Nice job, Dale. Good find on such an old cylinder! Looking at the old manual I was amazed they had such detail and complex calculations long before computers came along. Learned a lot on measuring here. Thanks!
Hey Jim, yep stroke of luck for sure, the manual is indeed a good source of info. I find overall the OEM shop manuals are by far better than the internet. Really the only thing I use the computer for is to ensure the numbers are the same and to order parts. There is far more info in the published paper parts lists and manuals than online, from the OEM's anyway.
for those looking for pistons and rings, look at the diagrams and find the exact parts number. You will be able to find it easier. a 1971-73 kawasaki f7-a (or b) piston number is 13001-042, rings are 13008-027, needle bearing is 13033-034.
Yes, those numbers are correct for standard size but not for the oversize .05mm or the 1.0mm. I just have had a hard time finding the O/S piston and rings. Think I have them located now. One person told me that the early KD175 parts are the same, hope so cause that is what I found. Will know for sure next week. Thank you for your help and for stopping by the channel.
Hey Dale, great video. I'm glad you have options with the top end, finding the standard barrel was a stroke of luck. I'm not sure the Bighorn range was officially imported here, most of them seem to be US imports I think. Best wishes, Dean.
Hey Dean, yes was lucky to find the cylinder for sure. Kind of goes against the grain to fit a used piston but must do what you have to. I picked up a 1970 F5 Bighorn about 3 years ago, think I have only done one video on it, seat pan build. The F7 shown here is also known as the Bushwacker.
@@montana2strokeracer yeah i stay up all crazy hours so i wont miss any of your videos, but Cain is tough to beat. glad i dont think he was around in my raceing days, he would have smoked me for sure.
Hey Dale. In 1974 my dad traded 2 bikes for a Kawasaki Rotary 90cc that a Kawasaki mechanic at our local Kawasaki shop converted from a side port rotary to a center port external carb. so he could make a mini class motocrosser out of it. Man was that a fast bike. No one could beat me to the first corner but after awhile the expert kids would reel me in. I was 13 then. He modified it with lay-down Boges shocks and a longer swing arm. What I would give to have that now.
Hey Ron, man all these old bikes are like a dream to me. I remember the mods folks did back in the day, wishing I could do that stuff. Here I am 50 years later finally getting to. It's as fun as I thought it would be. I remember all the small bikes back in the day and how darn fast they were. I would show up at the flat track races with my Hodaka super rat and I could hear the Yamaha 100 twin jets and the Kawaski green streaks. The smell of the two-stroke oil and fuel.... what good times.
I had mine rebuilt guy took 3 months. Only rode it for 2 days and a piece of the skirt on the exhaust side of the jug broke off and jammed in the crank it's a 1971 Kawasaki f7 175 has just been collecting dust ever since
would you ever do a video on the Spanish bikes Montessa,Bull Taco,Ossa. i always liked these bikes but never owned one. saw a few set up for dirt track, fast but not as fast as my 1969 TS-250.
Isn’t that the truth! All those figures are based on measuring exactly at the recommended spot on that piston. Otherwise, it’s a lot of guessing and assumptions. Great video Dale, very important information to know.
Hey Kerry, yes, the specs are only for OEM, like you say you have to assume that you measure at the biggest point on a Wiseco, or other aftermarket piston. They are just not made the same. Thanks for watchin.
Hey Kerry, I only use Wiseco if I can't get OEM. Some folks that have me bore their cylinders send them with Wiseco at which time I will fit them, but I much prefer OEM they are lighter and can be fit tighter. I am starting to look at the Vintco pistons, think they are made in Germany, but don't know a lot about them, ordered one for the RM a couple days ago, I will give my thoughts when I have had time to mess with it.
Thanks for posting these Dale, fantastic videos, I have 1972 Kawasaki F7 175 myself and can concur it is hard to find NOS or reproduction parts! Any leads on what to do if my piston has damage? I haven't opened it up yet but precurrosery search yields there really isn't many if any out there for this year. I tried to cross reference part numbers but it seems Kawasaki used this piston pretty much this year and few others but changed it shortly after 72. Any ideas on replacement should I need one? I've seen other suggest that a custom order from Wiseco.
Hi Sean, yes like you I have found it extremely difficult to find parts for Kawasaki's. I had a viewer suggest that I restore a Bridgestone....I would love too and even have access to a couple.... can you imagine how hard parts are to find for that rascal? I can tell you this, the parts are out there but only get the F7 pistons. Like I said in the video on this subject, I have found nothing else that works. I would recommend taking yours apart if it is noisy and check the piston top and see what size it is now. Then measure the cylinder and figure out which piston to look for. Your head gasket can be reused if you anneal it. I was able to find base gaskets, piston pin bearing and pin, and clips pretty easy. I have looked in to a Wiseco custom order before. They at the time I checked, needed a minimum order of 10, which would be well over a thousand dollars, probably closer to two thousand today. I think you would not have any problem selling the others. Folks just like you and I would buy them up in a hurry. But if you watch Ebay, perhaps put a saved search in, they do pop up. I was able to find a .5 and a 1.0 for both cylinders I have. Good luck brother, and thanks for spending time with me in the shop.
