Looking for some clarification. Last night I removed the rear wheel to change brakes/wheel bearings, and I figure since I am halfway there, might as well do the swingarm too. (famous last words )

References on the Kawi site and on Z1 site show a ’78 650C2 as using bushings. One of my manuals mention that from ’78 on, needle bearings were used. I have not dropped it yet, and will tonight, just trying to find out what parts to order? The sooner they are ordered, the faster I will be riding!

Thanks.

hey wg hope those parts made it back to you ok
and i planned on grafting them to my xs11
they would look strange on a 900 with extended swingarm no rear pegs and a monoshock

If you want a good stock one I have one left over from my conversion, PM me if interested. As to a wider rear tire, you would probly want a newer rim as well as a wider swingarm, the gs1000 arm is a popular swap for a kz, but are a bit hard to find.
Scott

Post edited by: 77KZ650, at: 2006/04/18 22:57

Hey, thought you folks could help me out a bit?

I am putting the chopper motor together this week- it is a bone stock KZ1000 LTD motor. I want to eck out the most HP I can out of it, without ordering much parts! I may buy a welded crank from someone- but outside that and cams- I don't want to buy to much other stuff (gasket set of course, that kind of stuff, of course)

So, considering the build up using stock pistons and Compression ration- what cams should I use?

Anyone think I should port the heads some? If so, where does the work need to be done most, and does anyone have pics of this work?

I may even undercut the teeth, not sure of that yet, got to get the (kz) Jedi master's help first (local dude)

Also- I have two different killer exhaust systems- so exhaust is handled.

Here is a pic of the bike that it is going in:

it has:

ZX6 front forks

GSXF "Katana" rims

GS 1100 E swing arm and shocks- suzuki caliper in rear, Kawi calipers up front. Vulcan tank, will have cut down seat.

This thing will be bad azt dudes!

Post edited by: CruisingRam, at: 2006/04/18 03:36

That's a pretty common swingarm twist. You really should take it completely off and level it on a flat work area.

I straighten them using a really good vice on a bench with really good clamps and a big ole 2x4. To check it, you need a really good level. You lay the swingarm flat so the swingarm-pivot-axis is level. Then adjust the arms until the wheel-axle is level. You pry one arm against the other.

I would not recommend trying to compensate by changing the preload on the shocks. they are not going to bend the swingarm straight. That will only stress out the swingarm bearings and will make the swingarm bind. The shorter side is already preloaded more than the long side.

If you straighten it while it's on the bike, you risk damage to the bearings. You don't want to put any twisting stress on the pivot bearings.

You may just want to wait until you are going to change the rear tire. Then you'll have it halfway disassembled anyway.

Post edited by: loudhvx, at: 2006/04/17 02:59

Hmmm...swinger bushings?
When was the last time You had a look at them?
Lift the rear of the bike,take a prybar and give the pivot area a tweak,and look CLOSELY for any movement.Check right where the swinger mounts to the frame,at each end(side).
Pulling the shocks off will help,but if the swingarm bushing/bearings ARE shot,You should be able to see movement with the shocks on.

Jornum1 wrote:

Ahh so I finally got a chance to work on the bike a little. I just got back from florida!

So I tacked this up. I dont like it, ha!
I do like it, but I have the mounting piece level with the bottom rails of the frame. I think it needs to be rotated up to match the angle of the shock. With it this way, the shock is too close to front of the swingarm. And it just doesnt look right. I think with it rotated, and braced it will look nice.

I plan to brace the rear of the mounting plate with 1" tubing extending from the sides, to the top. They will have a little bend, and be at about a 40 degree angle.
So what do you think?
Does the design look safe?
Oh and I determined the height finally by using the distance from the swingarm bolt, to the mount on the stock frame.

<br><br>Post edited by: Jornum1, at: 2006/04/15 12:37

Once it's gusseted and welded, it will be safe. :thumbup:

Remember, a good GMAW weld should be like 65K T.S., and I don't think that's too little for something like this. hahah

Post edited by: steell, at: 2006/11/01 19:32

Ahh so I finally got a chance to work on the bike a little. I just got back from florida!

So I tacked this up. I dont like it, ha!
I do like it, but I have the mounting piece level with the bottom rails of the frame. I think it needs to be rotated up to match the angle of the shock. With it this way, the shock is too close to front of the swingarm. And it just doesnt look right. I think with it rotated, and braced it will look nice.

I plan to brace the rear of the mounting plate with 1" tubing extending from the sides, to the top. They will have a little bend, and be at about a 40 degree angle.
So what do you think?
Does the design look safe?
Oh and I determined the height finally by using the distance from the swingarm bolt, to the mount on the stock frame.






Post edited by: Jornum1, at: 2006/04/15 12:37

Post edited by: steell, at: 2006/11/01 19:31

As long as you just nicked it and didn't actually go all the way through, you should be ok.
It's only a dust seal meant to keep the grease in there, and basically resembles a large washer coated with rubber. The '77 had the brass bushings, in '78 Kawi went with two 16MM long needle bearings (HK2216) on each side.

The nut on the swingarm pivot bolt is a lock nut. And like was said, using a long bar for leverage with some good old fashioned "elbow grease" or an impact gun should remove it.

Post edited by: RetroRiceRocketRider, at: 2006/04/14 23:58

I am hoping that I have not done too much damage, but I was installing a set of GSXR rearsets on my KZ650 and when I drilled the top mount, I clipped the Rubber seal on my swingarm.
Does anybody know whether this is going to be a problem??

I am going to pull the swingarm off tomorrow so that I can inspect the damage as well as finish installing the rearsets. It is a 1978, so I believe that it has the brass bushings.

Also, any tips on getting the &^%$ nut off of the swingarm?? It appears to have some sort of collar or lock set in the nut. Am I seeing things? Does it just need a good dose of elbow grease.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.