TOPIC:

Hello,

I am new to the board, my uncle recently gave me a 1980 KZ550 that somebody gave him with half the bike in a box. So, I got the carbs on and figured the wiring out and got it started with a small engine fire on sunday . But I noticed it has 2 vacuum ports pointing straight back out of the carbs, and one attached to the petcock. If somebody could tell me where these go or maybe has a vacuum diagram for this bike it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Nick

1980kz550 wrote: Hello,

I am new to the board, my uncle recently gave me a 1980 KZ550 that somebody gave him with half the bike in a box. So, I got the carbs on and figured the wiring out and got it started with a small engine fire on sunday . But I noticed it has 2 vacuum ports pointing straight back out of the carbs, and one attached to the petcock. If somebody could tell me where these go or maybe has a vacuum diagram for this bike it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Nick

Hello, Nick, and WELCOME to KZr!

Unused vacuum nipples should be capped (plugged).
In other words, no vacuum port should remain open to air.
One of the vacuum ports may be used to supply vacuum to a vacuum operated petcock.
Some carb designs have 4 vacuum ports.*
Other carb designs have a 5th vacuum port dedicated to the vacuum petcock.
Four vacuum ports are used simultaneously when synchronizing the carbs.

Not to be confused with vent nipples (usually two) that vent the float bowls and should exit via attached tubes to open air typically routed to exit underneath the seat or routed down around the swing arm to exit underneath the bike.

Here's an example of carbs with a 5th vacuum port.



Good Fortune!

Edit -- vacuum ports are on the carb holders (between carb and engine).

Here's a service manual, courtesy of loudhvx.

home.comcast.net/~loudgpz/KZ5mnl.pdf

There's lots of good info on kawasaki.com, including parts diagrams, part numbers, models sharing same part, availability, etc.

Here's a link for help with navigating the site and finding information.

kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&...w&catid=13&id=376734

The two small hoses are bowl vents. They route upward toward the top of the airbox and just lay there open (as Patton mentioned). The first page of the TK-22 webpage has the vac lines labeled. Click on the photo to enlarge it):

home.comcast.net/~loudgpz/GPZweb/TK22mainPage/TK22mainPage.html

Wow, you guys are quick and thorough. That about covers it, I should be able to have her runnin' this weekend now. The info is much appreciated!

Thanks,
Nick