TOPIC:

Hey I just bought a 1981 kz550 LTD and the steering bearing is very loose/wobbly. Where can I buy a spanner wrench to tighten it? What size spanner wrench do I need?

Also, clymer makes a manual for the kz550. will this manual be relevant to my 550 LTD? are they the same bikes with small appearance changes or are they totally different?

if the steering stem is real wobbly ........you will probably be better off replacing the bearings with tapered bearing kit.
if you decide to do that ....... all balls racing has them . upper, lower and 2 seals.

Part Number 22-1014

Availability: In stock.
$37.78

thanks man I'll do that if I find the bearings are bad I hope it just needs tightened though. but i'm not sure.

I'm assuming there is info on this site about doing this procedure?

but i still need the size of the spanner! haha

I don't know what wrench would be good for the steering stem locknut, but here's one from Z1Enterprises.com. The site also has the tapered steering bearings & other maintenance stuff for the bike. Z1Enerprises.com - Spanner Wrench - TU15-1698

As to tightening the locknut, if you don't have a suitable torque wrench, the Kawasaki factory service manual for the 81 KZ650 says to tighten the locknut tightly, until it just becomes hard to turn, and then continue for another 1/16 turn from that point (about 20^o travel). The 550 manual may say something similar.

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationAccording to Kawasaki.com the 1981 KZ550 LTD is the KZ550-C2 model (see clipping below), so the manual you need must include the KZ550-C2 model. If you look at eBay you will find a Genuine Kawasaki Service Manual for sale, they are better than Haynes or Clymers manuals. Here's an example below. Notice in the pictures in the eBay listing it shows the back cover of the manual, and that is where you can see if your KZ550-C2 is included (see bottom of this posting). Also notice on the back cover the part number of the manual at the bottom of the back cover. That is the part number of the manual you need. Ed

Do you have the bike's tools? My KZ650 has the wrench in the factory tools.

just bought a genuine service manual on ebay! it was the model number ending in "05". I noticed the service manual model #s ending in 03, 04, and 05 all include the C2 model on the back cover.

Now I still need a plain owner's manual. expensive for those little books haha. can i get an owner's manual for like one year off? or for the non-LTD models? or should I get one for the exact model year?

good price on that tool. that'll probably be the way i'll go. I noticed there are some adjustable/hinged spanners available (for much higher prices, though).

hey 650ed, where di you come accross that list of models and codes? I looked on the kawasaki site to try to find that list and could not seem to find it. thnak you though, it really helped. I wouldn't have known what kz550 model I had (c2) if you had not have pointed it out.

I do have the toolkit under the seat, but last time I looked, the spanner was not there. I'll double check, but I thought I didn't see it in there.

thanks you guys for the responses and information!

wakeboardr42393 wrote: . . . where di you come accross that list of models and codes? I looked on the kawasaki site to try to find that list and could not seem to find it. thnak you though, it really helped. I wouldn't have known what kz550 model I had (c2) if you had not have pointed it out.

Lots of good info on kawasaki.com, including parts diagrams, part names, part numbers, models sharing same part, availability, etc. Here's a link for help with navigating the site and finding information.

www.kzrider.com/forum/13-bike-related/37...imitstart=0&start=20

This link (included in the above thread) is about finding shared parts --
www.kzrider.com/forum/13-bike-related/37...rt=0&start=20#376751

Good Fortune!

I found the parts diagrams on kawasaki.com - neat-o! convenient!

I ordered a spanner from kawasaki. looks good. I found it in the "special tools" section of the parts diagrams.

and the service manual, is one of the better service manuals i've owned, for any vehicle. when paired with this site, I feel I can do anything on my "new" bike without fear haha.

Courtesy of KZr Member loudhvx

home.comcast.net/~loudgpz/GPZweb/index.html#home

home.comcast.net/~loudgpz/GPZweb/Mnls/Mnls.html

Good Fortune!