Thanks for the reply Dale! You have been a go-to resource for visuals and video on processes, how-to’s and many resources. I luckily found TODAY one that is a 13027-046 F7 Piston but it’s $190 something 🤦🏻 when I get a chance this weekend I’m going to tear the top end apart and pray I don’t need it haha. Is it possible to just replace the rings and re-hone the cylinder to restore compression?
Oh, my no, it didn't work out, I got one for the KD and one from a F3. Can't remember which one but one the pin was located different, and the other had a larger pin. So at least the ones I got were a no go. I did find a F7 piston out of Canada. Not cheap. Thanks for spending time with me in the shop!
Dale, I think I’m having trouble racking my brain around all this, I’m doing a top end rebuild identical to this one on a 1972 F7 and a 1975 Yamaha DT175 head rebuild and I can’t seem to figure out how to do this lol. Wouldn’t it be well out of spec if I hone? Will putting new rings on an old piston give me compression?
Hi Sean, on either bike you should measure the piston you're going to use in the appropriate place, and then measure the cylinder, also in the appropriate place, then subtract the measurements. For example.... piston is 2.00 inches and the cylinder is 2.005 inches, subtract and you get .005 difference. Now subtract the piston to cylinder clearance required by the manufacture. Say it is .002 inches. That leaves .003 inches, so this is in excess of the manufacture's specs or a total of .005 inches. In this case I would probably just hone with a ball hone to renew the crosshatch for oil control and install a new set of rings. This will bring your compression back up. The answer to your question about honing, yes if you hone too much you just keep making the bore bigger, but honing with a ball hone will not remove much metal and will give you the crosshatch to seat your new rings. Now if the excess clearance is more like .004 or .005 you will need to rebore to the next size piston. I hope I have provided the information you were looking for, if not drop me another comment and I will see if I can clarify. Thanks for watching the channel and good luck with your project.
Hi, not really familiar with Kawasaki's, but I did a quick look at Rocky Mountain ATV/MC and got the part numbers. Standard size is 13001-061, .020 over is 13029-061, .040 over is 13027-059. Then another quick look on Ebay, showed some of those numbers. Some are located overseas from the US. There are places here to call, but I am learning too, and not familiar myself yet. Not sure of aftermarket. There is a guy on TH-cam that does everything Kawaski, and he is restoring one now, I will leave a link for you to look at what he has published, and you should be able to ask him some questions. Hope this helps, and thanks for watching my channel. www.thejunkmanadv.com/kawasaki-mc1.html
@@montana2strokeracer I made a post here yesterday about the serial number of the piston Dale ordered and the next day it is gone along with other posts from watchers.
@@jamesrankin5634 Hi James, I didn't see any other posts, I answered several this morning including this one. No one should be able to remove them except me and TH-cam. I didn't! Sometimes TH-cam will remove them if there is a phone number or address or email in the post or obscene language. The Part number of the 1.0 oversized piston that I ordered for the KD175 was 13027-065 I don't know if it will fit yet. The tracking says it will be here Monday. So sometime tomorrow I should be able to tell you if it looks like it will work or not.
@@montana2strokeracer Sorry i didn't recognise you on the last post Dale. The piston for a kd 175 is the same piston for a ke 175 there is no difference the only difference between a kd 175 and a ke is the kd is a stripped nown version for off road I am pretty sure both those models pistons are the same as the F-7. ke/kd 1976 through 78 and the 79 kd. Maybe i was in a time warp yesterday. LOL
Loving the F7 videos and watching the other bikes you do to learn ‘how to’ in general. Thanks for doing this.
Thanks Gil, appreciate you taking a look, they really are pretty much the same.
Nice job, Dale. Good find on such an old cylinder! Looking at the old manual I was amazed they had such detail and complex calculations long before computers came along. Learned a lot on measuring here. Thanks!
Hey Jim, yep stroke of luck for sure, the manual is indeed a good source of info. I find overall the OEM shop manuals are by far better than the internet. Really the only thing I use the computer for is to ensure the numbers are the same and to order parts. There is far more info in the published paper parts lists and manuals than online, from the OEM's anyway.
for those looking for pistons and rings, look at the diagrams and find the exact parts number. You will be able to find it easier. a 1971-73 kawasaki f7-a (or b) piston number is 13001-042, rings are 13008-027, needle bearing is 13033-034.
