Topic: Kawasaki 454 LTD...info needed

[mattcb350f]

Hi all.

A 1985 Kawasaki 454 LTD arrived at my shop today....and I know little about it.

The owner brought it to me after taking it to a shop in the hopes of fixing a hard starting problem:

The owner says he had a shop check it out and found the engine has very low compression on #1, and...well.....better compression on #2.

I checked and sure enough, he was right. 30psi and 75psi

He said it would run fine on one cylinder to get it running...then once it was warm it would eventually start firing on the other. After both cylinders came online, the bike would run great...with no burning oil either?

Now, like I said, this type of bike is new to me, but I'm open for opinions as to what is going on here.

Does anyone have any experience with this type of engine (I think the 250 ninja is similar) or have any sugestions about working on it.

I suspect valves and the adjustment there of....which I have no idea how to adjust either

 Matt.

[cb650]

There is a site for the kawi twins.  Dont have it off hand.  I think Ibsen (RIP) had it in his tag.

[mlinder]

From what I remember, the 454 was joked as "half a kz900".

Anyway you can check compression after it warms up and is firing on both? Compression that low is very bad, and the one at 35 is... wtf.

Check to make sure that both the valves are closing. Perhaps one is bent/hung up/ damaged.

[droopy]

I have a service manual for this bike if you need it pdf format

[mattcb350f]

I have a service manual for this bike if you need it pdf format

I love this forum  I would appreciate that Droopy! PM sent. 

From what I remember, the 454 was joked as "half a kz900".

Anyway you can check compression after it warms up and is firing on both? Compression that low is very bad, and the one at 35 is... wtf.

Yeah, I haven't checked it hot yet.......35 psi is a joke to begin with so I haven't tried to start it.

More info today....aparently its been sitting a while  you might be right about bent/hung up valves.

...Ill keep posting as the story unfolds.

 

[Soos]

Have you tried pouring a bit of oil into the cylinder(throught he spark plug hole) and re-testing the compression?


Mabey a stuck ring?
Hopefully it just needs the valve clearance set.


l8r

[hoodellyhoo]

I think Hope said she had one of these bikes. Maybe she can help you some?

[fuzzybutt]

stuck rings could do this too i suppose, pull the spark plugs and spray a bunch of pb blaster into the cylinder wait a day or so then re-do the compression test

[HavocTurbo]

Have you tried pouring a bit of oil into the cylinder(throught he spark plug hole) and re-testing the compression?


Mabey a stuck ring?
Hopefully it just needs the valve clearance set.


l8r

+1

We do it all the time for barn fresh revivals.

The 454 is a bastard of a motor to get running right after it has been neglected. There's a whole site dedicated to them but I think it's all in dutch or finnish... crazy those dutch.

Chances are the rings are really dry and need to be sealed back up.

[droopy]

I have a service manual for this bike if you need it pdf format
I love this forum  I would appreciate that Droopy! PM sent. 

it's on it's way with a few other files related to the 454ltd

[HavocTurbo]

Oh wow. THERE'S an interesting take on a 454. Nice.

[droopy]

thanks only wish i still had it 

Oh wow. THERE'S an interesting take on a 454. Nice.

[mattcb350f]

Hey folks,

Had a chance today to finally get at the bike...and low and behold the valves had never been adjusted...ever.

Original glue on the head cover. Not the blame the PO's since it's a real pain to do compared to our sweet Honda Fours  

All Four of the intake valves had zero clearance with slight pressure on the valves.  

Set them all up and bam...compression back to normal.

 Cheers, Matt.

[droopy]

 
i see you liked the other files I sent makes valve adjustment easy compared to book

[mattcb350f]

i see you liked the other files I sent makes valve adjustment easy compared to book

Definately 

[droopy]

http://ltd454.proboards.com/index.cgi? heres a link to a message board for the 454ltds