Z1OwnersClub GB

I dont want to break anything but I have been trying to remove the head off my KZ1000, it wont budge... Yes I definitely have removed all the stud nuts and its tight as anything. Please can anyone offer advice. I have worn myself and my rubber mallet out!

Jtreg, you need to keep constant pressure on the haed. If its still in frame, tie some straps/rope around head, then over frame & make really tight. You could even use wooden/rubber wedges between head & barrel then use that mallet. A bit of thin oil soaking down the studs will help too.
Sure you got 12 dome nuts & 2 x 6mm bolts out of the head

Yeah, I got all the studs out and the two on the end as per Clymer ... I will try using ratchet straps that I use on the trailer to crankit it up and some wooden blocks above the frame rail.really a pain!

Light oil down the tunnels where the studs are?

Thats it mate, once she starts to go, it'll be plain sailing

Ratchet straps are ideal, just be patient. It maybe worth holding the barrels down, coz SODS-LAW dictate, that they will move first

thinking about it, lifting the head does not help because its lifted up the barrels and call me stupid but I have pulled the barrel too far now I have gone past the top of the rings aargh. Needed to replace the rings anyway. Now I cant drop the barrel back down without sanpping the rings out of the way, shit.

Anyway wooden wedges seem the wat to go as they break hopefully before the fins plus I am soaking the crack where the gasket is in penetrating oil. Beginning to show a gap now....

I dunno about the business of getting the rings snapped off in situ as it were

cheers anyway, you have inspired me not to give up

Stuff some rag in crank to keep shite out of engine, or are you gonna go the whole hog

Confession:

Dont laugh bit I broke a bit off one of the rings and it fucking fell in the engine. When I feel better I will undo the sump and hope to find it there. I am tired now and will stop before I do more damage. I was not planning on doing the bottom end. but I want to replace the camchain tensioner parts.

I have not pulled apart a an engine this far and my inexperience is showing.

cheers Pigford... going indoors now

James

James, if u don't make mistakes, u don't learn
Hats off for getting stuck in mate
The sump will come off without taking engine out of frame (drain oil first sorry, couldn't resist), and if ur luck it'll be visible.

Twelve nuts and two 6mm bolts by the outer spark plugs make sure that you have removed them all.

Look under the exhaust outlets and you will see thicker alloy on the head and barrels, gently lever here with a big screwdriver preferably one that you can put a spanner on and turn.

yeah, thats were I was thwacking the wedge shaped 2 x 4 into that part.. I wish I had done that at 2PM today.. like I said, I will be soaking the crack I made in Halfords penetrating spray overnight. Tomorrow I will hopefully not make any more errors!

I will get the head refurbed and barrels inspected by professionals!

Pigford, I won in the end! Penetrating oil does wonders, working away while I slept. I gave a few more taps on my wooden wedge and away it came! I wished I kept calmer yesterday - (kept my head!)
anyway cheers, I am off to SEP to get the valve work done. Will give you a progress report whan it beginns to come back together again!

Having taken the head off my thing of a KZ900 11 times in three months I can suggest a simple tool.

A small piece of broom handle about 4 inches long. Apply plenty of PLUSGAS release oil to the studs.

Whack with about 40Lbs pressure on the barrel at the base on the lower fins that are not sticking out (cos they will break) about 1 inch above the gasket with the broom handle angled upword at 70 degrees. Alternate on both sides two or three times. always works for me and I have to remove the head from my KZ900 on a regualr basis. as there is no current technology available to get the compression up It is a hobby of mine.
good luck
Phil

Keep in mind that alot of crap(sand dirt ect) can fall into the crank area if you have not cleaned it up very well before hand. Sounds like the cylinder's came up before you could stuff rags around the bore to keep things out of the crank area.

I did one thing right, the day before I cleaned and cleaned the engine and rest of the bike - It was filthy as last time I washed it was in Vancouver.

I am worried about your broom handle suggestion....