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BIKELAND > FORUMS > ZX-14.com > Thread: ZX14 Warranty Saga- NEW TOPIC NEW POLL POST REPLY
stevewfl


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Posts: 27920
posted October 04, 2006 02:07 PM        
ZX14 Warranty Saga-

Not long ago while riding with Smokin' and Tony I noticed a very light oil film on the left side fairing. We all looked at it, my bike seemed full of oil. I wrote it off and figured I ran over something oily on the wet streets. The fella's gave me some excellent advice- simply clean the bike and watch it. I didn' t see anything for quite some time.

Today at lunch I saw a small puff of smoke. Looked down and saw a light oil film on the fairing again. Rode it to the dealer I bought it from. They insisted on keeping it to remove the fairing, check it out and telling me if its warranty or not. They showed me from first glance it appears to be the valve cover gasket, and they said they've many model bikes with the valve cover lip rolled from the factory that eventually had a leak.

OK great, but I had no transportation. I aksed them to please just figure out what parts are needed and I'll be back with the bike. Well they went one step further and said they wouldn't be comfortable letting me leave with the bike not right. They provided me a ride home in their custom "TampaMotorsports" truck. Incredible customer service, I don't live near there.

I'm anxious to see what they say about warranty coverage considering the exhaust and Gen3 I recently installed on it. Anyway I'll post up as the saga continues.... and for now I'm without a bike
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike

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shawnski


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Posts: 1809
posted October 04, 2006 02:15 PM        Edited By: shawnski on 4 Oct 2006 15:16
this happen to me on my 02 zx12, very smalll oil leak from right side valve cover which is noticable on zx12 without removing the fairing. did not do anything about it till i sold it, this was there pretty much from day one i bought the bike and did not get any worse till i sold it with about 7000 miles.
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worm~hole


Needs a life
Miles to go before I sleep....
Posts: 10623
posted October 04, 2006 02:15 PM        
...nice story
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Vegasdude


Zone Head
Posts: 821
posted October 04, 2006 02:25 PM        
The pipe won't cause any issues.....................relax...........!
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onekwik12


Parking Attendant
Posts: 19
posted October 04, 2006 04:38 PM        
Ipicked my zx14 up from the dealer rode it back to work ,which was 14 miles on the odomiter.I was checking it out at work and found oil on my left fairing.It was coming out of the valve cover gasket so keep an eye on yours............
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stevewfl


Moderator
Posts: 27920
posted October 04, 2006 07:13 PM        
Thanks ya'll

wow maybe this won't be too much drama after all....
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike

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smokinZX14


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Posts: 10197
posted October 04, 2006 08:12 PM        
quote:
Thanks ya'll

wow maybe this won't be too much drama after all....
That's why you were not at sunshine speedway tonight ... Tony Did real good for his first time down the track on his zx14 ...I'll let him tell you his ET and MPH ... I did ok to with a 6.08 pass ....Smokin...
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stevewfl


Moderator
Posts: 27920
posted October 04, 2006 08:16 PM        
quote:
quote:
Thanks ya'll

wow maybe this won't be too much drama after all....
That's why you were not at sunshine speedway tonight ... Tony Did real good for his first time down the track on his zx14 ...I'll let him tell you his ET and MPH ... I did ok to with a 6.08 pass ....Smokin...


Ya I figured he would be fast.... hopefully next week I can make it out ,but ya my bike is ill for right now
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike

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suicycle


Expert Class
Posts: 136
posted October 05, 2006 01:56 AM        
When I went to install the pipe on my friends zx14 the other day..I also noticed an oil film on the left side fairing. When I looked into the opening I noticed that his valve cover gasket was leaking. So he made an appointment and got the bike back into his dealer. They are fixing under warranty this week. His oil was low...I had to add about a quart to his bike to bring it back up to spec. His clutch also just started slipping. (he has 6000 miles on his bike and isnt a drag racer) He told the dealer that he thought maybe since the oil got so low from the leak that the clutches got dry and lead to their failure. So, the dealer got permission from Kawi to change the clutches under warranty also. Pretty kewl on the dealers part but looks like a potential problem if other 14s seem to be having the same prob. Dont they own torque wrenches in Lincoln Nebraska? First improperly torqued down sensors and now leaking valve cover gaskets (which his just looked like it wasnt snugged down enough). Fortunately so far (knock on wood) mine appears to be fine. Just my $.02.
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bigdtd


Needs a job
Interceptors
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posted October 07, 2006 04:47 PM        
how many live in the tampa area I am in Largo with my black 14
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2006 Black ZX-14,6 inches over,16/42, flies out,BMC Street Filter,Brock's Street Meg,Brock's Radial Mount Strap,PClll with Race map,Dynojet LCD w/Techmount, ZX-14 fender eliminator,Pilot Power2CTs,Speedohealer,Pazzo Levers,Cox Radiator Guard, Garmin Nuvi 265WT

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Bently


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2012 14r In Blue and no Mods!
Posts: 5428
posted October 07, 2006 06:59 PM        
4300 miles and 82 passes at the track and clutch is still like new.
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stevewfl


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Posts: 27920
posted October 07, 2006 07:03 PM        
quote:
how many live in the tampa area I am in Largo with my black 14


I'm in Tampa and 2 more of us live across the bridge nearer to you. Did you have your Black 14 lowered at the dealership? If so I may have seen you there
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'08 R1 YAMAHA
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CBR600RR track bike

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bigdtd


Needs a job
Interceptors
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posted October 08, 2006 06:48 AM        
No its bone stock, so far....but it does go lower when I sit on it
Looking at some exhaust changes, power commander and fender eliminator(ordered a cool one) in the (near) future. This bike runs nice stock tho.
I''ve been to the Lube and seen one other 14, it was a blue one.
We need to get the bikes together...

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stevewfl


Moderator
Posts: 27920
posted October 08, 2006 01:56 PM        
Once mine comes out of the warranty shop we certainly will! I look forward to it, Thanks


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'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
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stevewfl


Moderator
Posts: 27920
posted October 11, 2006 02:04 PM        
Still haven't got my bike back. Put it in the shop the 4th. Called my saleman today and he spoke with the service department, they promise to have it ready tomorrow. I still dunno the details of repair, but should tomorrow




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'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
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shawnski


Pro
Posts: 1809
posted October 11, 2006 02:29 PM        
quote:
Still haven't got my bike back. Put it in the shop the 4th. Called my saleman today and he spoke with the service department, they promise to have it ready tomorrow. I still dunno the details of repair, but should tomorrow






it is very sad that it takes most motorcycle dealers that long to fix a bike. i guess you have to do it because of warranty. i will never take mine to any dealer service departments, getting oil change and tighten your chain, you have to leave it there for couple of days!! i have a local place that do great job and i can trust his work and done very quick and will charge less than dealer.
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stevewfl


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posted October 13, 2006 09:56 PM        
Saga over. The guy that did the work said it was a valve cover gasket leaking and replaced along with 4 o-gaskets. The bike was late compared to the "3-5 days" they quoted, it was there a week and a half. The work order said the same but the first line said "head gasket". So either they BS'd me or they are sticking it to Kawasaki. And my bike was filthy when I picked it up, after I embarrassed them they cleaned some leftover oil from inside the fairing. That half-azz shop is what I've come to expect from a dealership. Saga over and I rode with 'busa gal a few hundred miles tonight with no sign of oil leak.