Yes, those numbers are correct for standard size but not for the oversize .05mm or the 1.0mm. I just have had a hard time finding the O/S piston and rings. Think I have them located now. One person told me that the early KD175 parts are the same, hope so cause that is what I found. Will know for sure next week. Thank you for your help and for stopping by the channel.
@@montana2strokeracer yea my 72 has some scoring but cant find anything to fit it. its got good compression so I wont worry about it
great job as always dale next video please
Thanks for stopping by Mark, your support is greatly appreciated.
Hey Dale, great video. I'm glad you have options with the top end, finding the standard barrel was a stroke of luck.
I'm not sure the Bighorn range was officially imported here, most of them seem to be US imports I think.
Best wishes, Dean.
Hey Dean, yes was lucky to find the cylinder for sure. Kind of goes against the grain to fit a used piston but must do what you have to. I picked up a 1970 F5 Bighorn about 3 years ago, think I have only done one video on it, seat pan build. The F7 shown here is also known as the Bushwacker.
Thanks for sharing brother.
Right on Cain, thanks for stopping by.
Excellent video Dale, thanks again.
Thanks Jeff, sure appreciate your support.
hey guys, snooze and loose! Hi Dale at least im here. LOL
I just get here as soon as I can. I've been up to my elbows in BSA clutch today.
Oh boy, if I had a nickel for every time, I heard that one.
Proud of you Frank, way to push that button.
@@montana2strokeracer yeah i stay up all crazy hours so i wont miss any of your videos, but Cain is tough to beat. glad i dont think he was around in my raceing days, he would have smoked me for sure.
Hey Dale. In 1974 my dad traded 2 bikes for a Kawasaki Rotary 90cc that a Kawasaki mechanic at our local Kawasaki shop converted from a side port rotary to a center port external carb. so he could make a mini class motocrosser out of it. Man was that a fast bike. No one could beat me to the first corner but after awhile the expert kids would reel me in. I was 13 then. He modified it with lay-down Boges shocks and a longer swing arm. What I would give to have that now.
Hey Ron, man all these old bikes are like a dream to me. I remember the mods folks did back in the day, wishing I could do that stuff. Here I am 50 years later finally getting to. It's as fun as I thought it would be. I remember all the small bikes back in the day and how darn fast they were. I would show up at the flat track races with my Hodaka super rat and I could hear the Yamaha 100 twin jets and the Kawaski green streaks. The smell of the two-stroke oil and fuel.... what good times.
You have any Kawasaki f7 engine for sale
I had mine rebuilt guy took 3 months. Only rode it for 2 days and a piece of the skirt on the exhaust side of the jug broke off and jammed in the crank it's a 1971 Kawasaki f7 175 has just been collecting dust ever since
would you ever do a video on the Spanish bikes Montessa,Bull Taco,Ossa. i always liked these bikes but never owned one. saw a few set up for dirt track, fast but not as fast as my 1969 TS-250.
Man, those are hard to find, I have a Bultaco 350 Alpina, but it is all restored, may bring it up for a look and startup though.
Isn’t that the truth! All those figures are based on measuring exactly at the recommended spot on that piston. Otherwise, it’s a lot of guessing and assumptions.
Great video Dale, very important information to know.
Hey Kerry, yes, the specs are only for OEM, like you say you have to assume that you measure at the biggest point on a Wiseco, or other aftermarket piston. They are just not made the same. Thanks for watchin.
@@montana2strokeracer Do you use a lot of Weisco pistons?
Seems the most popular choice for an aftermarket piston.
Hey Kerry, I only use Wiseco if I can't get OEM. Some folks that have me bore their cylinders send them with Wiseco at which time I will fit them, but I much prefer OEM they are lighter and can be fit tighter. I am starting to look at the Vintco pistons, think they are made in Germany, but don't know a lot about them, ordered one for the RM a couple days ago, I will give my thoughts when I have had time to mess with it.
@@montana2strokeracer
Great!
To see a bit of info on another piston option would be good stuff for a video.
Looking forward to your videos Dale.
Thanks for posting these Dale, fantastic videos, I have 1972 Kawasaki F7 175 myself and can concur it is hard to find NOS or reproduction parts! Any leads on what to do if my piston has damage? I haven't opened it up yet but precurrosery search yields there really isn't many if any out there for this year. I tried to cross reference part numbers but it seems Kawasaki used this piston pretty much this year and few others but changed it shortly after 72. Any ideas on replacement should I need one? I've seen other suggest that a custom order from Wiseco.
