Z1 chain adjusters

[DaveZ1]

Can anyone tell me when did Kawasaki switch from 8mm adjusters to 10mm?
My 73 Z1 has 10mm and I am told they should be 8mm for a 73 just cant work out why a previous owner would change them.

[jimmock]

My 73 has 10's too.

It should be 8mm's.

They were giving problems at the time.
Warranty replacements would have been the later "stronger" 10mm ones.

All thats needed to convert back is remove the square nut. Reweld a new square nut with 8mm threaded hole. Rechrome or rezinc and hey presto 8mm chain adjusters.

I'll be doing exactly that with mine "eventually".

[Garn 1]

The early Z1 (most of Z1's) had the Chrome plated chain adjustors with the 8mm adjusting screws. With the intro of the Z1A these were changed to Cadmium or Zinc plated Chain adjusters with the !0mm screws.

The change over, as with the many changes from Z1 to Z1A did not take place exactly the same time as the Black to silver engine change.

To my mind the 8mm screws look and are a bit flimsy and must be, to warrant a change. I always depart from standard and use the 10mm chain adjusting screws on my Z1. Perhaps, If I had a Z1 in the first 1000 I would think differently.

[A1John]

Both my z1s have 8mm adjusters zinc plated.

[Garn 1]

A1John, are you talking about the screws or the actual body or the chain adjuster screws. To my knowledge, all Z1 8mm chain adjusters (bodies) were chrome plated. The later 10mm adjusters were Cad or Zinc. Thinking about it I think the 8mm screws were also chrome plated. Anyone?
RegardZ.

[wilsonsjw11]

M8 bolts came in BZP finish.
Regards
Steve

[A1John]

On both of mine the body and screws are zinc plated.

[DaveZ1]

My 73 has 10's too.

It should be 8mm's.

They were giving problems at the time.
Warranty replacements would have been the later "stronger" 10mm ones.

All thats needed to convert back is remove the square nut. Reweld a new square nut with 8mm threaded hole. Rechrome or rezinc and hey presto 8mm chain adjusters.

I'll be doing exactly that with mine "eventually".

Just had a bit of an idea Jimmock.
The 10mm adjuster screws are as you would expect 1.25mm pitch which is exactly the size that you tap a hole when you install an 8mm Helicoil insert!
So all you have to do to convert back to 8mm adjusters is loctite a 8mm helicoil into the original 10mm thread and buy the smaller bolts.
No welding, retapping or making new nuts and if the finish on your adjusters is ok, no need to replate
RS sell the inserts in packs of ten no need to buy the fitting kit you dont need the tap.
Wadaya think?

[jimmock]

My 73 has 10's too.

It should be 8mm's.

They were giving problems at the time.
Warranty replacements would have been the later "stronger" 10mm ones.

All thats needed to convert back is remove the square nut. Reweld a new square nut with 8mm threaded hole. Rechrome or rezinc and hey presto 8mm chain adjusters.

I'll be doing exactly that with mine "eventually".

Just had a bit of an idea Jimmock.
The 10mm adjuster screws are as you would expect 1.25mm pitch which is exactly the size that you tap a hole when you install an 8mm Helicoil insert!
So all you have to do to convert back to 8mm adjusters is loctite a 8mm helicoil into the original 10mm thread and buy the smaller bolts.
No welding, retapping or making new nuts and if the finish on your adjusters is ok, no need to replate
RS sell the inserts in packs of ten no need to buy the fitting kit you dont need the tap.
Wadaya think?

Sounds like a game plan.

I'll have a look at mine when I get home from work in TWENTY SIX DAYS!!!