1977 Z1000 A1 Carbs - Carb info

[zedrob]

Hi everybody,

Was hoping that one of you guys could help me out with some info. I just bought my Z1000-A1 a few weeks ago and have been having some carb problems.
I bought a Haynes manual which was a complete waste of money, It doesn't seem to cover the Z1000-A1 carbs !!!

I'm trying to get a hold of a proper factory manual but I'm
not having much joy at the moment. I'm a bit weary about buying a Clymer manual in case thats as bad as the Haynes.

If someone has a manual could you please let me know what it says about adjusting the idle mixture (screws located
under float bowls), do they state a base setting from
which to start etc, is it then just a case of adjusting the screws until smoothest tickover is obtained.

With the carbs off is the correct float height 24mm ?

If anyone could advise me on the above or even better if you could email me the whole procedure.

Thanks in advance,

Robert....

[Mark O C]

Just done one of these, screws should be 1 1/4 turns out, I think, I'll check in the morning, from being lightly seated I think the float heights are 27mm although that could be wrong as your supposed to measure the fuel height not the float height. Float heights are made with the bowls off and upside down.

[chrisNI]

As Mark says 1 1/4 out to start - you're supposed to balance the carbs on the guages to be equal vacuum, adjust your tickover with the big screw, then turn the screws on each carb 'til you get the highest possible tickover that way, amd adjust it to be at the right level with the big central one again. You may need to do this a few times and if the carbs are clogged up much you may see very little difference between right out and right in on some of them but if you end up with it purring nicely you know it'll do.

[bunnysZ]

i would check if you have 26mm carbs as well and the right size jets on it ..main jet 107.5.... pilot jet 17.5...
(and are all clear). standard for the 77 z1000.
according to my manual float level should be 25mm.

[zedrob]

Thanks for the input guys, it's appreciated.

When I got the bike it hadn't been used for a couple of years. So it had all the usual issues with a bike thats been laid up.

Initially it was a struggle to get it started, once started
it wouldn't idle properly, apart from that it ran Ok.
By Ok I mean no serious engine issues.

The bike has a Harris 4 into 1 and K&N pods.
The carbs are the 26mm with the fuel mixture screw on the
underside (Standard for a 77 A1 I think) The main jet is 124 and the pilot is the standard 17.5

I drained and flushed the tank and cleaned the petcock.
Stripped and cleaned the carbs, they weren't that bad.

The big problem turned out to be the inlet rubbers, they
were perished. They didn't look that bad but when I give
then a squirt with brake cleaner the idle picked up and
smoothed out.

I replaced the rubbers during the week and the bike now
idles pretty good, someone somewhere along the line has
been playing around with the mixture settings. Have given
them some initial adjustment to get the bike running.
I will go back and do a little fine tuning !!!

The points gap and timing was all over the place, the static timing appeared to be on TDC !!!

Have managed to get hold of a Carbtune, the sync is a little out so I will take care of that this weekend.

Cheers,

Robert....

[Mark O C]

All thou's had 28s on them. and if you got pods and a harris you'll need bigger jets, about 117.5 or 120.

[chrisNI]

Also with KandNs I've found it can be well nigh impossible to iron out a flat spot below 2000rpm when it really comes onto the needles without pilot jet air corrector screws which if you don't have a set no longer exist and which there's no equivalent for short of fitting bigger pilots too. But don't let that put you off, just if you find that it's a bit flat low down that's probably the cause.Shouldn't affect you getting it ticking over properly though.

[zedrob]

Cheers for that Chris,

I'm definetly going in the right direction now, did a little more adjusting with the mixture setting yesterday, I took on board all the advice and started from 1 1/4 turns out, I ended up with approx 1 1/2 turns out for smoothest idle.

I also checked and balanced the carbs, not much adjusting
needed, #1 was slightly down on the others.

Bike now starting and idling well, out on the road I didn't notice any flatspots.
I think I'm happy with it for the time being, will enjoy whats left of the season before
they start chucking salt on the roads :)

I plan to do some stuff on it over the winter, the last
owner did an engine rebuild and powder coated the head,
barrels and crankcases. For some strange reason he then
lacquered over the powder coating !!! This has went yellow
with the heat from the barrels and head. It's the only thing thats letting an otherwise stunning bike down.

I'm going to take the head and barrels off and get them
stripped and refinished. After that the only other thing
I'm planning to do is upgrade the ignition system, better
coils, HT leads and maybe electronic ignition ?

Cheers,

Robert....

[Rich]

26mm carbs are std for the A1.

[bunnysZ]

I AGREE RICH ... 26MM ON A1/A2 AND KZ models...D1 IS 28MM

[Mark O C]

my appollogies I stand corrected.

[GuyHughes]

Does anyone know what the vacuum gauge settings are for a Z1000 A1 1977 with vm26ss carbs are as a standard build, i.e. Standard pipes, needle jets, air filters, etc.

[kev edwards]

It does not matter what the settings are as long as they are all the same when running.

[GuyHughes]

Has anyone come across the issue where you balance the carbs, go to lock the lock nut and it tightens against the shoulder of the slotted screw and not the linkage leaving the slotted screw with the ability to turn back and forth? I have this on one carb only, I have swapped the slotted screw from one to another and the same issues happens on the same carb. so it is definitely carb / carb linkage related for this 1 carburetor. I have ordered myself some more linkages to replace the one I appear to have issues with but thought I'd ask out loud here to see if its been addressed elsewhere?

[warren3200gt]

Screw the idle in until it will lock the balance them all again.