1979 KZ400 H Model Cam Chain Guide...Re-Glue??

[Dr. Frankenstein]

In addition to all the other "Schtuff" I have going on, not to mention STILL not having any luck with my '78 GL1000 electronic ignition conversion, the front cam chain guide lining to my '79 KZ400 H LTD came off / is shot / needs to be replaced.

BUT...! Parts for THIS particular bike Do Not Exist! Well, that's not entirely true - hand grips, handlebars, chains, side covers, Yes...but ENGINE parts ?? No. Do it. Right now...Google "1979 KZ400 H", or "KZ400 LTD".... oh sure, lots of carburetors and manuals and forks and side covers and filters...but no engine parts!

My problem is the lining for the front cam chain guide (12053-1001) has come off and I can't find a replacement. There is one on Ebay for $130 but given my current situation that's not happening. It looks like the guide was just glued on anyway from the factory, so I'm wondering:
Is there any good way to re-glue it?? JB Weld? Brake adhesive?? Bazooka Joe bubblegum?? I am open to ideas. The lining is (or appears to be) plastic, while the guide itself is of course aluminum. Has anybody done anything like this before?

I leapt before I looked (for parts, that is) with this bike but thought it would be a cool little commuter to get going again - boy was I wrong! It seems Kawasaki made parts for every bike out there except this one!
DSCN2113 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr

If anybody out there knows about this bike, esp. where to find or how to fix the guide, or the STD pistons (64mm, part no. 13001-1001), I would be much obliged.

(Anybody know anything about Pliobond adhesives? That looks like it might work...)

[pidjones]

Brake linings were sometimes glued. Pliobond 30 is mentioned for them. Google glued brake linings. I suspect cleaning is a #1 priority.

[flyin900]

Does this help as I find if you keep checking parts do show up.

eBay item number:130545288254

[Sidecar Bob]

A bit more expensive but NOS
https://www.z-power.co.uk/z400440-twin/ ... d3d4-kz400

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Hi guys -
Flyin900, I appreciate the assist but that's the rear one; I need the front one, the one that LOOKS like the one Bob referenced in the Ebay link. And here's my problem: the manual for the KZ400H model lists the front guide as part number 12053-1001;
Now, the one in the link that Bob provided sure LOOKS like the part I need, but his link lists it as 12053-002...will it fit?? I don't know...probably...and 30 pounds is better than the $115 for the one I saw on ebay, part number 12053-1001...but that's where I get all 'iffy'...is it too long? Is it too short?? Will it fit?? The manual specifies part number 12053-1001 for my bike; they made scores of KZ400's; can I interchange them? I don't know, and nobody else seems to either.

I finally did find one under the 12053-1001 number for about $30, but it too has a loose fitting/almost coming off plastic part. Right now I'm looking into adhesives like Pliobond 25 to see if I can re-glue the plastic part to the aluminum part, because it sure looks like it was just glued on somehow from the factory and came loose due to age. I think it's nuts, that of all the bikes Kawasaki makes there just aren't any spare parts for this KZ400H anywhere. But again, I do appreciate the effort!

It's the same thing with the pistons - my KZ400H takes two Standard, 64mm pistons, part number 13001-1001; I can't find those anywhere either. There's ONE in Germany for about $65 under that part number, but Nothing anywhere else. Can I use Standard pistons from other years, specifically part number 13001-069? Those are Everywhere, but not listed as a part number for the H model! And apparently there are three different dome configurations for the KZ400, and the ones I need do not match up with the inner wrist pin shoulder configurations; does that matter?? It's driving me nuts.

They look like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/383998096548?h ... R5KNlaTnYA
The only problem with these is, if you look closely at the ring guides, you'll see they're quite buggered up and will score my cylinders, so the search continues.

[Paola Zago]

https://www.cmsnl.com/products/guide-chain_120530001/

[Paola Zago]

I know very little about it, but I hope it is the part you are looking for. CMS also has part 1253-1002

[Lucien Harpress]

Was just going to link CMS before Paola beat me to it. Best part about that site is in addition to the parts diagrams, it also usually lists superceded parts numbers, and other models that used that same part.

[Paola Zago]

Forgive me Lucien, I didn't want to overtake you, it was just a matter of time zone. we hope that Dr. Frankestein finds what he needs!

[Lucien Harpress]

Oh, no worries at all. It's a fantastic little site.

Unfortunately, Kawasaki wasn't as good as Honda when it came to using interchangable parts between models. Looks like you might just have to keep an eye out and hope you get lucky.

[Sidecar Bob]

Have you asked about this on a Kawasaki forum?

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Bob, yes I have, all I get is crickets...
Paola, I appreciate the effort, but that's not the one I need. I DO have two of the ones I need, but the adhesive is so old the plastic part the chain "guides" on has come off. I'm thinking Pliobond 25 might do the job.
Lucien, yes that's' what I'm doing. Ideally, I'd love to find a wrecked one for cheap I could cannibalize, but even on Facebook marketplace and Searchtempest I've still come up dry. The Search Continues!

No real rush though, I still have my '78 GL1000 to finish up, and another 1976 KZ400S that needs a new top end, another '68 Puch SGS that needs restoring - I stay busy. But if anyone finds one, please let me know! 1979 KZ400 H.

[Paola Zago]

have you tried to write to CMS? they have a search list where your request is entered and, when the part you are looking for is found, perhaps on the other side of the world, they will notify you if you are still interested in having it.
Paola

[LuckyEddie]

The CMS search list is a good resource, I put a set of cam belt tensioners for my 76 on the list and several months later they became available. Patience got my parts that were nowhere to be found...

[Dr. Frankenstein]

I got some Pliobond 25 and tried to reglue the tensioner-face down on the spare one I bought, as a test, but it didn't really work, the plastic face just lifted right off the aluminum guide, so I tried some Weldwood Contact Cement and that seems to work a whole lot better than the supposed 'industrial' adhesive Pliobond; now I'm just wondering if it will come off when and if I get to put it back in the engine and it's exposed to all that heat and oil...that's one opening I don't want to attend, especially if it's at speed! And I actually got VERY lucky and scored two serviceable matching pistons on eBay of the same type, bore and stroke for $20! Whoo-Hoo! Now I just have to find the time to put all that stuff back in. Baby-steps, I suppose...