Rode the Can-Am Spyder yesterday,

[Guest]

Eliminator Engine ID#

Hello all, I'm an newbie to both the Eliminator experience and this board; hoping to get an ongoing question answered. I have an '85 with a rod thru the front of the case; so I'm looking for a case set [probably dreaming!] or a substitute motor. While researching the latter option, I've had great difficulty in determining the Engine ID prefix [upper portion of case on right side] for the '87 ZL1000 motor. This is different than the SN prefix on the frame. For example, my '85 ZL900 engine is prefixed with ZL900A. I have been told that the identifier for the engine of a ZL1000 is ZLT00AE; however, I came across an Australian government noise level document that says it could be either ZLT00AE or ZGT00AE. I then came across a reference on this site where someone had listed there '87 Eliminator SN and Engine ID; and the Engine ID began with ZGT00AE. Since Kawasaki only traces numbers by the frame SN, I can't get an answer from them. Any help, or even input from those with ZL1000s, would be appreciated.

 

[ARCHIVE_kawasaki-krazy]

Give me a chance to have a look at mine tomorrow and I'll get back to you.

In the meantime can you clarify EXACTLY what the question was.

KK

 

[Guest]

Eliminator Engine ID

Obviously, I was trying to confuse everyone, I hate being the only one in that state!

Anyway, what is the prefix or prefixes that identify an '87 ZL1000 engine? The bottom line is that I have a line on an engine out of a wrecked '87 Eliminator; but I'm not sure it really is a ZL engine. Nor am I sure if there is a significant difference between the '87 ZL1000 engine and a Concours engine; which the engine out of the wreck [prefixed with ZGT00AE] may be. I suppose I could simplify my life, part out the '85, and move on; but I hate to give it up over something as minor as a blown motor.

 

[ARCHIVE_kawasaki-krazy]

Welcome to the forum by the way.
As I say I won't get chance to look at mine before tomorrow but the ZG thing seems to ring a bell with me.
As far as the difference between a Concours engine and a ZL engine, the sump (oil pan) is different to allow for the different exhaust configuration underneath, the gearchange lever and pivot points are different but can be altered (although the shaft is in the same place) the carbs for a Concours are smaller, and the alternator for the Concours is slightly higher output. They also have different cams and such so there would be a performance difference, but if you have a Concours engine and a donor engine from a ZL, you could do the swaps and probably be OK.

Hope this helps

KK

 

[Guest]

Engine ID

Thanks, this is a lot of good information. The donor bike will be my '85 ZL900; will the carbs, starter, cylinder head, clutch, and trans fit a Concours motor? I also noticed that the ZGT motor has a trans marked ZLT00A, so it appears at least the trans is indeed from an '87 ZL1000.

 

[ARCHIVE_Rossco1]

Both my ZL1000's are "ZGT00AE" prefixed and I know both of Rockets' engines are too .. may be that all the ZL1000's over here in Oz are that way rather than "ZLT00AE".

Yep, as far as I know .. your "donor" carbs, starter, cylinder head, clutch, and trans will fit a Concours motor and vice versa, they're the same. I think the cams are different is all, but the ZL1000 has 34mm carbs whereas the ZL900 and Concours both had the 32mm's fitted.

 

[Guest]

Engine ID

Thanks; what other motors would use the 34 mm carbs?

This is like a treasure hunt, without the map!!

 

[ARCHIVE_vin]

The GPZ900 (ZX900) uses 34 mm carbs, the ZX1000A and B 36mm and ZX11 uses 40 mm.
Both of my ZL1000 motors start with the "ZGT00AE" prefix - so I wouldn't be certain that the motor you are looking at is from a GTR ?
I wouldn't worry about it even if it were - the GTR engine was modified to make a ZL engine - (both are derived from a GPZ1000RX anyhow), the GTR engine has more mid-range and the ZL had a modified cylinder head (re-profiled cams) to give more bottom end.
BUT the bit that makes the most difference is the ZL has the same INTERNAL gearing as the GPZ1000RX coupled with the GTR's final drive - which LOWERS the overall gearing and makes the ZL into a traffic light hooligan
Hope that helps you golddrakul - and welcome aboard.

 

[ARCHIVE_kawasaki-krazy]

Hope this doesn't muddy the waters but.......I have 4 engines in my shed, 2 x ZL1000 and 2 x GTR1000 (Concours) engines..........ALL 4 have the prefix ZGT00A 3 have ZGT00AE and 1 has ZGT00AF

As far as the carbs go...It's the rubbers that connect to the head and airbox that make the difference. The cylinder head is the same. The internal diameter of the rubbers is different.

Other differences to identify a GTR engine include polished engine casings on the ZL and (because they are behind the fairing) black on the GTR.
The gear lever points forward on the ZL and backwards on the GTR
Gear lever pivots on a pin in the engine casing on a ZL and on a bracket on the GTR.
Look for evidence of bolts through the front top engine mountings for a GTR, On the ZL they are blanked off as it has a cradle type frame.

