Cold Blooded 1980 KZ1000 Shaft

Howdy, just acquired a beauty of a KZ for cheap. Only real problem with it at the moment is it is really cold blooded. Takes about 10-15 minutes before it runs well, then it runs and idles fine at about 1200 rpm. Any ideas where to start with diagnosing the cold blooded-ness?

Thanks

some of these bikes are like that, my 1000 fires right up on cold start, thanks to WG carbs, and it does take it few min for it to warm up fully, all the kzs Ihave been around have been a bit cold natured

THe same goes for my KZ1000 E.

After a few kms or so the rpm's at idle drop down to the idle mark on the tach.

Just takes a while to warm up that hughe engine block.

My 550 is the same way. It takes a good 5 minutes (if it's cold) to warm up enough to open the choke up without the motor dying.

I thought there was something wrong that caused this, but the carbs have been synched and thoroughly douched. Also, when I first got the bike I had set the idle RPM's when it wasn't fully warm, and ten minutes after riding I stopped at a light and the idle was around 3000. I then turned the idle back down to around 1300. It seems to like it there.

I just accept it now and make sure the bike has enough time to warm up.

It fires right up with full choke, but then pisses and moans, spits and coughs for at least 10 minutes. I don't like it.

are you reducing the choke amount during the warm up,, mine fires on full and then it goes to half for the warm up

Yep, reduce to about half, and when I ride off I turn it off completely. Hesitates and coughs for a bit then runs normally.

Both my KZ650 and KZ1000ST are cold blooded. I only have a short journey to work so I don't warm up either bike. Just start on full choke, then back off until idle is about 1500rpm with clean response when blipping the throttle, then ride straight off. A bit of throttle juggling is required to keep it alive at junctions. After about a mile (longer in winter) I turn the choke right off and it rides OK. My next stop is about 2 miles down the road and then it idles OK.

What octane gasoline are you using? 87 octane should run o.k. in this engine and any higher is a waste of money.

Go to the local auto parts store or wally world and get a can of "seafoam" it's a gasoline additive that really works to clean fuel systems. The website www.seafoam.com describes what it does.

Sorry, that website should read www.seafoamsales.com not the hotel/resort website.

brad21 wrote:

Howdy, just acquired a beauty of a KZ for cheap. Only real problem with it at the moment is it is really cold blooded. Takes about 10-15 minutes before it runs well, then it runs and idles fine at about 1200 rpm. Any ideas where to start with diagnosing the cold blooded-ness?

Thanks

Perhaps the carb pilot circuits are set overly lean.

Could experiment by enriching the pilot circuit on each carb the same amount. May do this by turning each side located pilot air screw 1/8 turn clockwise, thus reducing air in the mixture. If this adjustment doesn't reduce the cold bloodedness, or otherwise impairs performance, just put the pilot air screws back where they were.

If things get all confused, the service manual should specify the beginning default positions of the pilot air screws, which is typically 1+3/8 turns out from lightly seated.

Good Luck!

All of my 4 cylinder Kawasaki bikes, going back to 1973, have been very cold blooded. Even when it is 100 degrees out I still need choke to them (3) running. It was an adventure getting them running when I lived in the artic tundra, UP of MI......:laugh: chris3