Redline Cycle Service, Inc.
Inside the KZ engine
What goes into one of
our rebuilt engines for our KZ project bikes? We have created these pages
to give you a better idea of what's inside, and why we do it that way.
The engine in these pictures is now in a 1977 KZ1000A that we built as
a project bike for one of our customers. All
of the basic parts used for this engine project are kept in stock at Redline.
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We often describe our engines as having a "welded
crankshaft". In the pic at left, you can see the two spot welds on the
pin. KZ cranks, as well as many others, are assembled
from individual pins, rods, and cheek sections. After aligning, the pieces
are pressed together on these pins...the interference fit pressure alone
holds them in alignment. Under high stress, the sections can actually twist
on these pins, causing misalignment and imbalances. Welding the pins prevents
this. In addition to checking all aspects of the crank for wear, we also
run a flex hone through the small end of the rod...this cleans up any minor
galling, and promotes oil retention for the wristpin. The heavy
duty camchain at right is much stronger than stock, and will
also greatly extend the life of the guides and rollers that the timing
chain moves on.
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After the cases have been checked for problems, they are
glass bead blasted for appearance. This is a tedious process....they must
first be given a basic cleaning, then soaked in a tank of special solvent
for a few days. Once thoroughly dried, and all the thread holes blocked
off, they go into the blasting cabinet. Certain areas of the case most
be avoided....blasting can affect critical clearances. The "undercut 2nd
gears" that are in our KZ engines refer to these gears (they are the two
on the left of the shaft). On a 2nd gear shift, a fork moves the 5th gear
( second from the left on the shaft) into the 2nd gear (far left gear).
These engagement "dogs" then mesh. On a sloppy or missed
shift, they don't quite make it and the protruding dogs on 5th gear are
partially rounded off. Eventually, this rounding prevents 2nd gear from
engaging at all. The gears in the pic have had the dogs, and their respective
engagemant slots, cut at an angle to lock them in place as they slide together....
...For the next Kaw engine page Click
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