Hi Sean, yes like you I have found it extremely difficult to find parts for Kawasaki's. I had a viewer suggest that I restore a Bridgestone....I would love too and even have access to a couple.... can you imagine how hard parts are to find for that rascal? I can tell you this, the parts are out there but only get the F7 pistons. Like I said in the video on this subject, I have found nothing else that works. I would recommend taking yours apart if it is noisy and check the piston top and see what size it is now. Then measure the cylinder and figure out which piston to look for. Your head gasket can be reused if you anneal it. I was able to find base gaskets, piston pin bearing and pin, and clips pretty easy. I have looked in to a Wiseco custom order before. They at the time I checked, needed a minimum order of 10, which would be well over a thousand dollars, probably closer to two thousand today. I think you would not have any problem selling the others. Folks just like you and I would buy them up in a hurry. But if you watch Ebay, perhaps put a saved search in, they do pop up. I was able to find a .5 and a 1.0 for both cylinders I have. Good luck brother, and thanks for spending time with me in the shop.
Thanks for the reply Dale! You have been a go-to resource for visuals and video on processes, how-to’s and many resources. I luckily found TODAY one that is a 13027-046 F7 Piston but it’s $190 something 🤦🏻 when I get a chance this weekend I’m going to tear the top end apart and pray I don’t need it haha. Is it possible to just replace the rings and re-hone the cylinder to restore compression?
Wondering if the KD oversize piston is a fit for the F7 175 or the earlier F3 piston. Did you ever find out?
Oh, my no, it didn't work out, I got one for the KD and one from a F3. Can't remember which one but one the pin was located different, and the other had a larger pin. So at least the ones I got were a no go. I did find a F7 piston out of Canada. Not cheap. Thanks for spending time with me in the shop!
Dale, I think I’m having trouble racking my brain around all this, I’m doing a top end rebuild identical to this one on a 1972 F7 and a 1975 Yamaha DT175 head rebuild and I can’t seem to figure out how to do this lol. Wouldn’t it be well out of spec if I hone? Will putting new rings on an old piston give me compression?
Hi Sean, on either bike you should measure the piston you're going to use in the appropriate place, and then measure the cylinder, also in the appropriate place, then subtract the measurements. For example.... piston is 2.00 inches and the cylinder is
2.005 inches, subtract and you get .005 difference. Now subtract the piston to cylinder clearance required by the manufacture. Say it is .002 inches. That leaves .003 inches, so this is in excess of the manufacture's specs or a total of .005 inches. In this case I would probably just hone with a ball hone to renew the crosshatch for oil control and install a new set of rings. This will bring your compression back up. The answer to your question about honing, yes if you hone too much you just keep making the bore bigger, but honing with a ball hone will not remove much metal and will give you the crosshatch to seat your new rings. Now if the excess clearance is more like .004 or .005 you will need to rebore to the next size piston. I hope I have provided the information you were looking for, if not drop me another comment and I will see if I can clarify. Thanks for watching the channel and good luck with your project.
@@montana2strokeracer hey Dale! That’s a perfectly clear explanation for me, thank you so much!
I have a 74-75 MT1M 90. I need a piston for it. Where would you find something like that? Would a aftermarket piston be avaliable?
Hi, not really familiar with Kawasaki's, but I did a quick look at Rocky Mountain ATV/MC and got the part numbers. Standard size is 13001-061, .020 over is 13029-061, .040 over is 13027-059. Then another quick look on Ebay, showed some of those numbers. Some are located overseas from the US. There are places here to call, but I am learning too, and not familiar myself yet. Not sure of aftermarket. There is a guy on TH-cam that does everything Kawaski, and he is restoring one now, I will leave a link for you to look at what he has published, and you should be able to ask him some questions. Hope this helps, and thanks for watching my channel.
www.thejunkmanadv.com/kawasaki-mc1.html
Was the motor not running properly or not starting because a loss of compression?
When started for the first time in one of my earlier videos, the engine sounded extremely loose. Lots of rattle sent me looking for the cause.
Iam second
I am ready to learn
Got lots of caramel popcorn.
Proud of you Mark, you got the jump on the early birds. Enjoy the popcorn.
3rd
Whoa, dang Cain, think you may be more like 5th....what the heck happened.
Someone bushwacked my post
No way, Bushwacked?
@@montana2strokeracer I made a post here yesterday about the serial number of the piston Dale ordered and the next day it is gone along with other posts from watchers.
@@jamesrankin5634 Hi James, I didn't see any other posts, I answered several this morning including this one. No one should be able to remove them except me and TH-cam. I didn't! Sometimes TH-cam will remove them if there is a phone number or address or email in the post or obscene language.
The Part number of the 1.0 oversized piston that I ordered for the KD175 was 13027-065 I don't know if it will fit yet. The tracking says it will be here Monday. So sometime tomorrow I should be able to tell you if it looks like it will work or not.
@@montana2strokeracer Sorry i didn't recognise you on the last post Dale. The piston for a kd 175 is the same piston for a ke 175 there is no difference the only difference between a kd 175 and a ke is the kd is a stripped nown version for off road I am pretty sure both those models pistons are the same as the F-7. ke/kd 1976 through 78 and the 79 kd. Maybe i was in a time warp yesterday. LOL