Looks like I need to do my RINGS. Anything else?

Aloha all..

Bike = 1976' KZ 900

Mobile motorcycle mechanic says my rings are bad and compression is low causing plugs to foul within 100 miles of riding on new plugs.. I think I'm going to have him change em..

I trust the users of this forum are way more insightful with regards to KZ's then this mechanic so I'm wondering.. Is there anything else you would definitely do when doing a ring job?

Stuff that's been done as of now : Carbs via (wiredG), Electronic ignition, new batt, main fuse box. Would you recommend changing the MAIN wiring harness?

Much love in advance for any insight : )

How's the wiring harness look? Not held together with electrician's wire nuts and black sticky tape?
If you're gonna go for new rings, have the valve stem seals replaced too. While the head is off, inspect the sparkplug threads for signs of cross threading. If they're bad, have a shop do some "Timeserts": www.timesert.com/

great advice. The wiring harness seems okbut a couple of the plastic ends have completely fallen off due to the plastic becoming too brittle..

Can the wiring harness be changed without taking the bike apart completely?

If you have enough miles on it to wear out the rings, you may as well rebuild the head while it is off.

APE Jay wrote: If you have enough miles on it to wear out the rings, you may as well rebuild the head while it is off.

The voice of experience...follow it. Really.

APE Jay wrote: If you have enough miles on it to wear out the rings, you may as well rebuild the head while it is off.

any KZ specialists you'd recommend online or should any proficient mechanic be able to do a good job?

the bikes got 26k but now that I think of it, I remember the previous owner stating that it had recently had a top end job done.. I guess rings aren't part of that

Many people make that assumption on the 96 900. I did also, until I found it to be the choke plungers not seating properly and fowling out my plugs. I repaired the problem inside the carburetors and the problem stopped. I doubt that your rings are worn out unless you don't change the oil regularly and you have 90,000mi on the engine. At 26K on the engine the rings are just broken in, not worn out.

New connectors should be available for the wiring harness, it's just a matter of knowing what they are, and who makes them.

Some sources:
www.easternbeaver.com
www.vintageconnections.com
www.z1enterprises.com/catalog.aspx?pid=KPEL1
www.electricalconnection.com/electrical-components/hitachi.htm
www.hvccycle.com/electrical-connectors.html
www.ironbutt.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1759&PN=1
www.ratwell.com/technical/Terminals.html
www.economycycle.com/servlet/the-Bullet-...lectrical/Categories
www.repairconnector.com/index.cfm/fa/cat...main/parentcat/22545

Non sticky harness/loom tape:
www.pcsconnectors.com/harness_tape.aspx
www.deadnutson.com/catalog/item/2965331/6122491.htm
www.tapebrothers.com
www.wiringharness.com
www.findtape.com/shop/product.aspx?id=32...&width=1436&height=0

And this: www.pbase.com/mainecruising/wire_termination
(The Good, Bad, & Ugly Wire Crimpers)

gosh, that would be terrible if it was carb related after waiting 6months in wired george's rebuild query..

There is some visible oil on the pistons when shining an LED in there..

could carb issues cause oily pistons?

Rings will NOT be warn out at 20-30k mikes. Not even close. Wired George is a subject that we do not bring up on here. It will always start a lot of unpleasant emotions among most members here. If you run some combustion chamber cleaner threw the top end of the engine it will clean out most of the crap on top of the pistons.