Do I have to remove drive shaft to grease left bearing? (shaft model)

Dealing with the aftermath of what happens when the swing arm bearings aren't greased. on my 82 GPz750.Those nice heavy duty roller bearing can be turned into so much rust.Got to replace the sleeve,bearings and the pivot bolt because it was so stuck it had to be pounded out.Unlike your KZ1000 most of those parts are NLA from Kawi :S Swing arm and shocks have they're own fiche on the ones I've looked at.Yes I'm going to ad a grease nipple to the swing arm.

If I remember right,back in the day,Kawasaki swingarms had a reputation for drying out bearings.So much so that people would drill a hole under the pivot area and thread in a grease nipple.
Maybe an urban legend but twas one of those things,like Yamahas were known for seizing brake calipers and Suzukis for bad electrics and Hondas for dodgy camchain tensioners.

Now that the swing arm is mounted properly it means I can move onto the rear rim. First order of business is sorting out the smaller diameter axle vs the larger axle diameter of CB1300. Easiest and safest way to get over this issue is to fit try and find bearings with the same outside dimensions but an internal that fits the ZZR axle diameter. Off to Saeco bearings tomorrow to see what I can find...............Will keep you posted.

True.
Steve

RonKZ650 wrote: They used two heavy duty, good quality roller bearings. Like all the KZ1000E parts, basically the best of the best quality and heavy duty, made to last. I wouldn't worry about the bearings unless you're up in the 200,000 mile area. Age doesn't matter to a bearing.

It matters if theyve never been greased! :laugh:

Greas them.
Steve

They used two heavy duty, good quality roller bearings. Like all the KZ1000E parts, basically the best of the best quality and heavy duty, made to last. I wouldn't worry about the bearings unless you're up in the 200,000 mile area. Age doesn't matter to a bearing.

I tried to find a part diagram for 80 KZ1000E.
Is it in frame? Which diagram?
36 years old bike, is it time to replace?

I'm putting it off till tomorrow. A couple things to do on the bike now I have some time. Seems my sprockets and chain don't want to play together well. Hopefully Jeff can finish welding my new swing arm this weekend. Gotta get a new chain and sprocket set once it's done and set up. Bought two 16mm drill bits and have a plan on the bushings. Ordered a swing arm bolt too. Once done I can cut the ZX swing arm pivot bolt, have Jeff put it on his lathe and drill to accept my new bolt. Just have to last till then,
It's going to be in the 80's here the next few days but rain is on the horizon. We need it plus I have some inside work to do.
Steve