Handed the KZ650 over today for the top end rebuild.

Backstory, my uncle's best friend, who recently retired and has vast amounts of experience rebuilding UJM's is taking the old head off my KZ650 and putting in a new head I had machined and rebuilt with viton seals, etc. He wouldnt take money for it, but Im going to give him $1000 as a surprise. Cant wait to get the bike back. Just in case, does anyone know where to get new cam chains if the ones in the bike are worn out? Bike has 21k miles.

I supplied him with OEM parts: Piston rings and OEM Top End gasket kit.


 

Nice!  Hope it turns out well for you.

One comment, that gasket kit was sold by Kawasaki, but it's not OEM.  It's an aftermarket kit sold by Kawasaki MANY years ago.  I bought a similar kit for my KZ750 and all the gaskets were dry rotted and cracked as soon as I touched them.  The head gasket may be okay, but at minimum, get a fresh base gasket, and all the various O-rings.  

Nessism wrote:

Nice!  Hope it turns out well for you.

One comment, that gasket kit was sold by Kawasaki, but it's not OEM.  It's an aftermarket kit sold by Kawasaki MANY years ago.  I bought a similar kit for my KZ750 and all the gaskets were dry rotted and cracked as soon as I touched them.  The head gasket may be okay, but at minimum, get a fresh base gasket, and all the various O-rings.  

 

Thanks, I opened it and checked them and the old timer checked them too. they are soft, supple and good

The last year Kawasaki sold that type of gasket kit was 1981.....

I would be very leery of that base gasket.

 

Thanks. As I mentioned in the post just before this, it has been checked by the old timer who knows his stuff. he says its fine.

You mentioned changing the cam chain.  You will have to split the cases if you want to do that.

hardrockminer wrote:

You mentioned changing the cam chain.  You will have to split the cases if you want to do that.
 

Old timer says the prob isnt necessary. That is, changing the chain.