There's a log. There's a log in the hole in the bottom of the sea.

There's an xs650 on the log....

Actually the hole is in the XS650 piston crown. It's right under the intake valve. It's on the left side. This is the side with the petcock. It's a vacuum petcock. It's the bike I sold to Ed(not our Ed) and said, "Ed, you need to replace the swing arm bushings, change the filter and oil, and fix the petcock".A nice low miles 82 XS650 special for $500.

Did he do it? NO! that's why there's a hole.
Am I pissed?
Not after thinking about it for a bit.
He's learned to pay attention to his bike.
We're all new at something almost every day.
Or pretty darn dull.

Got him building a workbench. Helping him get the engine out of the frame Saturday. His next task is to get the top end apart, measure the bore, make a list of what he needs, add the parts to do the other work he should have done, And I'll help him get it back together when the parts come in.

Oh, I also told him to memorize the manual so we won't have to look things up

Yep, having a look to make sure no piston bits floating around. There is that evidence, white freckles all over the piston crown, that I seem to recall reading somewhere is caused by detonation.

Detonation + hot reducing flame = hole

Never seen one in person before.
Don't want to again.

How did I diagnose?
1)No compression
2)Looked in through plug hle with flashlight.
3)Stuck a stick in and sho nff, that thing looked like a hole for a reason.

Ed said, 'lost power, puffs of white smoke, found oil low, found oil running out left pipe.'

-Duck

I thought that I saw this here previously but can't seem to find it by searching.

I have a nice GS1000 (78 I think) spoked front wheel that I would like to mount on my 76 KZ900 forks. I know there are no alternate size bearings to make this conversion happen so it comes down to new axle & adapter spacers. Can anyone provide demensions or a sketch of required parts for this?

Appreciate any help I can get with this, I've already got the back done with GS1100 Swingarm, wheel & disc setup.

Thanks,

The swingarm swap looks to be pretty straight forward, just a matter of shimming the pivot tube width.

The front end is a KZ900, It's interesting you mention the front wheel fit-up because I am in the process of trying to figure that out right now! Maybe someone else here has done this?? Looks like it needs a longer axle and some adapter spacers.

I do have a beat up V&H sidewinder for the bike, & have a master from a KZ which I need to weld tabs on for. Looks like others have relocated the pegs to acacommodate the header.

I'm sure I'll be looking for more help here!

Welcome onboard! Nice and clear picture of your bike.

Sounds like you have some work ahead converting the rear to a disk, hopefully the swingarm swap will be easy.

Is the lowered front end from a GS as well? If not, is the GS front wheel assembly going to fit onto a KZ front end? Seems like lowering the bike 2" front and back will make it pretty low - hope you're not too quick in the turns, and make sure you have an exhaust with good clearance, maybe a side winder.

Hello all,

Great site! I have learned a lot from browsing over the last few weeks & just joined up.

Attached is photo of my 76 KZ900 in the final stages of deconstruction. I have already assembled rear suspension with swingarm and alloy disc brake spoked rear rim from a GS1100. In the background is my front setup, an Akront alloy spoke from gs1000.

I have another set of forks lowered 2" & plan on finding some 2" shorter springs for the back.

You wrote:

"1-4 are connected by a T connection that goes to the front of the engine. 2-3 are connected by a T that goes to the vac connection of the petcock. i think mine is internal venting."

I think the fittings you are referring to are VACUUM ports. These things must be plugged or connected to something. On later Kaw models, the hook up you describe is fairly typical. Normally, 1&4 are connected to a tee and the tee connects to the smog valve. Normally #2 is connected to the vacuum line going to your petock and #3 is plugged.

The venting on your bike is via holes in the sides of the carb bodies. The holes have a tee fitting and there should be a hose connected to your tee. The reason for the hose is so that if the bike overturns, gas won't spill out on the hot engine. NOTE that the vents MUST be unobstructed. The lines must not be pinched. These vents can vent into an airbox or hang over the swingarm but essentially, must be free to breathe or the float system will act funny... no gas or flooding... I will attach a pic showing vents and the vacuum lines.

Also, keep in mind, that even on prime, if the tank gas cap venting is obstucted, gas won't flow out of the tank. If the venting in the cap is partially obstructed, gas flow will be inadequate to keep the bike running but a trickle of gas might come out. The bobowls are just not filling.

Last, to check the fuel level, put the bike on centerstand but note that the front will be down some. Pick up the front tire and put a piece of wood under it to level the bike.

I have only ridden short distances with them and didn't care for it too much. I have to admit though that I am reconsidering going with the struts because of how much cheaper a solid mount extended swingarm is than one with bearings. It would probably be OK for short distances. I am curious to hear the opinions of some of the other members on this one. There are a lot of riders here that use struts and don't seem to mind them.

I recently finished my 1978 kz1000 streetfighter, it's got a complete front end: forks, triple trees, brakes & wheel from a 1999 zrx1100 ($500~600 on eBay) and a complete rear end: swingarm, shocks, brake & wheel from a 2002 zrx1200 ($600~700 on eBay). I guess I'll start with the front end. First get some good taper bearings and then press out the steering stem from the zrx triple, it presses out from the top by the way and then press out the stem from the kz1000 but grind down the weld first and press out from the bottom. Next press the kz1000 stem into the zrx bottom tree and then press on the rubber seal and bearing race onto the kz stem. And finish it off by drill & taping a 1/8in button head allen bolt through the bottom of the tree and make sure it goes through the stem pressed into the tree. Now for the top tree I milled off all of the "extra stock zrx stuff" and bored out the hole for the larger kz stem and then it bolt up just like the old kz trees. Next I made 2 mounts for insturment cluster on the lathe and welded them on to the top tree and poof just like that front end done!

OK! the rear end is much simpler, the zrx1200 swingarm pretty much bolts on after you cut off the stock kz1000 brake pedal mount and you will also have to lathe a inner sleeve to make up for the fact that the kz1000 swingarm axle is smaller than the zrx1200 swingarm axle. Now! for all you guys that think you have to use a "offset" sprocket to run a 180 sportbike tire you can just put that $150.00 back in your wallet I'm using a stock 16t sprocket from a kz650 which runs a 530 chain and it cost $15.00. I have had ZERO problems w/tire clearence or sprocket wear cuz the zrx swingarm is longer than a stock kz1000 swingarm. And last just make sure that you get the shocks as close to vertical as possible for the best suspension preformance. I just made some spacers for the top shock mounts to kick the top of the shock out closer to vertical.

Well, I guess thats it and please keep in mind that this is the way that I made the mods to my bike and I'm in no way suggesting that this is the best way or only way to make these mods it's just the way that worked best for me. And also I had full access to a lathe and mill and my best friend is an awesome welder which = free welding. Thanks for checking out my forum.



Post edited by: azjax, at: 2005/11/13 01:01

Many thanks for all the responses. I've gone ahead and ordered a new one from Parts and More. Many thanks to the people who offered their parts!

I went ahead and ordered some new swing-arm bearings as well!

Here's a really dumb follow up questions to this thread. Are you all talkings about a hose that runs from my carborator, through my frame, and comes out below my swing arm? 79 KZ650SR. I am a total newbie, and I put my bike up on the center stand for the first time yesterday, got under to have a look and saw what looked like a severed hose...and, well, kinda freaked out.

Ideas?