Won't Start

It might pop a little when it's cold, my Z1-B does that too.

Started the bike today and let it warm up. Went to sync the carbs when I started seeing smoke at the front of the bike. Also noticed that there was white smoke and oil coming out of the header. Chekced where the oil was leaking from the found that it is leaking where the head meets the motor. Does this sound like the head gasket needs to be replaced or something more serious ? Should I start another post in the motor section ?

BIGKEVIN wrote: Started the bike today and let it warm up. Went to sync the carbs when I started seeing smoke at the front of the bike. Also noticed that there was white smoke and oil coming out of the header. Chekced where the oil was leaking from the found that it is leaking where the head meets the motor. Does this sound like the head gasket needs to be replaced or something more serious ? Should I start another post in the motor section ?

Check where the tachometer cable plugs into the head. Very common problem on these older KZ's. Very cheap fix to order the o-rings and seal. Mine did the same thing. Its hard sometimes to trace exactly where its coming from. May look like its leaking from the head, but good chance that it is not. And it will also drip onto the header and cause smoke. Good luck.

That is where I was thinking that it was coming also. I checked and it is coming below the tach cable. Right between the #2 and #3 pipe is where it is leaking from. There is a piece the sticks out and that is where it is leaking from.

Tach Drive seal, like Joe said. Looks like this:


z1enterprises.com will have the seal set. Not hard to change, unless the seal is really baked and stuck inside the drive housing.
www.z1enterprises.com/ItemDetails.aspx?i...aki&item=KL15-2444-1
www.z1enterprises.com/ItemDetails.aspx?i...n&item=XVO-01000-150

I am pretty sure it is not leaking from the tach cable, but I will check it more closely when I get home. If it was leaking where the tach cable connects, would that cause white smoke and oil to come out of the header ? That is why I am thinkng that it is the head gasket.

It's easy and quick to positively determine and pin-point the exact source of the oil leak by performing the "foot powder spray test."

For several step-by-step articles, do a forum search on "foot powder spray" posted by "Patton."

Or just click here > www.kzrider.com/forum/advsearch?q=foot+p...te=all&childforums=1

Good Fortune!

I will be stopping on my way home to get some foot powder. It would be easier to change the tach seals than the head gasket. Would the tach leaking cause the white smoke and oil to come out of the header ?

I just thought about the white smoke and oil out of the header. It would if the oil is leaking where it came get into the header. I will check to see where the oil is leaking from.

If not already done, would check for any loose nuts on the header clamps.

Good Fortune!

could be the valve guides leaking

I got home today and started checking on this. I dont remember if I checked to see if the header bolts were tight first or not. I put foot powder all over the front of the engine and started it. Shortly after it started, oil started coming from the #3 header. I dont know if I checked the header bolts first or not. I took the header off and the 2 piece metal gaskets all looked good. I put it back together and started up and let it run for a few minutes and did not see any oil leaking. I will check it again either tomorrow or Monday. What could cause oil to leak from the header pipe, other than the bolts being loose ? Thanks for the foot powder test.