- ZX-14 Cylinder Head Exploration

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entropy

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posted January 12, 2010 11:31 PM

Edited By: entropy on 13 Jan 2010 09:53

quote:

Pretty straightforward, it seems. I'll be taking the rest of the valve assemblies out tomorrow. Practice makes perfect, right?
Shane

Shane,
still one part to fish outa the bucket well, the stepped seat for the spring.

seals,
1. i don't like the blue viton seals bc they are too wide to allow pulling the spring seats/shims without removing the seals.

2. I routinely reuse valve seals, just gotta remove em carefully. The Schnitz clutch plate removal pick makes it easy. Slide the pick under the bottom of the seal near the spring clip and gently pull up. Gently...
http://www.schnitzracingstore.com/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=2307714&showprevnext=1#

3. that same Schnitz tool is perfect for pulling the buckets, just be careful to put one edge of the magnet on the the bucket, then rotate it till the magnet engages the bucket. The magnet is pretty powerful

4. installing seals: put the valve in it's place, slide the seal over the valve stem, put a 1/4" drive 10mm? long socket over the stem and gently push on the seal onto the guide. works every time.

5. as mentioned above BE UBER CAREFUL to assure each and every lil steel spring clip is correctly seated in it's groove on the seal before assembly

6. i use 3 different magnets to disassemble/assemble a head.
- the Schnitz pick to remove buckets
- a weak magnet on the end of a scribe to pull and install collets (keepers)
- a strong telescoping pen magnet to pull spring seat and shims

telescoping magnet
note: i ground two opposing sides of the magnet holder so it will fit between the guide and the bucket well to pick up the spring base/shims

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Shane661

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posted January 13, 2010 06:30 AM

Edited By: Shane661 on 13 Jan 2010 15:15

Thanks for all of the input so far!

I too was using my Schnitz clutch tool:

I'm sure everyone here has a pair of these; if not, get some! At least one hundred uses for these things...

I did have trouble removing the seals without losing the tiny spring wires. Since I more worried about that little spring than re-using the valve seals at this point, I just went with the good old needle-nose after the first few lost springs.

I saw the spring bases in there last night, but I need to get a telescoping magnet in order to remove them.

Shane

Shane661

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posted January 13, 2010 06:42 AM

Does anyone have any pictures of the stock intake and exhaust port entrances on the 12R? I would like to compare them to the 14 a bit.

I did a search, but I couldn't find anything. I'm not talking about any super-secret mystery ports...just the oem.

Shane

Shane661

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posted January 13, 2010 07:34 AM

Edited By: Shane661 on 13 Jan 2010 15:38

Here is a picture of the ZX-14 cylinder head # 4 intake port:

Since I don't know much about cylinder heads, I can't comment too much. It looks to me like the bump at the bottom of the port intlet would be designed to create turbulence, to perhaps enhance fuel atomization? It doesn't seem like that would be optimal for maximum flow?

That's why I would like to see some pics of other heads, just to compare.

Shane

LandspeedLarry

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Posts: 234

posted January 13, 2010 07:34 AM

Shane: You will find it much easier to work on a head with some sort of stand. This Moroso part is inexpensive and is available anywhere. LSL

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Moroso-62080-Cylinder-Head-Work-Stand-JEGS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ46093QQitemZ400095092996
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Shane661

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posted January 13, 2010 07:37 AM

quote:
Shane: You will find it much easier to work on a head with some sort of stand. This Moroso part is inexpensive and is available anywhere. LSL

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Moroso-62080-Cylinder-Head-Work-Stand-JEGS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ46093QQitemZ400095092996

Thanks for that suggestion, Larry. That was going to be one of my forthcoming tool-related questions.

KZScott

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posted January 13, 2010 08:23 AM

I can post a bunch when I get home. Btw brake clean and the head upside down will work too.
____________
01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos

Shane661

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posted January 13, 2010 02:16 PM

Edited By: Shane661 on 13 Jan 2010 22:37

Thanks Scott!

KZScott

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posted January 13, 2010 02:23 PM

here we go. i took them mainly as progress pics for the porting i did

that was 07 08 winter stuff. took maybe 20 hrs and $20 worth of dremmel stuff. first head. i ever ported. didnt go crazy, more or less matching stuff up and some chamber work

08 09 had a little bit done by Jim. note the difference between a freshly milled(5 thou clean up) head(last one above) and then lapped by Jim

____________
01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos

Shane661

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Posts: 11494

posted January 13, 2010 02:36 PM

Fantastic pics, Scott. Thanks!

Finished the disassembly, for the most part:

Someone asked about the casting quality. Here is a sample of the casting lines:

I assume that these casting marks are the type of thing that the DIY cylinder head porter eliminates?

