Z!A Engine Number Pad ~ Checkered surface.

[Garn 1]

About 7 years ago I found a Z1A with a bordered 80 mm engine number pad. The surface that the number was stamped on was a checkered surface. At first there were claims that it was a fake! Here is a picture...


I was delighted to find the other people had seen this rare batch and the posting filled with at least four or five of them. I believe these were the first of the 80 mm bordered engine pads after the un-bordered 65 mm pads.

Assuming the Z1A started with an engine # of approx Z1E-20100, which Kawasaki have asserted. The question I am posing is, when did they first get that border around the pad? I have enough proof that they were still being produced without the border up until, at least Z1E-24591 ( and a recent find 25460. It is thought that they changed from a 65mm pad to an 80mm pad at the same time they introduced the border. (my guess is ZIE-27000).

I've had a reply from Bjorn (Sweden), so the sequence, over the area of interest w.r.t. Z1A engine number pads, now reads.~
ENGINE NUMBERS..... (from the old posting amended this week to reflect the latest find- in red
Last unit sighted {65 mm} un-bordered pad, 5 digits ... Z1E - 24591 (from Sweden).

First unit sighted {80 mm} bordered pad, 5 digits (checkered) ... Z1E - 27376 (from Sweden)
Last unit sighted {80 mm} bordered pad, 5 digits (checkered) ... Z1E - 27771, (new entry 27824 from Australia- NSW)

First unit sighted {80 mm} bordered pad, 5 digits (plain surface) ... Z1E - 29217, Z1E- 28116 (from USA-NY)
Last unit sighted {80 mm} bordered pad, 5 digits ... Z1E - 32887
First unit sighted {80mm} bordered pad, 6 digits ... Z1E - 033419

Trying to fill the gaps! Stay with me.
RegardZ

[Garn 1]

Some extra info.
I've just had notification of another checkered engine number pad! (refer new entry above)
This brings the range up to 448, lets say 500.

The main properties of these Z1A engine pads (in general) are~
1. Length of engine pad (65 or 80mm)
2. Whether bordered or not... I suspect the length changed when they went to bordered pads.
3. Whether 5 digits or 6 digits.
4. Change in font from earlier digits (I think the font was changed when they went to 6 digits eg. Z1E- 034000)
5. Z1A, Z1E Number, of course (last digit may be left out or an X substitute, if preferred)

The Particular CHECKERED Engine Pads are Boarded 80mm long and have 5 digits ( see picture). The frames that these engines were fitted to have a manufacture date of 10/73.

Would greatly appreciate your HELP .... 8 years in the making!
RegardZ.

[Garn 1]

Guys, maybe I'm making this too complicated.... Hence no replies from this forum.

Here are two simplified questions.
Have you a Z1A engine with a number between Z1E-24591 and Z1E-28115 inclusive?
Does it have a border?
Does it have an 80 mm or a 65 mm engine pad.
Does it have a plain or checkered pattern on the pad surface?
It will have 5 digits not 6.
_____________________________________________________________
Have you a Z1A engine with a number between Z1E-32887 and Z1E-0334192 inclusive?
Has it 5 digits or 6 digits on the engine number pad?

I would appreciate it if you help in any way, like to here from you ....
RegardZ.

[Garn 1]

MalmoJoe, can't wait to see if your Z1A engine number Z1E- 28000 odd is less than another entry from JeffS Z1E-28116... Bordered (slight lip), 5 digit, plain surface 80 mm pad.
RegardZ.
Just in...
This is interesting and a bonus, this Z1A engine pad is now the last sighted....
5 digit, bordered 80 mm, plain surface .... Great Stuff "RedZed" from Australian Kawasaki Riders Forum
and thanks for the help in solving this anomaly.

Noting that the first 6 digit sighted is Z1E-033419 and the first 5 digit sighted was, bordered, 80 mm, plain surface pad was Z1E- 28116.
RegardZ .

[Z1B]

was directed onto this forum (thanks Ian) have read it before but had forgotten, anyway was wanting to know when the digits changed from SIX to five eg 000007 then 00037 etc why because they must have known the numbers would have increased (volume) to six

[Garn 1]

Z1B, The last 5 digit number on a 80 mm bordered pad that I have seen is shown above.... 33346. I have sighted another of a lower number with six digits, however, it was thought to be a professionally re-stamped replacement casing. The jury is still out on this one. You will appreciate that discretion has to be observed when considering these numbers.

The earliest six digit on a Z1A, 80 mm bordered pad is Z1E-33419.
Remember that the main purpose of this exercise was to establish the last checker pad
RegardZ.

[Z1B]

I am talking about the very first zeds eg number 7 produced had the number 000007 stamped on but later had 5 digits eg 00037 see where im coming from only talking about 72 zeds here[/b]

[Garn 1]

Z1B, sorry I have never seen a 6 digit early engine number... I must admit, I always assumed that those early 72's had had only 5 digits.

I just went to look at a mates 72 engine Z1E 00340 (5 digits). I would be surprised if the two digit or one digit engines had 6 numerical digits all up!
Some '72 owners might know the answer.
RegardZ.

[Z903]

Yes, the Z1E- 000007 is from the Marsden book?
I had the feeling that number's been questioned before?

[Garn 1]

With respect to Mr M, I do beleive that engine stamping is a replacement engine re-stamped.

[Z1B]

Thanks Garn, just wondering if its been restamped, does that not make the whole authenticity/origionality issue null and void, christ might as well get the types out and have one myself LOL

[Z1B]

This puts my mind at rest, having purchased a 72 Zed which had only 5 digits I was starting to have my doubhts, case closed, thanks again.