MotorbikeBruno
Over 1,000 Posts
JustinLonghorn said:
So EFFING True.
78 kz400 cafe build
- Thread starter MILLENNIUM FALCON
- Start date
So EFFING True.
Thanks guys. I'm glad you like it. It has been fun to daydream the way I want something to look and then make it happen. The wiring is finished I will try to get some photos of my switch mounting and new (mini) horn. The next step is getting her running. I a concerned that the timing is of or the cam gear is 180 off because I cant get anything more than a backfire out of her. Tonight I will be trying to diagnose the problem. I followed the manual very closely upon reassembly and everything went well, but I may be pulling the rocker cover off. Any suggestions???
You learn something new everyday....kz's use a wasted spark ignition so it cant be 180 off. So need to continue my diagnostics.
MotorbikeBruno
Over 1,000 Posts
Of by a "tooth" aka a link on the timing chain maybe? I never opened up the engine on my KZ440 I used to have so I can't be of much help, but I was ONE frickin half-link off on my KZ650 and that made it hate me. Hope you find it soon though.
Re: 78 kz400 cafe build (Won't Start!!)
Well I had the timing chain and cam right. I took everything apart and found out I did it correctly. I was hoping to find somthing obvious. I put it all back together re-adjusted the valvesut fueled her up and still nothing. It back fires and pops. i got a small flame out the exhaust and carbs (not at the same time). I put new points on when I put the engine in so I thought they might be bad. I put the old points/condenser back on, and got the same results. I did check the compression and I had 147 on the left and 152 on the right. This is frustrating. any thoughts.
Well I had the timing chain and cam right. I took everything apart and found out I did it correctly. I was hoping to find somthing obvious. I put it all back together re-adjusted the valvesut fueled her up and still nothing. It back fires and pops. i got a small flame out the exhaust and carbs (not at the same time). I put new points on when I put the engine in so I thought they might be bad. I put the old points/condenser back on, and got the same results. I did check the compression and I had 147 on the left and 152 on the right. This is frustrating. any thoughts.
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reelinfeele
Been Around the Block
Points gap? Have someone there to advance and retard the timing while you kick it. Set the valves loose to make sure one is not hung up. Is the coil conected correctly, power and trigger not backwards? Battery good and fresh? Fuel??? I have done that, carbs were fresh but floats had stuck closed, kicked it for an hour. Crank goes backwards. Just throwing stuff out there.
reelinfeele
Been Around the Block
The notch on the camshaft should be straight up????????? At tdc.. Yours is different than mine but thats how mine should be. There not that much different.
I just going off of the service manual and it says the arrow in the cam gear goes straight ahead and the notch in the cam goes straight back. It has a picture and everything but you never know. What year is your bike? I checked the point gap. The kz400.com showed the cam going back in the way I did it. Thanks for the help.
reelinfeele said:
reelinfeele
Been Around the Block
I have a D model, last of. Yours is a B. Sorry any mis info. Im about to put mine together tomorrow, so my mind is already thinking.
Good luck.
Good luck.
I looked on kz400.com at the d model rebuild and the notch does go straight up. I'm surprised that they are that different. I hope to figure this problem out soon.
reelinfeele said:
FIXED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is alive!! I knew it would be something stupid. I had a feeling it was a timing issue. So just sat in the garage watching the valves go up and down with a flashlight in the spark plug hole. Then i noticed the points were opening at bdc. Duh... you cant put the timing andvance plate in wrong because the shaft is keyed, but you can put the tube that cams the points open on backwards. I had to take it apart to clean/grease it and I must have put it together backwards. Oh well. She started up on the first kick upon reassembly. It sounds great! I will be posting a video this afternoon. Thanks for all the Help.
I will post a better video when I get my other camera, but you get the idea. I also took a picture of my pitot tube cover.
http://youtu.be/gfqh3V8uAbo
Attachments
reelinfeele
Been Around the Block
Awesome!! Glad it was something simple. Sounds good. Almost got mine back together today. Should have measured the clutch springs earlier. Oh well, looks great man, good job. Now you gotta be dying to ride her. I want to know how those rear shocks work for you. Botm, next month.
Thanks guys. I am really excited to hit the road. Its about 98% done. I will let you know how the shocks work out. (Neeko)The exhaust is a 17" reverse megaphone from dime city. (Reelin) I'm honored that anyone would think my bike is a contender for BOTM.
Thanks man!
1976cb356 said:
