Good news

So I picked up a 1980 KZ1000 Ltd a couple weeks ago.I've been posting about issues with it.Anyways,I was sure it needed the carbs tuned and synced and a valve adjust.Its been idling rough and stuttering at low speeds/revs and backfiring on decel.I've been changing filters,fluids,lubing cables etc while waiting to find a mechanic.I found a guy about 30 miles away so I took a ride to talk to him about the carbs and valves.He says the valves are fine and the carbs just need to have the idle/low speed circuit cleaned and a possible re-jet,the bike has aftermarket 4 into 1 exhaust and he thinks they didnt jet it for the new exhaust.He took the better part of an hour going over the bike and talking bikes.He told me to put something called "Mechanic in a Bottle" in the gas,says its the best carb cleaner out there,and bring it back next week and he'll go over the carbs jetting.He says the bike is in great shape and I got a real good deal for 2500 bucks.

stokes wrote: I was sure it needed the carbs tuned and synced and a valve adjust.He says the valves are fine and the carbs just need to have the idle/low speed circuit cleaned and a possible re-jet,the bike has aftermarket 4 into 1 exhaust and he thinks they didnt jet it for the new exhaust.He took the better part of an hour going over the bike and talking bikes.He told me to put something called "Mechanic in a Bottle" in the gas,says its the best carb cleaner out there,and bring it back next week and he'll go over the carbs jetting.He says the bike is in great shape and I got a real good deal for 2500 bucks.

Valve clearance has to be checked. A bike can have clearance close to 0 and still run fine (not for long). Fuel system cleaners cannot clean clogged slow jets.

"Fuel system cleaners cannot clean clogged slow jets". Why is that? I put some in yesterday,ran the bike about an hour or so and saw some improvement,rode it today for over 3 hours and it is much better.As for the valves,this guy has been working on bikes for over 40 yrs,has owned a number of KZ's,still has his 77 KZ 1000.I told him I thought it needed the valves checked/adjusted,he could have easily made some money even if they didnt need adjusting,but he says they sound fine.I can check and adjust them myself,over the winter,I dont have gauges for doing the carbs so I figured I'd have him do both at the same time.He says the only thing he thinks it needs is a re-jet for the aftermarket exhaust,said to try the carb cleaner and he will clean them further when he re-jets it,if it needs.

You got it. :woohoo:
Steve

Don't want to argue or mean nothin by it but.......I Wish I had a dollar for every time I read on here that valve clearance needs to be checked first if a running problem comes up (for sure if you don't know the history of the bike) and that low speed jets need a manual cleaning and not just carb cleaner to do it "right"...... I'd be buying a 810 kit for a early Christmas present.

A valve adjustment is one of the first steps in doing a tune up. It should be done BEFORE adjusting the carbs.
Steve

According to this indy,the bike doesnt need a tune up.The only "problem" it was exhibiting was a stuttering in first and second gear at low revs.It starts real easy,even with the kick,one easy kick and it goes.Hit third gear and its a rocket.Even in 1st and 2nd,if you rev it high it clears up.I had gumout in the tank and it got a slight improvement now with the stuff the mechanic recommended it seems to be clearing up a lot.I'd like to hear car5cars reasoning on why carb cleaner cannot clean "slow jets"

Me too.
Steve

Amazing. A mechanic that can tell if the valves are too tight by sound? How the hell can he do that when tight valved don't make noise? Or maybe the valves are noisy and he can tell that way? Wow!

Engine maintenance 101:

The valves on KZ bikes recede into the head with mileage. After some miles all the clearance goes away and then the valve won't close. The valve and seat will then burn. Some amazingly large % of people don't do maintenance on their bikes. They make tons of excuses until the bike starts to falter, at which point there has been permanent damage done. Do you feel lucky?

stokes wrote: Even in 1st and 2nd,if you rev it high it clears up.I had gumout in the tank and it got a slight improvement now with the stuff the mechanic recommended it seems to be clearing up a lot.I'd like to hear car5cars reasoning on why carb cleaner cannot clean "slow jets"

LOL.... Carb cleaners work fine for soft gum or some varnish deposits. What I find in slow jets and other tiny passages is hard deposit crud that only a .009"-.012" wire will chase out.
There is NO SUCH THING as mechanic in a can!
It is as close as you can get to a fool's errand trying clear those tiny holes with over the counter carb cleaner.

The one main thing I'd be concerned about is it attacking rubber parts. Might run a little better due to the chemicals in it. :whistle:
Steve

I'm a firm believer of additive .... sea foam, regane and Berryman's are a few I like (will probably pick up a can of Mech in a bottle for next time)....... sounds like your carbs are not too bad and are cleaning up nice for you.... worse cases usually need a soak or a guitar string and alot of high pressure air (along with possibly holding off several passages while blowing (Patton's exc idea on the subject). ..... I'm pretty anal on draining the carbs and not letting them sit to long so that has helped me out over the years.