So I finally got my replacement LH valve. Brand new from Kawi. Went to install it and found the RH one is also not salvageable. So I am in search of one. Going to ask the place I got the LH one if they can get me a RH. Why would Kawi disc the RH and not the LH?
They probably cast the same number of LH and RH valves, but the right side valve tends to freeze up more with no/little maintenance. Just a guess. I've heard of a couple people talk about starting to create replacement valves for these old machines. Earlier in this thread someone got a reproduction LH valve off a KMX200 from a company in England. I wrote that company and they said they are buying used valves when they see them, but they are right now just sitting on them - which sucks for people like us who have bikes to restore.
Someone else in the KX500 forum also said they were getting some CNC equipment and would be possibly recreating some of the older KX5 valves. If that is successful maybe they will branch out.
Those can't be the only people thinking about this. With 3D printing now a "thing", how much longer before steel/AL objects can be 3D printed, and the cost should be a fraction of what it would take to have one made with CNC equipment.