Kawasaki Triples Club

Hello all, newbee here

I recently purchased a 1974 H1 500. When I first looked at it, it started on the first kick and burbled away happily, it's a recent Gary Clarke rebuild. It sounded in balance, exhaust pressure seemed balanced and then I felt the head temperature and noticed with an 'ouch' that number 1 was a lot hotter (50 centigrade at least) than 2 and 3 which were both just comfortable warm. I bought the machine anyway thinking it wasn't a mechanical issue, most probably a fuel starvation.

Next day at home I'm intending to demonstrate the apparent overheating of number 1 cylinder to my son (a professional mechanic) and surprise surprise there is no problem. Temperature is uniform and not excessive.

Now I'm guessing that my first guess was correct and it was a fuel blockage and now it's cleared itself. Nevertheless that is now just logical guessing, equally I cannot imagine what else it could have been?

So if I may beg the knowledge and experience of anyone reading this... Have you any ideas? Has anyone else had experience of this issue?

Thanks in advance for any advice offered

Welcome!

After problems in the past, I do try and check mine on a regular basis, and generally carry a cheap infra red thermometer around with me, certainly after any changes or adjustments.

It tends not to work so well on the chrome exhaust, so I always aim it for the studs.

Thanks for that Luke,

I've got an infrared temperature gun, hadn't crossed my mind to use it!

So this test
Did you just start it up in the garage?
Or ride it and then test it


Gary T

Only time that I had a single hotter pot was due to oil starvation. Turned the pipe copper in no time.
Have a look at the oil lines that feed the crank. Make sure no air bubbles in the line.