1978 A2 carb type
- geerbangr
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1978 A2 carb type
31 Jan 2014 20:46
I dropped the carb rack off of Oscar tonight to inspect a set of carbs that have set for 20+ years. Well as you can imagine molasses poured out of the bowls. At least they weren't gummed up with dried out hard shit that gasoline magically turns into. I can't seem to find any identifying numbers on the carbs. I have them pulled off the rack and can't see anything. I'm going to need new gaskets for them I know for sure. I have to disassemble the carbs and clean them tomorrow and examine the other components. I'd like to know for sure what carbs I have before is spend money on the wrong parts.
1978 KZ 1000
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- 650ed
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Re: 1978 A2 carb type
31 Jan 2014 20:54
Be sure not to mix parts between different carbs. They tend to wear together and sometimes mixing parts from one carb to another can cause problems. A numbered ziploc bag for each carb make it easy to keep each carb's parts together. Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- Patton
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Re: 1978 A2 carb type
31 Jan 2014 21:01
Stock carbs would be Mikuni VM26SS aka Mikuni 26mm manual slide carbs.
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1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
KZ900 LTD
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- geerbangr
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Re: 1978 A2 carb type
31 Jan 2014 21:24
How would I determine for sure that these carbs are VM26 ?
1978 KZ 1000
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- geerbangr
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Re: 1978 A2 carb type
01 Feb 2014 05:58
Ed, I understand your theory on keeping the parts and carbs separated. How do you clean all the parts ? Clean each carb and it's components 1 at a time ?
1978 KZ 1000
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- RonKZ650
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Re: 1978 A2 carb type
01 Feb 2014 16:05
Yes clean one at a time or at least keep the parts organized to remember which came from which carb. For sure don't separate the carbs from the bank. 26mm carbs from a KZ1000A should be pilot jet mixture screws. (screws under carb towards the front) to adjust mixture, with dual fuel inlets. Most carb parts like gaskets are all the same. Same bowl gasket fits 24,26 and 28mm carbs.
321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
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- geerbangr
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Re: 1978 A2 carb type
01 Feb 2014 19:09
Ok I got some buckets of chem dip. That stuff is pretty impressive if you think about the Kool aid drinkers and the EPA with their stranglehold on today's society. Back to the carbs. I've already dropped the carbs off the rack and totally disassembled everything. It doesn't look to out of reach putting the rack back together.
A few questions.
A. Are the black throttle shaft bushings that run through the top of the carb body suppose to be pliable rubber or more a hard plastic , and are they available ?
B. Jets, they are plugged tighter than a nuns hoo hoo. I can't see good enough to read what size the jets are. The bike has a header and pods so could you guys help me jet Oscar properly ?
C. Can I get jets,gaskets,floats,needle seat sets all in one kit ? If so from who ?
A few questions.
A. Are the black throttle shaft bushings that run through the top of the carb body suppose to be pliable rubber or more a hard plastic , and are they available ?
B. Jets, they are plugged tighter than a nuns hoo hoo. I can't see good enough to read what size the jets are. The bike has a header and pods so could you guys help me jet Oscar properly ?
C. Can I get jets,gaskets,floats,needle seat sets all in one kit ? If so from who ?
1978 KZ 1000
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- geerbangr
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Re: 1978 A2 carb type
05 Feb 2014 22:42
Any help would be appreciated.
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- Patton
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Re: 1978 A2 carb type
06 Feb 2014 17:40 - 06 Feb 2014 17:45
A. Are the black throttle shaft bushings that run through the top of the carb body suppose to be pliable rubber or more a hard plastic , and are they available ? -- Often helps to Google the part number.
B. Jets, they are plugged tighter than a nuns hoo hoo. I can't see good enough to read what size the jets are. The bike has a header and pods so could you guys help me jet Oscar properly ? -- Could test run with the existing jets, which may already be the correct size, and to have a basis for comparison.
C. Can I get jets,gaskets,floats,needle seat sets all in one kit ? If so from who ? -- It usually isn't necessary to install new floats. Z1 Enterprises offers carb rebuild kits.
Often, gummed/varnished carbs may be cleaned and restored to serviceable condition without using any new parts, especially where the carbs were okay before the bike was improperly stored (i.e., gasoline left inside the carbs to evaporate, etc.)
Good Fortune!
B. Jets, they are plugged tighter than a nuns hoo hoo. I can't see good enough to read what size the jets are. The bike has a header and pods so could you guys help me jet Oscar properly ? -- Could test run with the existing jets, which may already be the correct size, and to have a basis for comparison.
C. Can I get jets,gaskets,floats,needle seat sets all in one kit ? If so from who ? -- It usually isn't necessary to install new floats. Z1 Enterprises offers carb rebuild kits.
Often, gummed/varnished carbs may be cleaned and restored to serviceable condition without using any new parts, especially where the carbs were okay before the bike was improperly stored (i.e., gasoline left inside the carbs to evaporate, etc.)
Good Fortune!

1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
KZ900 LTD
Last edit: 06 Feb 2014 17:45 by Patton.
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- Jeff.Saunders
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Re: 1978 A2 carb type
07 Feb 2014 04:32
1978 was a transition year for carbs on the 1000's. At least 6 variants of the carbs fitted to the KZ1000-A2 and A2A. Reality, there were even more than that. Kawasaki was struggling to get the bikes to conform to the new EPA emissions regulations, so there were numerous small jetting changes.
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Re: 1978 A2 carb type
07 Feb 2014 07:21
Two 1983 GPz 305's, 1984 GPz550, 1980 KZ550A, 1978 KZ1000A2A
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Re: 1978 A2 carb type
07 Feb 2014 07:22
Two 1983 GPz 305's, 1984 GPz550, 1980 KZ550A, 1978 KZ1000A2A
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