Kz440 test ride with 160 main jet

[@hightest258]

165 was the original jet in the KZ440 line

[@KobusBreed]

I bought a Kawasaki Z440 brand new in the 1980's. Later years I went to the Kawasaki dealership, asked them the best jets for the bike, they called it "racing jets" I can't remember the size. With the bigger jets in both carbs, I removed the standard airbox and installed two K&N air filters and also a Cowley two into one exhaust. It had amazing performance and top speed, I could keep up with my 750cc friends. The only thing that drooped me from traffic light to traffic light was the Yamaha RD350 two stroke. (Cowley exhaust here in South Africa)

[@kzdom115]

That sounds awesome.

[@wmharris9084]

Sounds great

[@kzdom115]

Awesome, glad you liked it.

[@thedude102878]

Thanks for continuing to put up videos! Do you know where I might be able to get a single carb intake manifold fabricated? I'm trying to restore an 81 440 ltd and the factory carbs are toast so I'm looking for a 2-1 manifold I can hook up a lectron carb to but it looks like the only shop that made them is out of business.

[@kzdom115]

I picked mine up several years ago from 11th hour Industries. They seem to make them up every once in awhile. facebook.com/11thHourIndustries/

[@IanSantopietro]

I have a circuit I can give you schematics for that will get rid of the blinking stop lamp light while retaining most of the functionality of the indicator.

[@ryanwalker2638]

What was the top speed in 6th? My 80 440 is almost done after a little over a year. I’ve enjoyed watching your videos on the 440

[@kzdom115]

Not 100% sure, my speedometer does not work. I have GPS the bike in the upper 80s and 90s.

[@telegraphmetrostore5007]

Plz keep the videos coming

[@alanb9509]

Buen video, me pregunto por qué todos esos velocimetros que traian las kawasakis de esa época siempre eran muy fragiles.

[@jasonfitzgerald90]

Nice man! I just bought a 1980 440 yesterday. I don’t know where to start. It has electrical gremlins and the guy said the carbs probably need some work. I’ve never owned a bike or rode one so I’m in for a long winter.

[@kzdom115]

Nice, check out kz400.com the forum isn't up anymore, but the service manual is still available for download there. That will really help you out.

[@gingerbard2607]

I've owned two of these bikes. I've only ever run with the stock carbs and airbox and they've run just fine. I don't understand the need to mess about with a single air filter and swapping out jets.

[@kzdom115]

This bike was a $150 basket case. As you know the air box is two pieces. The part that covers the battery was missing, and the diaphragms on the carbs had holes in them. Rather than spend a bunch of money and time putting the stock stuff together, I decided to spend a bunch of money and time to do something different. It was fun, I learned a lot and my bike now runs great. 🤷

[@BastrdMcQueen]

Too rich i mean too lean or wait let me think 165 then 180 but this is 160 wait what time is it

[@kzdom115]

That about sums it up, lean and rich have the same symptoms and I was often changing multiple variables instead of just one at a time. Talking to a guy who races the 440 really helped me get the bike dialed in.

[@BastrdMcQueen]

@@kzdom115 thanks a lot for putting your stuff out there for us, helps get the gears turning in my head when I get stuck. Like today I got the carb off my 83 440Ltd and can't figure out how to clear a particular port/vent that leads to three tiny holes by the throttle butterfly valve. "I guess don't get a vintage bike if you don't wanna work on it..." no kidding

[@davidparent5522]

I wanna do either a 2 into one with my 440 or shorties what do u have

[@kzdom115]

It has the shorties on it in that video.

[@johnbethea9676]

Hey man just curious what area do you live in?

[@kzdom115]

I'm in Wichita area.

[@johnbethea9676]

@@kzdom115 thanks man doing the same carb set up but I'm way down south Alabama so I imagine I'll probably have to go with a bit richer main jet.

[@madusathe2nd333]

What happened to the 750 ltd

[@kzdom115]

It is in the barn. I'll pull it out this summer. I need to go through the carbs and maybe replace the top end gaskets. She because leaks a bit from the base gasket.

[@nicolas86dc]

What carburador is?

[@kzdom115]

Mikuni VM34

[@jovittheinnocent4223]

What exhaust?

[@kzdom115]

I believe the exhaust is a MAC and the mufflers were emgo shortys.

[@shawnwilcox4297]

Your tach is broke brother. WTH.

[@kzdom115]

Ironically now the tach is fixed and the speedo is broken.

[@shawnwilcox4297]

My son's Z440 gives me fits. Needs additional carb work time permitting. Shiney side up brother.

[@kzdom115]

@@shawnwilcox4297 There is always something to work on with these bikes for sure, lucky they are about as simple as it gets to get going. I've got a GPS speedo I'm planning on installing if I ever find the time.

[@shawnwilcox4297]

kzbin.infod9J4yuHMRrA?feature=shared

[@shawnwilcox4297]

Then it spit a valve. Professional work on the head done, jug hone and new pistons and rings. Still breaking it in.

[@dylanyates6331]

All that power at only 500rpm lol

[@kzdom115]

It is quite the technological feat. lol