What carbs do I have? Need info & help '83 KZ550

I acquired a complete & running '83 KZ550 JKAKZFM1XDA002076

I decided to start tearing into it..lowered suspension, smaller seat, drag bars, smaller turnsignals, removed airbox, new spark plug wires & boots, etc.

I pulled the carbs off, cleaned bowls out, sprayed out all passages, etc. Set float level to 27mm. Reassembled. Now I have 3 & 4 carbs with fuel running out of the bore at idle. Does not run very well...which it didnt before.

I'm in need of help & suggestions on these carbs. I dont even know what model carbs they are. What should I do with crankcase breather hoses since I eliminated airbox?

I've been an auto tech for 19 years but only now started to mess with bikes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks

Chad

Anybody???

remelad wrote: I acquired a complete & running '83 KZ550 JKAKZFM1XDA002076

I decided to start tearing into it..lowered suspension, smaller seat, drag bars, smaller turnsignals, removed airbox, new spark plug wires & boots, etc.

I pulled the carbs off, cleaned bowls out, sprayed out all passages, etc. Set float level to 27mm. Reassembled. Now I have 3 & 4 carbs with fuel running out of the bore at idle. Does not run very well...which it didnt before.

I'm in need of help & suggestions on these carbs. I dont even know what model carbs they are. What should I do with crankcase breather hoses since I eliminated airbox?

I've been an auto tech for 19 years but only now started to mess with bikes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks

Chad

Hello, Chad (remelad), and WELCOME to KZr!
We're glad you're here!

Removing airbox may adversely affect carb tuning ability, depending on what type carb.
CV or manual slide?
Better pic?

Measured float height isn't the critical dimension.
Fuel level IS the critical dimension. Measured via the "clear tube test."

fuel running out of the bore at idle-- indicates excessive fuel entering float bowls, for whatever reason,
Could result from float valve issue, or perhaps an issue with the float, or function of the float, or incorrect float tab adjustment whereby fuel level is set too high (perhaps from ill-advisedly relying on float height instead of fuel level).

Raw gasoline in the carb bores flows both ways, and may have entered the crankcase via intake ports and down past the pistons.
Would sniff-test crankcase oil and examine its physical quality.
If fuel-contaminated, would change both oil and filter, and repair the carbs before allowing anymore fuel into the carbs.

Good Fortune!

I did find that the one vacuum line to the carb that had excessive fuel was not on the whole way. Once I put that on, it definitely got better. Vacuum leak must cause more problems at the carb then I'm used to! lol

How are people removing airbox's and just running the little individual elements? What do they do with the crankcase vents?

I'll upload a pic of the carbs. I know the bike is an '83 KZ550M if that helps.

Thanks for the reply, I greatly appreciate it!

remelad wrote: I did find that the one vacuum line to the carb that had excessive fuel was not on the whole way. Once I put that on, it definitely got better. Vacuum leak must cause more problems at the carb then I'm used to! lol

How are people removing airbox's and just running the little individual elements? What do they do with the crankcase vents?

I'll upload a pic of the carbs. I know the bike is an '83 KZ550M if that helps.

Thanks for the reply, I greatly appreciate it!

Am thinking the loosely fitted vacuum hose wasn't causing the excessive fuel into the float bowl.

Pods prove difficult to tune throughout the entire carb range, and CV carbs are worse than manual slide carbs in this respect.
For exhaustive information, do a forum search on "pods."



May route crankcase vent hose to exit underneath the bike.



Good Fortune!

Helpful links:

home.comcast.net/~loudgpz/GPZweb/index.html#home

Shop manual:

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

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

remelad wrote: I did find that the one vacuum line to the carb that had excessive fuel was not on the whole way. Once I put that on, it definitely got better. Vacuum leak must cause more problems at the carb then I'm used to! lol

How are people removing airbox's and just running the little individual elements? What do they do with the crankcase vents?

I'll upload a pic of the carbs. I know the bike is an '83 KZ550M if that helps.

Thanks for the reply, I greatly appreciate it!

Those little individual elements are commonly called pods (also called pieces of crap by some). If you plug in the word "pods" in this site's search engine you will find 2 zillion postings on them. Some of those postings may even be helpful. I hope you didn't thow away the airbox. Ed

For more info, wiring diagrams, etc.,

Carb pics

those are cv carbs

Am thinking these are likely the stock CV carbs ("constant velocity" or "constant vacuum").

Welcome to pod hell. :lol: