Front Sprocket Crisis

I'm brand new to this forum, and to motorcycles in general. I'm in the Air Force stationed at Edwards AFB in southern California. My roommate recently told me he'd give me his 1982 Kawasaki 440 LTD Belt Drive. We've been working on it for the last two months it runs like a champ. However the front sprocket is shelled out on the inside. This part 13144-1065 was discontinued in 2002. I've spent the last two weeks calling, e-mailing, and googleing everywhere I can think of to find this impossible to find part. I've also looked to see if there were any suitable subs. I've never road a motorcycle before, and can not wait to start learning. If anyone out there has any information on this part, a suitable sub, where I can find it. . .or anything at all that would be helpful please feel free to contact me ANYTIME 661-992-5274. I'm moving in 5 days and really want to get this thing on the road and at least get down some of the basics. Thanks! I hope this is posted in the right place I'm pretty new to forums!
XhppyCamperX@yahoo.com
Hamby

welcome to z-jungle;)

Do a search for motorcycle salvage yards, and see if they can come up with anything for you. I know there's a big one up here in The Sacramento Area.

Oh how rude of me Welcome to KZrider.

Post edited by: CoreyClough, at: 2006/11/16 22:29

Check out www.kz400.com , it's the ultimate KZ400/KZ440 website.

Because you have a belt drive finding a replacement pulley is going to be a bit difficult as you have already found out. The good news is you can replace what you currently have with a standard drive chain and conventional sprockets from a 440 LTD. Parts Unlimited should be able to supply you with the sprockets and locating a drive chain should prove to be easy. If at some point in the future you do find the pulley you can always go back to the belt setup since there are no modifications required, it is a direct swap.

This is a long shot but you might also check with these guys for a NOS pulley www.johnnysvintagemotorcycle.com/
he has tons of old vintage Kaw parts squirreled away and there is an outside chance he might have a pulley. If you decide to go the chain drive route I have a good rear sprocket off a 400 LTD with 3600 miles on it if you need it let me know.

Welcome Hamby! I bought a 1980 440 last year, had the exact same problem. The PO had let the pulley wobble around for a long time and it had almost no teeth left to mate with the shaft. I poked around eBay, finally found one from a guy in Canada, took a few weeks and about 40 or 50 bucks to get it. Last summer the replacement got loose again, so I rammed it on really tight with an impact wrench. The little tabs on the fold-over lock washer didn't seem to hold it. Anyway, I have traded that bike so now it is someone else's problem...

Gringo's idea of swapping to a chain drive might be a good alternative if you can't find the pulley you need. Good luck!

There is a NOS 28T listed on ebay. Check buykawasaki.com. I think it has a couple of more teeth than the 1065. Not Mine.

If I remember correctly, your front pulley is 24 tooth? I don't think a 28 tooth would fit, plus it would throw off your gearing too... I've got a 21 tooth pulley you can have, I can guarantee that it won't work on your bike, I tried.

Terminology question- it is "Sprokets" for chains, and "Pulleys" for belt drive?