Z1OwnersClub GB

Doing a rebuild in the next couple of week and looking for the above.
Been comparing prices on ebay,power etc.
Any tips guys when buying the above.
I know i need quality items.
What gasket sets are good,same question for pistons.
Been told imd pistons are good,anybody else agree with this ?

thanks

Hi Noonster1962
IMHO the original Kawasaki pistons, piston rings and gaskets are the best but they cost a fortune!
As far as gaskets are concerned I choose Vesrah. Valve stem seals are available from kawasaki, buy these or go for a viton set.
I can't tell you very much about pistons. Is it really necessary to have a rebore? Did someone measured the cylinders? If those are within specs it might be enough to get them honed and to put new piston rings on your pistons.
New piston rings are available from Kawasaki but again: they cost a fortune.
I bought piston rings in Germany at Scheuerlein.de ; very good quality and not as expensive as OEM ones. They allso provide pistons but I can't tell you anything on the quality of them.
You see: plenty of choice, you'll have to make up your mind and take the decision.
Good luck with the rebuild!
GrtZ
Philippe

Taking the head off in a couple of weeks,so i don't know for sure. Just getting a idea of cost.
But what do know now is
When starting up from cold the bike smokes a lot,then disappears when warm
Compression tests so an even 70psi per cylinder

Your symptom sound like valve guides or just the seals

Make sure you do a compression test with a warm engine, fully charged battery and throttle wide open. Or better still do a leak down test. If you compression remains low drop some oli in the bores and retest. If the readings change you do have some ring/bore wear. If not, you probably need some head work.

Vesrah are OEM quality, but I would recommend using genuine or good quality VITON stem seals.

Make sure you buy the right set. 1973 Z1 was a 1 piece head gasket whereas the successor are two piece with a cam tunnel o ring.

IMD or IMPEX are good pistons

Thank you for that.
Don't know exactly until the head comes off then i can get them measured up at my local engine building company.

The compression test was conducted when the engine was hot,throttle wide open.
each cylinder read 70psi.

Know for a few years now one day i would need the stem seals doing,but this year its got a lot worse.i know i don't use the bike enough,but I've had it 10years,so its time to spend some money on her.

noonster1962 wrote:Thank you for that.
Don't know exactly until the head comes off then i can get them measured up at my local engine building company.

The compression test was conducted when the engine was hot,throttle wide open.
each cylinder read 70psi.

Know for a few years now one day i would need the stem seals doing,but this year its got a lot worse.i know i don't use the bike enough,but I've had it 10years,so its time to spend some money on her.

wow thats really low. Thats not just seals.................

Low but equal !
Would you expect to get such even wear across all 4 cylinders and/or valve stem seals at exactly the same time?

chrisu wrote:

noonster1962 wrote:Thank you for that.
Don't know exactly until the head comes off then i can get them measured up at my local engine building company.

The compression test was conducted when the engine was hot,throttle wide open.
each cylinder read 70psi.

Know for a few years now one day i would need the stem seals doing,but this year its got a lot worse.i know i don't use the bike enough,but I've had it 10years,so its time to spend some money on her.

wow thats really low. Thats not just seals.................

+1

Head off job in any case

Going back to my post above, maybe someone with more experience could come in?

Would you expect each cylinder to be showing exactly the same reading (i.e. 70psi across all four) if it were the result of parts wearing or failing?
Wouldn't you expect some variation between them, whether it was down to bore/ring wear or valve seals?

Might be worth checking with a different compression gauge first?

rickm wrote:Going back to my post above, maybe someone with more experience could come in?

Would you expect each cylinder to be showing exactly the same reading (i.e. 70psi across all four) if it were the result of parts wearing or failing?
Wouldn't you expect some variation between them, whether it was down to bore/ring wear or valve seals?

Might be worth checking with a different compression gauge first?

Certainly unusual to be so even but since it is burning oil at start up it is going to need furthet internal investigation anyway. I am thinking valve guides more than rings or bore wear at this stage but only a top off strip down will confirm what is really going on.

Took head off on Thurs night.
Took barrel to my local engine m/c shop to be measured .
His recommendations are,Barrels are ok
Hone the barrel
Fit new rings.
Wheres best place for a top end gasket set
Set of std piston rings please.

noonster1962 wrote:Took head off on Thurs night.
Took barrel to my local engine m/c shop to be measured .
His recommendations are,Barrels are ok
Hone the barrel
Fit new rings.
Wheres best place for a top end gasket set
Set of std piston rings please.

Did they check the valves, guides and seals in the head?

stems seals gone as well,but i have these.

just wanting a set of std rings/top end gasket set

noonster1962 wrote:stems seals gone as well,but i have these.

just wanting a set of std rings/top end gasket set

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