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ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike

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CrotchRocket


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posted October 14, 2006 05:54 AM        
I heard about some guy in Tampa doing a bunch of top speed runs and riding 3 gear wheelies on the highway on a red 14!!!
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shawnski


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Posts: 1809
posted October 14, 2006 06:23 AM        
quote:
Saga over. The guy that did the work said it was a valve cover gasket leaking and replaced along with 4 o-gaskets. The bike was late compared to the "3-5 days" they quoted, it was there a week and a half. The work order said the same but the first line said "head gasket". So either they BS'd me or they are sticking it to Kawasaki. And my bike was filthy when I picked it up, after I embarrassed them they cleaned some leftover oil from inside the fairing. That half-azz shop is what I've come to expect from a dealership. Saga over and I rode with 'busa gal a few hundred miles tonight with no sign of oil leak.




glad to see everything worked out for you. that is good example of dealer service for you. thank god we don't get as much problems from bikes and they are pretty much reliable.
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stevewfl


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posted October 14, 2006 11:03 AM        
quote:
I heard about some guy in Tampa doing a bunch of top speed runs and riding 3 gear wheelies on the highway on a red 14!!!


I only do top speed runs on our long bridges (never the "highways") hehe and I'm only wheel-up in third when I'm not paying attention and shifting screwed up from 2nd...so it can't be me! But if you see that fella' please tell him to be careful, and suggest he gets a strap! (at least everyone has been telling me that helps)


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ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike

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stevewfl


Moderator
Posts: 27920
posted October 27, 2006 12:14 PM        
OK THE SAGA IS NOT OVER-----

Noticed oil on left side fairing and took it back to Kawasaki for the SAME problem as before , very slight oil leak originating from left side of valve cover.

They are baffled and gave my bike back and ordered some more parts. They showed me the last valve cover gasket they replaced and it was fine. They said when they tear it apart for the next valve cover job, they will inspect the head cover and head to see if it is warped or has burrs, but they didn't notice anything last time. And they said it will again be warranty. Also, they have heard of this oil leak problem with other ZX14s, and they are contacting Kawasaki for suggestions since its the second time with the same problem.

So thats twice its going in. I'll be finding out if Florida's lemon law not only applies to car but bikes too, if so this ZX14 may be turned in soon.
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'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike

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Bently


Needs a life
2012 14r In Blue and no Mods!
Posts: 5428
posted October 27, 2006 12:34 PM        
Well I don't know if this will apply but my zx 10 had an oil leak from the valve cover and I let it go untill I degreed the cams and put the thin head gasket on and I put it back together and still had leak, tore down again did not really see anything, put back together and still leaked, long story short I had it apart 5 times checking head for being warped, valve cover from being warped, finally we noticed the valve cover had a rasied casting that was to tall and was hitting on the cam cap. you could see where it was rubbing. Ground down the casting and back together ,never leaked again. something to check out.
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stevewfl


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posted October 27, 2006 12:48 PM        
Thanks! I'll print this when i take the bike back after they get the parts. They need all the help they can get




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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike

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stevewfl


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Posts: 27920
posted October 27, 2006 12:59 PM        
This being the 2nd time its in for an oil leak really helps push me towards the R1 litre bike I've been contemplating....'now the second bike will serve as a back-up for when the 14 is in the shop. This will be the third time, 1st was recall on down sensor, 2nd oil leak, no again oil leak. Standby bike is almost practical
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'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike

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SoCal ZX-14 Rider


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posted October 27, 2006 02:26 PM        
I also have a post on here for the oil leak, same symptoms. I cleaned the area and have been checking the oil daily and running to red-line 2nd, 3rd, 4th when I have the room to see what happens and it looks like it stopped. I had a bunch of goo and small amount of oil then cleaned it ran it hard now nothing. It;s really only been 2 days since Icleaned it so its really too early to tell. I did notice I was drawn to the problem because of a burning smell coming from the head pipe area when I came to a light or parked. I dont smell it anymore, maybe something melted like a hose because theres goo all over the hoses running by the number 1 cylinder. I'm going to Intimida2ors tommarrow and have him look, he's a bike Mech so maybe he can tell.
Keep us posted.
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