Need help with my red neck build

So I've been looking for an air filter for my 81 kz440 and I can't seem to find the OEM one anywhere. But here's the problem. My bike is idling low and even with the throttle fully open (it doesn't make hardly any boost in rpm but if I drop it it dies) I'm CRAWLING AROUND. LIKE A FOOT A SECCOND. And again cranking on the throdle does almost nothing. Don't call me dumb if this is the problem, but I've put steel wool as a substitute so I'm not sucking in so much air without a filter. So with the wool out I'm at like 7k rpm but with out I'm at maybe 750? Hard to guess because the dumb PO took out the tach cable (one on the way). Anyways ANY help would be much appreciated. If it help at all I could post a video

Steel wool for an air cleaner? :blink:
Everything you've said seems backwards to me....

Do you have the factory air box and missing the filter that goes on the backside?
Or the whole unit.

Richard I want to help you mate but you need to explain the problem better,

Even the moderate power of a 440 will out accelerate most cars on the road on a 0 -60 mph... one foot a second is not what we do here.

Even without an air filter (not recommended) you should be getting quite decent performance. Are you saying that without an air filter it revs to 7k, but without it won't?i

Are you getting fat blue sparks at the plugs?

GET THAT STEEL WOOL OUTTA THERE!

If any of it gets into the engine, serious, expensive damage could ensue. The bike will not run well, nor can it be easily adjusted to run without a proper air filter. Have you tried Z1 Enterprise or your local Kawasaki dealer? Partzilla?

Yes steel wool worst then nothing.

Well thanks guys I'll pull that crap out asap. And I've got the whole set up, BUT the filter. So what I'm saying is without the filter (steel wool) it sucks in a ton of air skyrocketing the rpms. Then with the wool it clogs it to much. I've been on the hunt for an OEM filter. This was just a 150$ buy so I'm doing everything half ass to make sure it runs before I make a monetary commitment

Went to Parts Zilla. Unfortunately they say it's obsolete

So, this is a B2? If so, it takes the large, oval and obsolete filter. If it is a D (LTD), the filter is listed as available.

Find some open cell foam and cover the opening on the air box.


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I need part 1-3. And yeah I'll try and scavenge up some foam tomorrow.

Rev's wills skyrocket, that's what kawasaki's do. without a filter(s) your mixture will be lean.

If you can't find a replacement filter, pod filers will work with a bit of tweaking to the carb settings.

For now, run without the filter or use some ladies tights or stockings stretched over the intakes, better than nothing. Loose the wire wool.

Some racers use open bell mouth velocity stacks - that works but reduces engine life due lack of air filtration. Racers aren't too interested in getting thousands of miles out of a engine, it is all about winning for one season - but at a cost the engine. Hence regular and expensive engine rebuilds.

For you, and most of us here, use either an air filter cartridge or individual pod filters. We will help you out on the settings.

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