Z900 A4 Base gasket query

[Gray17]

Afternnon Guys, im just about to refit my barrells back onto the casings, everythings in place new lower roller and cam chain guide in olace and got my new base gasket expecting it to have oil holes sinilar to the block. Its the 2 near the rear out studs (see photo) noe my nase gasket doesnt have any holes in it, ive looked o ebay at some other gasket setsand neither do they, however when i refer to my manual it says make sure oil return hole on the right. Now mine being an A4 may be diferent so thought best ask those in the knoiw.
Dont want to get it all built up and find it should have had a oil hole.
Silly question maybe but better safe then sorry, also if no hole needed why are they there?
Thanks Guys

[zed1015]

That's fine.
The oil travels up the hole from the main gallery, along the trough (under the base gasket) and up the corner studs to the cams etc.
You will notice that the gasket copies the image of the bottom of the barrels and not the face of the crankcase.

[Gray17]

Sorry to be a pain and thanks for the quick response which is greatly aporeciated.
Ithought that was the case but wasnt sure and having not done this before on this engine thought best to ask before fitting as would hate to have to strip again for oil starvation.
Many thanks

[Peteypops23]

Are you putting a bit of grease on the gasket Graham?
Makes it a bit less of a pain in the butt should you need to tear it down in the future?
Did mine last night and popped the head on too.
As has been said on here before, you don't need any fancy tools to slide the pistons in coz of the good lead-in.
Just take your time.
Pete

[Gray17]

Hi Guys yep yet another question, Sorry whilst attempting barrell fitment you have gravity against you and the barrells are quite heavy, so whats best way to support barrells whilst you compress pistion rings with your fingers. I tried the jubilee clip method but couldnt get them to slide downonce tight enough to compress rings. I've rigged up 2 pieces of wood under centre pistons which holds them rigid, but once you slide barrells on you need both hands free to enter rings?
Maybe silly question and you may say you need a buddy, which is a problem for me because of where i live. I did consider tipping engine forward so barrells resting on blanket, that way wouldnt have gravity, but engine is rearward heavy and wouldnt risk a wedge in case it gave way.
Perhaps theres an easier way? Suggestions?
Thanks

[zed1015]

Probably not much help as i've been doing it freehand for years with no ring compressors.
I just set the barrels on all four pistons mid stroke , cant it slightly so i can feed in number 1 top ring and work my way across then do the same with the second rings etc.
I just use my fingers and a toothpick or similar to feed the rings into the chamfer.
In the absence or proper ring compressors many people use short pieces of plastic drain pipe slit down it's length and a jubilee clip or zip tie for the job.

[warren3200gt]

That's why a piece of drainpipe with a slot down one side and a tie wrap works best. Just needs to be long enough to cover the rings. Tie wrap compress's them but you can't do it up tight enough to stop it sliding down with the barrels weight. Once the rings are in the bores the pipe and wrap can be taken off and both pieces are to big to accidently drop down to the crank.

Edit, Rob beat me to it!

[Gray17]

Thanks for reply, Maybe thats what im doing wrong, im trying to do centre 2 at fill height then outer 2. So if i use your method i set all 4 pistons mid way, lower block onto the top of all 4 resting it on them, then tip one slightly enter ring then move across i asdume you do all 4 pistons 1st ring, then all 4 second ring then all 4 last ring lowering block as you go. When i did the Suzuki tripple which being a 2 stroke only had 2 rings, i did each piston 1 at a time, lowering the block each time, after you had 1st one in it supported the weight.
In the Kawasakis case blocks heavier and theres 4 to do in pairs.
Guess experience and knack goes a long way

[zed1015]

Yes! I lift the block at say piston number 4 so it's canted slightly from one side to the other and feed in number ones top ring then work across.
Very much knack and experience is suppose which doesn't get a second thought.

[Gray17]

Thanks for help, used a similar method lined them all up then inserted a long piece of dowel through gudgeon pins, this stops them moving up and down and gives something to hold when inserting the rings 1 at a time, but still allows rock side to side, kept getting 3 in then 1 would pop out, eventuall all in , happy now, just got head to build up springs and check clearence on bench.
1 thing i noticed block stands slightly proud guess its new roller rubbers as theyre thicker then ild ones but once heads on and torqued they should compress ok.
Thanks