KK

 

[Guest]

Engine ID

This forum is awesome, you guys are great!!

Kawasaki-Crazy, thanks for the info; must be nice to have a "spare parts" collection like that!! Not sure what the "F" means on the fourth one; however, given your location, I have a thought. I have seen reference to various versions of the LZ depending on the country it was exported to; the designation "F" was used for French bikes. The "E" could easily be "English" speaking [England/America/Canada], "L" for the American "CaLifornia" model. As for my "spare", the side cover pieces are polished and the frame mounts are blanked out, so my it looks like it really is a ZL1000! Any idea where I can get both sets of the rubber connectors?

Vin, my thanks to you also; I just missed a set of ZX900 carbs on E-Bay last night that had a "Buy it now" price of $49.00! That will teach me to sleep! The tranny in my "spare" engine is marked as a "ZLT" engine, so I guess I'm getting closer to being back on the road than I thought.

Thanks again to all, if I can ever be of any help here in the midwest, let me know.

 

[ARCHIVE_kawasaki-krazy]

Re: Engine ID

Kawasaki-Crazy, thanks for the info; must be nice to have a "spare parts" collection like that!!

Not that impressive really. I have my baby, The ZL, and my commuter, The (very old) GTR. Over the years I have kept my eye on fleabay and bought a wrecker of each bike just for spares. The complete bikes were selling for less than the cost of the individual parts. It was purely an economic decision. Especially since the ZL parts are hard to find these days, and the GTR has to run every day, its my only transport since the wife won't let me drive my car

KK

 

[ARCHIVE_Rocket]

Boys, just another difference between the GTR (Concours) engine and the ZL; the balancer shaft does not exist in the ZL motor. On the GTR you can find its adjustment lever on the RHS lower portion of the crankcase below the front section of the clutch cover.

The reason it was removed on the ZL is because KHI considered acceleration (throttle response) was more important for a "Performance Cruiser" than it was for the shaft providing smooth running on a "Tourer" such as the GTR1000 (Concours).

 

[Guest]

Engine ID

Rocket,
Thanks for the info, I've learned more on this forum in a week than in the last two months of searching other places!
Any thoughts on carburator interchange? I have found specs that indicate an 1100 Zephyr and ZX750 both use the Keihin CVK34 X 4 carb set that the ZL1000 used; if I get a set from one of those will I be missing a bunch of brackets and linkages, or will it be usable? Lots of questions, I don't seem to have many answers. Wish I could provide some help to you guys!

 

[ARCHIVE_vin]

Don't know for certain, but I am fairly confident that if the carbs have the same naming as the ZL carbs - CVK34, then they should be OK.
The thing that may be different is the rail that the carbs are mounted on - that gives them the correct spacing to line up with the inlet manifold stubs.
So you could by a rack of carbs and changinge the plates / rails over and BoBs your Auntie !
Keep asking the questions - you are exercising my grey matter!
I enjoy reading the questions and the replies from the other guys - thats how we share and learn!

 

[ARCHIVE_kawasaki-krazy]

Re: Engine ID

Wish I could provide some help to you guys!

You can...............by updating us on your progress and letting us know where we got things wrong........for next time

KK

 

[Guest]

Engine ID

Vin & KK,

Continuing to progress one step at a time; picked up a starter for $35 tonight. That leaves me with the carbs and generator; however, I'm pretty sure the generator from my '900 will fit. Found a couple of sets of CVK 34X4 carbs, but the references I've been looking at for interchange don't list them as fitting the ZL1000. Will continue to advise as I stumble forward on this.

Thanks again to all,

Bob

 

[ARCHIVE_kawasaki-krazy]

Yep.. Generator is identical between 900 & 1000 ZL's. As for the carbs, as has already been said, the spacing will probably be the problem if anything. The linkages being the only problem as the connecting bracket is only a piece if aluminium angle, but if you have the 900's carbs, the linkages are the same as the 1000's carbs, may be possible to swap them over. It's a thought.

KK

 

[ARCHIVE_vin]

Hey Golddrakul,
don't woory too much if the parts list don't mention the CVK34s as a direct match for the ZL - you can unscrew the carb bodies from the rails and put them on your rails - that should work fine.
But I have not done it myself - the theory is fine
The reason why the parts lists don't match is the carb spacings vary on some models - hence the change in part numbers !
Let us know if you do swap them over !

 

[ARCHIVE_Rocket]

You've also got to consider the fuel interconnects, they are sealed by O ring so they should slide inside the carb holes up to a point, not sure how much room this will give you though...

 

[Guest]

Engine ID

Thanks for the info on the carbs, I'll keep you guys updated. Have someone local that may part with a set of Concours carbs.