Trying to better understand and ID various carbs?

So after buying a sweet 1979 KZ65o this summer as a stable mate for my 2003 ZRX1200, I really got the vintage Kawasaki bug.

I am no mechanic but wanting to learn slowly so I found an 1982 CSR650 for $350.

Needs a bit of work and much in part to the great help of this forum. its slowly coming together.

I am learning how to totally disassemble carbs (Mikuni for now) and clean them up in my new ultrasonic cleaner.

I have even purchased a few super cheap (under $50) sets of Mikunilocally and rather pleased at how well the come back to life!

The last set was so seized up and nasty that they did not even turn when I brought them home.

Now there are heaps of great tutorials on all this but that still brings to me a few questions please.

-How do you ID the carbs that happen to sit on your bench assuming they did not come from a known bike? Any Mikuni site or markings on the actual carbs?

-How does one order replacement parts (ie. gaskets etc) without knowing exact model? Any suggested websites? Stay away from ebay China kits?

-Best method to remove old gaskets on the float bowls? Razor blades will scratch no?

Thanks all.

I can't speak about all Mikuni carbs but the ones used on Z1's have a number on the outlet flange. Also a date code that tells you the year and month they were made.

I'm familiar with both KZ and Suzuki GS family of carbs and both have their unique telltale signs. For example, KZ Mikuni CV's for example use a pull actuated choke. GS carbs use metal caps over the throttle shaft on the outside carbs. I believe Yamaha used Mikuni's as well on at least some model bikes but I'm not familiar with those. Partzilla is a good resource when trying to match up what you have to a model. Feel free to post photos here too and we will try to help.

Oh, as a data point the '82 650 CSR used BS32 carbs.

As far as "kits" is concern, stay clear of them unless the original jets are completely thrashed. Clean the original jets and recycle them if at all possible. cycleorings has good kits that are designed for GS bikes but most of the parts will fit KZ carbs as well.

zeus.mtsac.edu/~cliff/storage/gs/Mikuni_...Rebuild_Tutorial.pdf

These carbs in the photos I purchased used for $50. Actually them and a nasty set of keihin carbs that also need s tear down.

All parts of these Mikuni carbs seem to have cleaned up very well other than the float bowl gaskets. I need new ones and am stumped as to how to remove these old ones?

A small screwdriver under the gasket typically gets it done. You can use an xacto knife blade if necessary. Just don't gouge out the gasket surface.

Thank you for the advice folks!

Can I assume that what I have is Mikuni BS series carbs as seen in the picture? These are NOT the carbs that came with my CSR650 but look pretty much identical.

Would the BS series float gaskets be a standard fit for all such carbs? The rest of the parts have already cleaned up nicely.

I would try silicone spray lubricant on the gaskets. saturate & let them sit overnight in a zip-loc or plastic bag. respray if necessary. Silicone lubricant is a pretty good solvent.

I can't say difinitively that all BS gaskets are the same but most are. There may be different passages, which correspond to different holes through the gasket, so pay attention to those when ordering. Within the KZ line there are a lot of years of bikes that shared the same gaskets as the 1982 KZ650 CSR...

www.partzilla.com/product/kawasaki/11009...944d24275d9839dab498

This Kawasaki 11009-1241 GASKET fits the following models and components:

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1982 CSR - KZ650-H2 CARBURETOR PARTS ('83 H3)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1981 CSR - KZ650-H1 CARBURETOR PARTS ('83 H3)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1983 CSR - KZ650-H3 CARBURETOR PARTS ('83 H3)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1983 KZ1000-J3 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ1000-J1/J2)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1982 KZ1000-J2 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ1000-J1/J2)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1981 KZ1000-J1 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ1000-J1/J2)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1981 KZ1000-J1 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ1000-J3) (CANADA)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1983 KZ1000-J3 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ1000-J3) (CANADA)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1982 KZ1000-J2 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ1000-J3) (CANADA)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1983 Eddie Lawson Replica - KZ1000-R2 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ1000-R1)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1982 Eddie Lawson Replica - KZ1000-R1 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ1000-R1)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1983 Eddie Lawson Replica - KZ1000-R2 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ1000-R2)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1982 Eddie Lawson Replica - KZ1000-R1 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ1000-R2)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1981 Shaft - KZ1100-A1 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ1100-A1/A2)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1982 Shaft - KZ1100-A2 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ1100-A1/A2)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1983 Shaft - KZ1100-A3 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ1100-A1/A2)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1983 Shaft - KZ1100-A3 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ1100-A3)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1982 Shaft - KZ1100-A2 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ1100-A3)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1981 Shaft - KZ1100-A1 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ1100-A3)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1983 CSR - KZ650-H3 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ650-H2)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1982 CSR - KZ650-H2 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ650-H2)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1981 CSR - KZ650-H1 CARBURETOR PARTS (KZ650-H2)

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1983 LTD Shaft - KZ1100-L1 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1982 CSR Twin - KZ750-M1 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1983 GPz 750 - ZX750-A1 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1982 Police 1000 - KZ1000-P1 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1981 LTD - KZ1000-K1 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1982 GPz - KZ750-R1 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1987 Police 1000 - KZ1000-P6 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1986 Police 1000 - KZ1000-P5 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1983 Spectre - KZ1100-D2 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1984 GPz 750 - ZX750-A2 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1985 LTD Shaft - ZN1100-B2 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1984 LTD Shaft - ZN1100-B1 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1985 GPz 750 - ZX750-A3 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1984 Police 1000 - KZ1000-P3 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1981 CSR - KZ1000-M1 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1985 Police 1000 - KZ1000-P4 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1983 Police 1000 - KZ1000-P2 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1982 CSR - KZ1000-M2 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1982 Spectre - KZ1100-D1 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1983 KZ750-L3 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1983 LTD Belt - KZ750-K1 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1989 Police 1000 - KZ1000-P8 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1982 LTD - KZ1000-K2 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1988 Police 1000 - KZ1000-P7 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1990 Police 1000 - KZ1000-P9 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1984 KZ700-A1 Carburetor, Parts

Kawasaki Motorcycle 1984 KZ750-K2 (Canada Only) - KZ750-K2 Carburetor, Parts