motor

[russ]

i bought this bike a while back i was wonderin how to know if this is the the factory motor for this bike or did someone put it in this bike the frame says 88 but it looks like a 89 motor how do i tell

[suicyde]

does the cyl head have a water outlet that is cast in, or does it bolt on?

[russ]

on the cylinder cap it is cast in and on the jug it is bolt on, the motor casein says kx500beoo9251 and on the top of the cap it has a rad bleed screw and the cylinder cap is stamped1288 and e-2

[sandblaster]

The bottom end is an 89.
You can check K5 Engine ID's here:
http://oem-cycle.com/KAWASAKIKX500BIKEID.aspx

[suicyde]

Yep you have a '89 motor, better power valve setup for sure, and available pistons.

[russ]

the frame stamp says 10/88 for the year so that was late in the year could it be the original motor or did someone put it in there and when i go to order piston and rings and all that stuff what year do i order for

[russ]

and when you say bottom end is 89 you mean the whole motor right lol

[don46]

I would guess it is an 89 bike with a manuf date of 10/88, you could run the serial number and that would tell you for sure. as for the motor I would guess it is an 89, 88 and older had a bolt on spigot for the coolant return if yours was cast that is indicative of the 89 and newer. An older cylinder and head would fit on your bottom end, and in many cases guys did do that for performance gains, I would say the 89 and newer has a more broad powerband 88 and older a bit harsher power band.

[russ]

so i should be orderin engine parts for a 89 right ? next week i have to order a piston, rings,pin,clips and re plate the cylinder

[don46]

I would say yes you should order for an 89, however if you had a better picture of the motor it would be easier to identify, when you have the exhaust off look inside, if there is a center KIPS valve in the exhaust port defineately 89 or newer. by the way the piston will work whether it is an 88 or 89, gaskets would be different though. 89 had a standard thick head gasket, and it was really expensive, they also offered an optional thin gasket, go for the thin gasket, bumps up compression a bit.

when you say replate the cylinder I'm assuming it is shot, if not your throwing your money away. Kaw rider is offering $180 replates, can't beat the price

[russ]

i will post some pics of the motor and i live in canada so its hard to send the cylinder away any where , there is a guy in town that replates and it is around 200, but i will post some pics when i get home from work thanks again

[1989kawasaki]

take a pic of the front brake caliper, thats one of the ways i can tell if the bike is an 88 or 89

[russ]

here is some pics of the motor and front brake caliper

[Motorrad]

Love the ignition cover!..

Very.... In your face..  the way a K5 should be

[russ]

does that look like a 89 topend i know the bottom is and i painted that ignition cover my self i paint planes for a liven, and does that front brake  caliper look like a 89 or 88