...i am wondering what holds the little brass plug...the manual says i should put a fastening agent of some sort...I am tired, but the things are clean, ready to go back together and all the parts in great shape...happy camper...thanx for listening. peace out.

shade_tree wrote:

so tomorrow i need to round up some O-rings somewhere...i am wondering what holds the little brass plug...the manual says i should put a fastening agent of some sort...

I assume you are talking about the plug over the pilot jets, right? I've never used any "fastenting agent". I just let the o-ring hold it snug.

For the O-rings, the quickest solution would be to head down to Harbor Freight Tools in Medford and pick up their Metric O-Ring Assortment kit. It contains hundreds of o-rings of all sizes.

This is what I'm talking about.

HAHAHA ask and ye shall recieve! that is one hell of an idea....lifetime supply of O-rings for under ten bucks....and yes...thats the plug, it has a tiny O-ring on it. I assume these Chinese O-rings are suitable for imersion in Saudi gasoline in my Japaneze motorcyle for use here in America.

Rest assured, HFT only sells multicultural O-rings. :laugh:

i cant resist...here is some pics of the project...the tops to the cans of carb cleaner make handy soaking trays for tiny parts and help keep things Oregon-ized...HA!

Note the "Bench Monkey"... he is an integral, key player in all the projects around here...he is worried that his job is in jepoardy since i found this KZR site...hell, so far it's like having the carburator repair fairy available at the touch of a button! I mean that in the best way. Me and the monkey are headed for HFT in the morning.

Allrighty then...Harbor Freight turned out to be a day trip...didn't get much done on the carbs...but i have a lifetime supply of O-rings now...they certainly are NOT OEM type equipment, however, they will do for this rebuild. I ruined three of them because they simply do nnot fit correctly...but with a liitle Massage they ease up and slide in.

The guys at the Kawaski shop in Medford are jerks...tried to tell me that my '82 KZ isn't worth the time i am putting into it and that the carburators are junk because they are old...what an idiot...he wouldn't even go look for some O-rings for me...he wanted me to "consder buying a new motorcycle"....what a jerk.

I couldnt get bowl gaskets so i had to make my own...again they will do for this rebuild...here is some pics showing how to cut gaskets when in a bind. One of my most handy tools is a set of punches that make the screw holes and passage holes in the gasket material...i got 'em at the chinese tool store about twenty five years ago and they have made many gaskets since...a must for any shade tree mechanic.

assembly tomorrow and maybe we see if these gaskets and O-rings are gonna fly...it's all experimental ya know.

peace.
~K~