TOPIC:

Greetings, after sitting for the winter, my KZ1000 smokes like crazy when starting it up from sitting for so long. What is the usual cost to have a shop replace the valve stem seals? ( I have no clue) If I ride the bike weekly, it does not smoke, if THAT means anything. LoL. Thanks a bunch!

How much is your oil consumption and bike milage?

If you've got a good mechanic (or do it yourself), the seals can be replaced without removing the head in about an hour - the only caveat is how much room you have in the frame to use the valve keeper removal/insertion tool. You'll need to remove the cams of course.

On my Honda, I had to remove the motor from the frame as there wasn't room to use the tool.

REMOVE THE HEAD AND DO THE JOB RIGHT.

What's not 'right' about swapping valve seals without removing the head?

You need the right tools, skills and know how to do it. I had all the requirements.

Will swapping out the valve seal change the valve clearance?

Mikaw wrote: Will swapping out the valve seal change the valve clearance?

Just the seals? No.

This is a KZ1000. You cannot change the seals with the head in place. The valve head sits between the combustion chamber and the cylinder. How do you get the compression tool on the head of the valve without removing the head from the engine?

Steve is correct. You must remove the head to do the job correctly. And yes, you will change valve clearance when you remove the valve.

cb900f wrote: If you've got a good mechanic (or do it yourself), the seals can be replaced without removing the head in about an hour - the only caveat is how much room you have in the frame to use the valve keeper removal/insertion tool. You'll need to remove the cams of course.

On my Honda, I had to remove the motor from the frame as there wasn't room to use the tool.

This isn't a Honda. It's a '77 KZ1000. The only mechanic that could do it is God.

I ran mine until I could get in there and check the valve seats then make a list of what was to come. If you remove the head don't clean the pistons unless you are going to remove the barrels. The carbon will scratch the cylinder walls.
Steve

hardrockminer wrote: This is a KZ1000. You cannot change the seals with the head in place. The valve head sits between the combustion chamber and the cylinder. How do you get the compression tool on the head of the valve without removing the head from the engine?

Steve is correct. You must remove the head to do the job correctly. And yes, you will change valve clearance when you remove the valve.

The tool in Scirocco's post is a valve spring compressor that works without removing the cylinder head. Whether or not there is room to use it with the engine in the frame IDK. If the valves are returned to their original locations after removal, I don't believe the clearances will change. IMHO, Mike