Exhaust port...seems tiny?

Kleen ports?:

I noticed that the casting finish is very rough in the ports. Is this a good thing?

Shane

KZScott

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posted January 13, 2010 03:07 PM

Edited By: KZScott on 13 Jan 2010 23:10

yes i got rid of the casting lines, matched the boots, and the exhaust side to a crushed gasket. measure a gasket and throw it in for a compare and i can measure some of my old ones if you want to compare exh port size
dont really touch the bottom (cylinder side) of the exh port, take material away from the top and sides for a "D" shape
you want the exhaust ports as polished as possible i believe. not true for the intake. i think i finished intake side with 220 grit but hit the exh wiith polishing compound.
yes those are kleen ports. some guys plug them with epoxy or weld them, i was told it makes very little difference so left them.
____________
01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos

Shane661

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posted January 14, 2010 06:49 AM

Edited By: Shane661 on 14 Jan 2010 14:51

I do want to compare some of the port dimensions. Do you have a cylinder head off of a bike right now, or is everything together?

In the meantime, here is a big question:

How do I measure installed spring height?

KZScott

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posted January 14, 2010 08:19 AM

Yeah I have a damaged head from dads bike that I had basically identical to the 07 08 pics minus the chamber work. I need to go visit my baby anyway to check hindle pipe dimensions

KZScott

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posted January 14, 2010 03:40 PM

if you want anything else let me know, i dont have any stock ports to measure, but intake is hardly changed

a few used gaskets

port could be opened up a bit more but i would want to be very sure the gasket was perfectly centered

guess what the leak down was?

stock to compare. very tiny stuff

OD on the primarys were around 1.37 (35mm metric tubing i think)

____________
01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos

Texas12R

Zone Head
Posts: 545

posted January 14, 2010 04:02 PM

I dont think more is always better on exhaust port size.....but maybe Jim will comment on the D shape and
size in relation to velocity and scavanging....
as always I reserve the right to be wrong

KZScott

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posted January 14, 2010 04:06 PM

Edited By: KZScott on 15 Jan 2010 00:08

personally i feel that with my 1mm os exh valves, planned displacement of 1380cc for next yr, bigger cams, higher than stock rev limit and being bottle fed 80 hp, that a larger port will work out better. no doubt huge is bad, but i dont think we are there yet

Im thinking its just getting closer to matching the ID of the aftermarket pipe
____________
01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos

Shane661

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posted January 14, 2010 04:08 PM

Edited By: Shane661 on 15 Jan 2010 00:09

I'm pretty sure that with a turbo or nitrous, getting the exhaust out is a much bigger challenge!

Anyone care to comment on my question about measuring installed spring height, as in, how do you do it??

gilberjj

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posted January 14, 2010 04:48 PM

quote:

Anyone care to comment on my question about measuring installed spring height, as in, how do you do it??

Nope

KZScott

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posted January 14, 2010 04:52 PM

quote:

Anyone care to comment on my question about measuring installed spring height, as in, how do you do it??

never tried it

Shane661

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posted January 15, 2010 06:44 AM

quote:

never tried it

Apparently you aren't the only one.

I see several ways that I can do it...but I thought there might be an "easier" way. There are some pretty neat tools for doing this on car heads. But they are not suitable for the recessed spring design on these motorcycle heads.

This looks like a good opportunity for me to build something.

Shane

Texas12R

Zone Head
Posts: 545

posted January 15, 2010 09:06 AM

Installed height will tell you if coil bind will
come into play with a much higher lift cam...
Are you just curious? Or are you going
to use this to calculate open spring pressure...
I'm just curious

Shane661

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posted January 15, 2010 09:16 AM

Edited By: Shane661 on 15 Jan 2010 17:18

I want to learn how to measure the installed spring height so that I can check spring pressure at various amounts of lift. This will allow to see the differences among spring setups. Another benefit, as you say, would be to see if coil bind was to be an issue.

Basically, I won't be happy just installing the springs without being able to test them and know what the changes are.

I have an idea of how to set this up for measurement, but I was looking for some suggestions.

Shane

entropy

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Posts: 8671

posted January 15, 2010 01:47 PM

installed height?
just stick the tail end of the calipers down beside the spring, measure to top of the retainer.
I haven't done it in a long time, but that's how i remember it.
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Shane661

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posted January 15, 2010 03:08 PM

Dammit Karl, that's not complicated enough!! "D

Shane661

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posted January 26, 2010 05:27 PM

Edited By: Shane661 on 27 Jan 2010 02:46

Rich (Halvefast) sent me a spare cam cap he had. Thanks man!: