TOPIC:

hi, just joined after the purchase of my 1979 kz1300...

i know very little about these bikes but im told the early ones like myn, came out with 4.5 litre sumps...
they later went to 6 litres which apparently solved the crank problem.

i have bought this bike and she starts and sounds good....only 13000 miles on the clock and
the bike looks pretty genuine and unmolested...i havent ridden it yet as i have to bleed the brakes.

the question is:

myn being an early model, is there a way of knowing if the crank case has been converted to a 6 litre at a later stage, as i believe there was a kawasaki recall for the early ones like myn....

any additional info, anyone would like to share with me about these bikes, will be much appreciated, as im still learning.


thanks in advance
met

Met,

Welcome aboard mate.

I posted a full section on this site recently relating to this topic. Just look under the different Engine sections & you should find it.

Basically, if your SUMP PLUG faces FORWARD then you have the shallow 4.5 sump.
If your SUMP PLUG faces DOWNWARDS then you have the later 6.3 sump.

Hope that helps

Pete F
UK

See Link Below

www.kz1300.com/index.php/forum/welcome-m...sump-oil-pan-details

Hi

The deep sump (6 litre) has the drain plug on the uderside whereas the smaller sump has the drain plug on the front of the sump - easily seen between the exhaust header pipes.

cheers

thanks for your prompt reply....i tried going into that page but i cant get in. i guess the next question is, if i do have the old 4.5 litre sump and i wont know this until i receive the bike, is it easily interchangable....that is, can i simply bolt on a 6 litre sump on it and will i need to do anything else? met

Met,

Its a very straight forward swap.

This is what you need.

1). Deep sump.
2). Depp sump Model Oil Pick Up Pipe. (25mm longer then shallow sump pick up).
3). Gasket (same for both sumps).

Pete F
UK

thanks pete....i finally got in that thread and saw your write up. its very interesting that k made a mistake like that...one would have thought this to be a simple engineering solution and pass on the appropriate sump for the relative engine.....mistakes do happen i suppose. i bought this thing only last week and im keen to get it home and start the process of restoring it. i will receive it from another state hopefully by the 11th....ive had bikes all my life but i know nothing about the 1300 so im learning....i wouldnt mind knowing if there is any other technical hitch about this bike or any issue i should look out for....cheers
met