1981 KZ550A2 Update

swest wrote: Inspect the overflow tubes. They can get a hair line crack. It happened on my 28's years ago. I just took the bowl from some 26's I had laying around. They have a seam and with expansion and contraction particularly where you are and climates like it, the seams can crack.
Steve

I'm 100% with swest on this one, if it's the needle and seat it would have showed up as a problem with your tube float level test.
The overflow tube inside the bowl can be cracked and that problem won't show up when doing the tube test.

Switch bowls on the leaking carb with one of the bowls that dosent leak, see if the leak follows the bowl.
The crack on mine was nearly impossible to see, I had to fill the bowl with water, hold my finger over the brass tube in the bowl and blow into the overflow tube while the float drain screw was open to produce bubbles, leading me to the crack.

Let us know!

I think Spidy had that problem a while back. He soldered it.
Steve

swest wrote: I think Spidy had that problem a while back. He soldered it.
Steve

That's how we fixed mine as well, a little solder did the trick.

Thank you for the advice. I had a vacuum gauge/hand held pump on the bowl outlet and capped the brass tubes. They are all holding vacuum - no cracks/leaks. Damn thing runs great, but I don't want to live with leaking gas

R

Who are you getting your parts from?
Steve

Z1 had the total assembly and washer for 10$ a piece. Kaw thru partzilla was 40$ a piece ouch!. I went with Z1. On the way.

R

Not bad. Pays to shop around.
Steve

Yeah, they are K&L equivalents to the kaw part. I like oem bet but not for $100+ more. I can't see those needle valves being any different, but the perhaps K&L machines the seats. I will have to measure against stock but they should be fine. R

They probably are. I do know aftermarket jets aren't the same. I'm going to my daughter's today and will stop by Chaparral and get Genuine Mikuni main jets.
Steve

Have fun it's been raining like hell here the last three days 2-3" bad for riding and trout fishing Damn!!! :evil:

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

The aftermarket needles/seats are slightly different. Definitely replace them together. Also the needle height will usually be different.

When you take the carbs off, before removing the needles and seats, measure the float heights. You want them to match when the new needles and seats are installed.

Here's how to measure, (and what the stock ones measured out for me). This is just a rough measure. the clear tube method will have to be done again to be precise. (Things like the spring tension in the needle pin alter the final level etc.) Obviously, if the new needle/seats end up with the needle sticking out more, the tongue height on the float will have to be different to compensate. Also, it wouldn't hurt to polish the tongue with some extra fine sandpaper (not removing the divot, just making it smoother).

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