ANOTHER DUMB QUESTION

[monster malibu]

Hey guys, I keep seeing posts with talk about "KIPS". What is "KIPS"? Does my 87 have it?

[bruzer88]

KIPS is the exhaust valve on KX motorcycles.

b88

[Arigato]

Yes, your bike has KIPS.

[Danger4u2]

This will help you big time on KIPS, go to 2.3.  You'll want to read the whole thing.  This link helped me immensely.

Good luck,
Danger

http://www.hallbergs.net/kx500/

Edited: 6/30 to add this comment and link:
Here is where I found the link, below is a quote from that link, I don't have an 89 K5
http://www.kxriders.com/forums/index.php/topic,1406.15.html

This is an instruction how to do a top-end rebuild on a KX-500. Most pictures are of my own bike (1989) during a rebuild spring 2005. Some pictures are borrowed from the Internet. Credit should be given to Doordie (Do-or-Die) for most of the tuning information and the KXRiders forum for random nuggets of information.

[hangtime]

Monster, your power valve (KIPS) is different than the 89 and up so you might want to get a manual for 86,87, 88. I believe they have the same power valve.

[BigGreenMachine]

Any way to convert the old 88 and previous power valve cylinders to the new design? Would say a 90 topend fit the 88 and previous with some or no work?

[hangtime]

I don't think you could put the newer style power valves in the old cylinder head. But I think you can bolt the newer cylinder to the old bottom end.

[monster malibu]

Thanks for the help guys. I need to get the repair manual from the previous owner of my bike.

[BigGreenMachine]

I don't think you could put the newer style power valves in the old cylinder head. But I think you can bolt the newer cylinder to the old bottom end.

Can anyone confirm?

[hughes]

I'm using a newer cylinder gasket on my 87. If the gasket is cut the same than I can't see why the 89-04 cylinder would bolt on to the 87 bottom end. Very little changes to the bottom end of these engines.

[BigGreenMachine]

Yeah I found an old post by you saying you were running the new style head gasket. Surprised that it fit myself but very happy to hear.

The whole cylinder/powervalve setup should bolt up without mods, very happy to hear and will be looking for an updated cylinder when I rebuild my motor.

James

[hughes]

Yeah I found an old post by you saying you were running the new style head gasket. Surprised that it fit myself but very happy to hear.

The whole cylinder/powervalve setup should bolt up without mods, very happy to hear and will be looking for an updated cylinder when I rebuild my motor.

James

Can you link that old post? That could be an error on my part. My bike is running the standard 87 head gasket which is diff, from the 89-04 head gaskets.

[BigGreenMachine]

http://www.kxriders.com/forums/index.php/topic,1940.0.html

You said you had an 89-04 head gasket on your 87 for a year.

James

[hughes]

Thanks for posting that. Sorry I was incorrect about the using the same head gasket as the 89-04 units. They are way diff. from my 87 head and gasket and wouldn't work. I'll correct that older post. Thanks.

[don46]

The general configurtation  of the base gasket is the same, with the exception of the extra KIPS shaft, so you could probably use a newer gasket on a older bike, but couldn't go the other way. If you were going to use a newer cylinder on an older bike, you could use an aluminum epoxy, or have the crankcases welded to support the additional KIPS shaft, use a newer cylinder and head, and the KIPS actuation arm would have to be changed, the newer pin is smaller.

So by the time you've done all this, it may be cheaper to buy a newer motor slip it in your bike and be happy.