TOPIC:

As I am sure most owners know, our beloved 1300/6 has a Nylon Water Pump Gear which drives the water pump impeller shaft for the water pump impeller inside the water pump at the front of the engine.
Under normal working conditions, this Nylon Gear can last many miles with some owners reporting close to 100,000 miles before needing to be replaced.
They can however wear or crack quite easily if the engine gets too hot due to poor cooling or low oil levels, as the Nylon becomes softer with heat and separates from the metal shaft it is machined onto. They are also easily damaged if not removed or refitted very carefully and as they are situated in the very middle of the engine in the cylinder block, it is a top end removal process to access it for replacement. Also, as this part was discontinued by Kawasaki many years ago, they are very hard to find in good used condition. Z1300DE in Germany do offer a re-conditioned part for this.....................

If you do ever need to replace your Nylon Water Pump Gear, it is important you are aware that there are essentially TWO different types of Gear applicable to different 1300/6 models and over the years many owners have bought one thinking it is the correct one for their bike, to find it is incorrect.

I have written this post to clear any doubt for owners as to which Nylon Gear is the correct one for their model.

APPLICATION.

If you have a Z1300 or KZ1300 A1 or A2, then your Ignition Pick -Up Unit will be situated on the RIGHT HAND SIDE of your engine behind the cylinder block.
This Ignition Pick-Up Unit is driven by the same centre shaft inside the engine which the Nylon Water Pump Gear is also on and the Nylon Gear has METAL TEETH on the opposite end for another Metal Gear to fit onto which then drives the Ignition Pick-Up Unit.
THIS NYLON GEAR WITH METAL TEETH ON THE OPPOSITE END CAN BE SEEN IN THE 1st IMAGE BELOW.

If you have a Z1300 or KZ1300 A3/A4 or A5, then you will NOT have an Ignition Pick-Up Unit like the A1 and A2, as yours will be positioned on the end of the crankshaft. This also applies to all other 1300/6 models other than the Z1300 & KZ1300 A1/A2.
As a result, your Nylon Gear DOES NOT NEED the metal teeth on one end, as it is not driving anything other than the water pump impeller shaft.
THIS NYLON GEAR WITHOUT METAL TEETH CAN BE SEEN IN THE 2nd IMAGE BELOW.

I am of the understanding that the A1 / A2 Gear can still be used in the later A3/A4 and A5 Models, as it will still fit, but the metal teeth are then just not used.

Hopefully this will help you if you are ever unfortuante enough to need to replace this part !!

Pete F
UK