Z1OwnersClub GB

I have had a lot of valuable help from this forum about my Z1100 A1 1981 engine; unfortunately I have another question. You will see from the photos that neither the head or the barrel has a deep chamfer or a groove for the fat 4mm deep 0-rings to sit in. They can only squash down to the 1.73mm head gasket thickness. It seems a big squash. Is this ok? One at each corner? The head gasket was from a 'Gold Wing' z1100 gasket set and the 4 o-rings were bought separately.
I didn't take note of this when I stripped it because there was so much crud and leaking oil - I thought the K and Clymer manuals would tell me, if it wasn't obvious.

hi these o rings were not fitted in production they were a modification to prevent oil leaking from the two front outer studs also there were four spring steel collars fitted over the studs which prevent the oil pressure from dislodging the o ring. the o rings + steel spring collars were not listed on the parts microfiche they were in a Kawasaki service bulletin the o rings are a critical size otherwise it will leak oil . a good Kawasaki dealer should know what parts you need

Thats thrown me the only ones i have seen look like this.


The gasket looks correct; ie relieved for the 'O' rings and the counterbored rebates in the block.

What cc is stamped on the front right of the block?

Not sure what to say about that,..... i will defer to someone with better knowledge.

From Z Power site
https://www.z-power.co.uk/merchantmanag ... php?pId=34
CYLINDER HEAD: THE O`RINGS THAT WERE THERE TO CONTROL OIL FLOW DID`NT. WELL THAT`S NOT EXACTLY TRUE. THE OIL FLOW ENDED UP OUT OF THE HEAD AND NOT THE OTHER WAY ROUND. OWNERS IN AN EFFORT TO TIGHTEN UP THE HEAD NUTS TIGHTENED THE CAM CAP BOLTS INSTEAD AND BROKE OFF BITS OF THE HEAD. MODIFIED CAMSHAFT END SEALS AND MODIFIED O`RINGS SOLVED THIS PROBLEM EVENTUALLY. LATER MODELS WENT BACK TO A HEAD GASKET WITH NO O`RINGS. SO MUCH FOR PROGRESS.!!! OIL LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKETS WAS TO PROVE A PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

P.S. that looks a little like a high compression unitrak head with the bi-spherical combustion chambers.


AL

Many thanks!
Yes, there are two hemispheres in each combustion space.
The block is stamped '1.089' with the Kaw curly thing denoting litres. Markings on the head are visible in one of my photos.
I remember seeing 'Cometic' head gaskets mentioned in this forum; are they what I want? I haven't had time to search for them yet. I think they cover the complete machined face and are metallic so perhaps they are the answer?
Thanks.

Unitrack engines don't have the "O" rings.