Newbie belt to chain conversion

I just picked up my first bike 81 kz440 already hardtail and I'm wanting to do a few things to get it going. First is with the already stretched frame I need to know what if any belt to chain conversions work? I know the 82 kz440 came with chains and sprockets so can I simply get one from there and bolt it in place? New is what are my spoke wheels options? And last I'd love to do a springer front is there any companies that make them for this bike or would I be better off getting a sportster neck and putting that in place of mine?

The chain conversion is pretty well known, there some guys on kz400.com forum that have done it, and perhaps one or two guys here on KZR. I know it is doable but I don't know what has to be swapped out in the process. I 'think" you just need to install the sprockets where the belt pulleys are and that it. Once you've got sprockets on the bike then you can figure out your chain length, you may or may not need an idler depending on how it looks.

You will need to find your own front end, no such thing as a springer conversion for these bikes....

That engine will not run for shit without an exhaust and some kind of air box/intake. Those CV carbs are picky enough with stock equipment.

Tyler wrote: .....
..........That engine will not run for shit without an exhaust and some kind of air box/intake......

If it runs at all! :laugh:

Rather than starting with the belt-chain conversion, springer front end, etc. if it was mine I would first get the engine /exhaust / air filter sorted. If you get the engine running well it will provide incentive to do other things. If it doesn't run the other stuff doesn't really matter. Ed

Not practical.
Steve

Yes to all comments above. The chain conversion is simply a matter of installing sprockets.
The Springer front end may be a little more complicated. If you find one yo like, you can probably swap out the stem on the the Srpinger for the stock stem. It will really depend on how the Springer is set up.

650ed wrote:

Tyler wrote: .....
..........That engine will not run for shit without an exhaust and some kind of air box/intake......

If it runs at all! :laugh:

Rather than starting with the belt-chain conversion, springer front end, etc. if it was mine I would first get the engine /exhaust / air filter sorted. If you get the engine running well it will provide incentive to do other things. If it doesn't run the other stuff doesn't really matter. Ed

The jetting for the KZ440 CV36 carbs has already been figured out. Check out...

www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=39120.0 B)


.

Nebr_Rex wrote:

650ed wrote:

Tyler wrote: .....
..........That engine will not run for shit without an exhaust and some kind of air box/intake......

If it runs at all! :laugh:

Rather than starting with the belt-chain conversion, springer front end, etc. if it was mine I would first get the engine /exhaust / air filter sorted. If you get the engine running well it will provide incentive to do other things. If it doesn't run the other stuff doesn't really matter. Ed

The jetting for the KZ440 CV36 carbs has already been figured out. Check out...

www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=39120.0 B)


.

Bottom of page 12.


.

I looked at page 12, but I must have missed something (not unusual for me, I know).

Is there a tuning solution for running exhaust pipes cut off so short (see image below) and no air filtration? I would have expected that to be a particularly difficult combination since stock engines normally require some backpressure to perform well and also benefit from the scavenging effect derived from a connection between left and right exhaust pipes. Even my factory prepped BSA Cyclone engine had more pipe than his, so I would have expected his stock engine to run very poorly, but maybe there's a solution that overcomes the issues above. Ed

Yeah, for a tractor. :lol:
Steve

I found it, Nebr did a good job....

For those of you with a KZ440 having trouble jetting the stock carbs for pods. I may have a solution
for the problem. I just finished a little testing using a Dyno Jet kit for a KZ750/4. The differences
between the two are the main body casting and throttle butterfly. The 750 used a 34mm and the
440 used a 36mm. everything else interchanges. The slides on the 440 has 4 holes, 750 has 2.
Engine has the 750 pistons, reground cam, no filters and a freer flowing 2-2 exhaust. I used the
kits largest jets and lowered the jet needle one e-clip position from the directions. Stock 4 hole
slides with the holes drilled out were used first. Currently have 750 2 hole slides that have not been
drilled. It's just a little lean off idle with lowering the needle back down should be cleared up. I'll
be switching back to the stock cam and start reinstalling the fuel injection. While installing the
electronics the carbs will still be used and further tuning will be done.

It may need some exhaust, and at the very least pod filters to run. One of the biggest problems with the 440's is that there is no replacement air filter available from anybody... anywhere.... pods are probably the only option for many people. The air filter housing is actually a tuned intake... So its not a trivial thing to replicate.

Here is another thread where a clever individual figured out how to "tune" pods to mimic the.stock airbox...

www.bangshift.com/forum/forum/bangshift/...-filter-cleaner-cure

650ed wrote: I looked at page 12, but I must have missed something (not unusual for me, I know).

You can lead a horse to water......

Nebr_Rex wrote:

650ed wrote: I looked at page 12, but I must have missed something (not unusual for me, I know).

You can lead a horse to water......

I agree. So, is there a tuning solution on Page 12 of your link that will work for the exhaust and carb intake setup pictured in the image below? Thanks, Ed