KZ1000CSR Mechanical Tacho Drive Question ?

[Foxfix]

Seasons Greetings !

I have a 1981 KZ1000CSR (M1) which has pretty much and identical motor to the KZ/Z1000 J Models but one of the differences is the CSR has a Mechanical Tacho Drive which is driven off the exhaust camshaft.

The bikes runs very very well and the motor is very strong (only 9k miles from new) but there is a "tick" from around the area of tacho drive. I have located this down using an engine stethoscope. Its not a shim or leaking exhaust port. With the engine running I can see the outer tacho cable where it attaches to the drive actually moving slightly.

I seem to remember reading this "tick" being noted on these models on a forum sometime ago but cannot find it now ?

Has anyone else had this or heard of it before ?

Thanks.

[zed1015]

The tacho drive shaft may be slightly bent causing the end to run off center and wiggle the cable.
This is caused by bolting the camshaft down without correctly aligning the worm gear .
It's not uncommon.

[Foxfix]

Thank you, that's very useful to consider.

Looking at the bike and its very low mileage and the condition of the bolt heads on the cam cover when I bought it, I am pretty sure the cams have never been out of the head before and even the cam cover gasket was original (very had and brittle) when I removed it so I don't think that had been off either.

You explanation for the tacho drive being bent is relative as well and would explain the movement on the cable too.

Another job to do over the holidays !

Thanks again

[gray]

I once saw this problem with my speedo - the needle seemed to surge up and down.
It was caused by rust in the flexible inner cable , making a section " inflexible".
Quick and easy to check, and easy to fix

[gray]

a top end tick can be caused by the cam being forced to move side to side, caused by one cam lobe being machined almost but not quite flat compared to the face of the bucket and shim below it that it bears down on . I'm told its harmless.