Kawasaki Z1/Z900 top cam roller DIY repair guide

[zed1015]

Yes! Usually cheaper direct from a bearing supplier.
The Ebay link was just to show what they were available and the different part numbers they go by.
The originals were SCE78 INA brand and are better quality than IKO etc so better to pay a little more for those.

[Gray17]

Wow! you certainly know your stuff, (another poster asked a question about some bolts, before I'd even had chamce to go and measure them youd answered) I have googled INA as not heard of them they come up as 1 of the top 9 bearing manufacturers in the world, however google rate SKF as the best and IKO i think 3rd, with INA lower down but guess each manufacturer has its own type it makes the best. In the same way MK is renowned as the best electrical manufacturer of sockets etc.
For some reason very few bearing places stock the INA ones, but can get within a few days, whereas the IKO ones are on the shelf, although they each have their own unique codes they show up as the same equivalent imperial bearing.
Obviously now ive decided to replace the needle rollers im keen to get the best, as only wamt to replace them once, that said at the age i am and the mileage i do annually, think any would suffice and see my lifetime out thats for sure.
Thanks again for all the info

[zed1015]

Yes! They are a little elusive in the uk but you can get them from here.

https://www.zoro.co.uk/shop/bearings-an ... ZT1439484S

[Gray17]

Thank you, i got a return call from my local bearing suppliers telling me they have them in stock £3.59 each which i thought reasonable was just about to say ill have 3 please, when the lady says oh by the way their not INA, Oh! ok what are they then? We just supply an equivalent no idea what they are until they arrive.
At which point i said ill leave it thanks as you just said their in stock.
Why would i ask specifically for INA and then accept another cheaper make, and they have no idea who makes them?

[Gray17]

Update today got my new cam chain guide, lower rubber roller and the little rubber buffers that support the pivots. Thanks for prompt delivery Zpower.
I cannot believe how much difference there is between the original and the new.
The new ones are firm but you can feel the flexibity in them, the old ones are solid with no give at all, i'm glad i bit the bullet and got these, of course their not cheap, but then nothing Z is these days!
just awaiting 3 new cam roller bearings to be delivered then i can carry on with engine rebuild. Well at least up to the cylinder head as thats away getting refurbed at engineering works.

[Gray17]

Update, ordered 3 of the bearings from Simply bearings and chose the free postage option (says 3 -5 days) arrived next day excellent service. Tried to get the original INA ones but would have had to wait longer so settled on IKO which are Japanese and according to google a top 5 world manufacturer so hopefully be up to the task. Total cost for the 3 £9.50 which is a bit of a bargain!
I have pressed out the 3 old bearings using 2 sockets in a vice and will press in the new ones using the vice as a press rather then tapping them in. To be fair the old bearings considering their over 40 years old, apoear to be in excellent condition, despite my running up on the bench (altho they were soaked in oil 1st) All of the remaining parts needed arrived from Zpower, cam guide, new rubber lower roller and rubber pad kit. (cant believe the difference in flexibility from old to new) I also got my cylinder head back from the engineering company, suitably repaired and refreshed (see my other post).
So now got everything i need to complete engine rebuild.
We shall see how my modified roller mod performs in practice!
My thanks to Zed1015 who gave me the bearing details and everyone else who chipped in.