Which Timing Mark on my Advancer Unit

[IrishKev]

Hi All
I have a 72 Z1 900 and I am looking to set the camshaft timing. I don’t have the original advancer unit for it. I am using the following advancer unit (see attachment). Can anyone tell me what timing mark I should use when pistons are top dead centre.

Thanks Irishkev

[warren3200gt]

T=TDC
F=FIRE.
So the one beside the F mark. Looks pretty standard to a 650 one to me.

[z1bman]

1020 advancer is for a z11000 so to be sure you are on tdc on cylinders 1&4 you will need to put a screwdriver in no 4 cylinder to find tdc & make sure it corresponds with the timing mark on the advancer

[IrishKev]

Hi Warren,
Are you saying the T mark beside the F mark is the one to line it up to.

[IrishKev]

Hi z1bman
When you say with the timing mark on the advancer is that the T mark.

Thanks

[z1bman]

yes the tdc mark is the mark to the right of the T mark

[z1bman]

the valve timing should look like this when it is bang on notice the position of the cut outs in the end of the camshafts

[johny brando]

Hi All
I have a 72 Z1 900 and I am looking to set the camshaft timing. I don’t have the original advancer unit for it. I am using the following advancer unit (see attachment). Can anyone tell me what timing mark I should use when pistons are top dead centre.

Thanks Irishkev

Hi Kev, personally I'd recommend you "first" ( before doing anything else ! ) you buy & read & understand an OEM or Clymer Workshop manual for 1972-76 900 Kawasakis and initially focus on the Valve Timing section within .
There were during production runs various Advance & Retard mechanisms changes & related timing marking changes made too ( none affecting the 'approximate stamped TDC marking ' which is fine to use in your cases.....but to have a true & accurate TDC mark you need a Piston Stopper- Degree Disc & Dial Gauge ) however......... before you maybe venture into an area your not 100% offay with ....it would be extremely wise to fully understand the repercussion of getting your valve timing wrong by getting it just 1 or 2 teeth out ! = normally a very expensive mistake which can be easy to make & will cause you a Mountain of trouble to boot !!!!!! Tread very carefully mate & fully understand all thats involved first .
All the best Johny Brando.

[IrishKev]

Hi Johny
Thanks for taking an interest in my situation, I will most certainly tread carefully and take on board your advise as i know the margins of errors are tight. I have the cylmer manual and I will make sure i have covered all aspects.

Thanks Irishkev

[KWACKERZ1]

Plus like stated below make sure your advancer is a 1020 one the numbers are stamped into them.

The wrong advancer will cause the bike damage when running even though it may time up ok when static.

[Gus]

Does anybody know what number (1020 etc.) advancers should be fitted to which models across the range say Z1 to J GPZ R etc. as I have a few different numbers and don't want to fit the wrong ones.

Cheers

Gus

[Philippe]

Hi Irishkev and Gus
the visible markings on the ignition advancers are:
005 for the Z1, Z1A,Z1B,Z900A4/A5,Z1000A1
1003 for the Z1000A2/D1
1006 for thz Z1000ST/MK2
1020 for the GPZ1100B1,B2, Z1000J

If you have a timing advancer without a number it could be from an early Z1 ('72,73)
There are other advance mechanism with other numbers on them but those are for other bikes( Z400, Z650...)
You can mount numbers 005 and 1003 on any Z900/Z1000 , the only difference will be the moment when the ignition is advanced at a certain engine revs (different spring tension of the advancer mechanism).
The 1006 has a different cam due to the electronic ignition pick-up coils
The 1020 has yet another cam due to a different ignition pick-up coil
If you have a 1020 advancer unit ( electronic ignition) with an old cam lobe ( point ignition) mounted on it I don't know what that does to the ignition moment.
Take care when you reassemble an advancer unit to mount it in the correct way, there's a reference point on the plate and on the cam lobe! It looks the same but your ignition moment isn't correct anymore.
Good luck with it
GrtZ
Philippe

[Gus]

Hi Irishkev and Gus


GrtZ
Philippe

Thanks Philippe.

That's gone straight into a word document.

Much appreciated

Gus