TOPIC:

I purchased a whole slew of KZ650 spare engines, body work and misc parts from a nice old fellow recently and today I took the time to really go through it all and then discovered this valve cover.

Not KZ650 that I do know but can anyone shed some light on what model its actually from?

Many thanks

77-78 KZ1000. Specific. Will work for Z1-73 through 78 KZ1000. Will also work on 79-80 smog heads with tubes blocked off.
 

+1 z1kzonly

What of the different between the 900 and 1000 cover?  I've never held the two next to each other to compare.

The Z1/Kz900 valve cover is thinner than the Kz1000 valve cover. Making it a lot lighter. The complete set of Z1/Kz900 engine covers are like 5 pounds lighter than the same set of  Kz1000 covers.

Kawasaki made the Kz1000 engine covers thicker to help meet the ever tightening EPA noise standards back then. Kawasaki superseded all the lighter Z1/Kz900 covers to the thicker and heavier Kz1000 covers. They are interchangeable. I always used the Z1/Kz900 covers and a 900 crank in my motors because it saved like 11 pounds over the same Kz1000 parts. 

Here’s how I know it.

73-75 Z1 have several ribs on the top, the domes on the end are smooth.
76-77 Kz have the same ribs but the dome ends have a half moon raised portion that matches the cam end plug
77-78 Kz1000 only have 4 top ribs total and have the half moon on the end dome.
79-80 kz1000 have the reed valves 

So mine is exclusively a Z1 cover or fits a few KZ 900 and KZ 1000 models as well?

wrote:

So mine is exclusively a Z1 cover or fits a few KZ 900 and KZ 1000 models as well?



Nope, your is a 1977-78 Kz1000

The one in the green box is a Z1
My KZ900 is still packed away but it’s the same as the Z1 but with Half moon raised portions on the end of the dome like on yours




 

wrote:

So mine is exclusively a Z1 cover or fits a few KZ 900 and KZ 1000 models as well?

All the kickstart 900/1000 motors cam covers are interchangeable, even the square cam cover MK2/ST.
You just have to watch which top idler design you use as some covers have slightly different internal webbing in that area which either needs the matching idler or some relief work with a burr etc.
 

Matt, I'm not 100% certain but if you have the half moon raised surface on your valve cover then I think you have the wrong one.  My understanding is that all Z1E engines had the smooth rounded ends.

hardrockminer post=846184Matt, I'm not 100% certain but if you have the half moon raised surface on your valve cover then I think you have the wrong one.  My understanding is that all Z1E engines had the smooth rounded ends.

Raised ends are later 1000 motors 

wrote:

hardrockminer post=846184Matt, I'm not 100% certain but if you have the half moon raised surface on your valve cover then I think you have the wrong one.  My understanding is that all Z1E engines had the smooth rounded ends.

Raised ends are later 1000 motors 

Im glad this subject came up... I’m not finding clear direction on what came on my 900 A4. Its a very visible item and something that everyone seems to pick out as right or wrong. The book I have dedicated to the KZ900 claims the correct cover is 4 ribs total and smooth ends. I can’t find that. Partzilla is wack on this as they claim the part number 11022-012-2h listed for my Kz900 is correct for Z1, Z1A, Z1A, A4 and A5 and Kz1000 through 1978.