HiMile14
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posted October 25, 2006 08:56 AM
15,000 mile Valve Check
Well as I write this my bike is undergoing it's 15,000 mile check up. I really have mixed feelings about this although I trust the Machanics the bike never runs the same when things are put back together. At any rate I will report back later today of the results.
For those you all keeping track of my pet peeves, I requested the Spark Plugs Not be removed. I promised you all that my plugs will go 32,000 miles or until they foul out.
The Valve check, Air Filter, Oil Filter & Oil Change (Ams-Oil) and bearing check all done for 400 dollars.
Also they gave me a 2005 ZX636 to ride home and back, pretty good dealership in my opinion.
Rob
  
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SoCal ZX-14 Rider
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posted October 25, 2006 09:56 AM
Weren't the valves supposed to be checked at 7500 miles? I could swear thats what it said in my operators manual, don't have it with me.
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If I'm not riding her, I'm dreaming about riding her! Mount up!
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HiMile14
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posted October 25, 2006 10:40 AM
I just confirmed it is 15,000 miles. I also confirmed that other than US, CA and AU models 26,000 miles is the interval (I will admit I was wrong earlier). Hey if things are near perfect as I suspect it is (barring any possible problems) this engine will not see a shop til 50,000 miles. Keep in mind that will be sometime in early 2008.
When I was in Daytona last week One of the Kawasaki Reps took a listen to the engine and really liked the way the valves were working. He explained that they sounded a bit loose but that was exactly where he liked his engine. I asked the guys at the shop that if the engine was in spec but loose don't mess with it. Please feel free to throw me your opinion, I'm all ears.
Robert
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wrongway
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posted October 25, 2006 10:41 AM
bearing check ?? as long as it has oil pressure , why would you do that ?
Roy
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HiMile14
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posted October 25, 2006 12:19 PM
My bad steering stem bearings, I think.
Rob
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INTIMIDA2OR
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posted October 25, 2006 03:53 PM
quote:
I just confirmed it is 15,000 miles. I also confirmed that other than US, CA and AU models 26,000 miles is the interval
Man Nothing to do but ride the thing and change the filter and oil huh!
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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Flame On
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Fuel Air & Spark
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posted October 25, 2006 04:08 PM
Whats up with our CA bikes 26,000 mi. What makes them differnt?
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77 RD 400
80 GS1000 GT
06 ZX14
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lizard
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Modulator
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posted October 25, 2006 04:08 PM
Check, baby, check, baby, 1-2-3-4
Check, baby, check, baby, 1-2-3
Check, baby, check, baby, 1-2
Check, baby, check, baby, 1
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HiMile14
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posted October 25, 2006 04:38 PM
quote:
Whats up with our CA bikes 26,000 mi. What makes them differnt?
CA is Canada. I think AU is Australian.
Here is why we are stuck at 15K and the rest of the world is 26K. Seems the rest of the world uses leaded fuel and leaded fuel is somewhat more friendly to the Valves than unleaded fuel. I think the use of leaded fuel cushions the valve in some way, he continued but I did not fully understand. Here is where you all can fill me in.
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HiMile14
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posted October 25, 2006 05:06 PM
Results are in:
Everything looked good but not perfect. The bike was a bit out of spec (error) was on the loose side however (2) exhaust valves were out of spec by .0085 vs .007 which is within spec. The shop said that all the rest of the valves were slightly loose but in spec. The engine does still tap just not as loud, and RPMs sit on top of 900 and don't budge even a little.
Spark Plugs: Well he changed them out. He said in although they did not look bad they could have looked better and he felt that it would be best to get new ones. My opinion, well looking at the Plugs of the VFR with 32K on them and these with 15K on them well they looked the same so I'll go with his opinion. He did think that they most likely would have lasted 32K
Air Filter: looked fair, I wish he would have given me the old one but at 20 dollars I can't complain, my Honda filter was $50.
Steering Head: was in spec:
Chain was adjusted for the second time.
Brake Pads have 1/2 life left, (keep in mind I traveled 7000 miles in 8.5 days.)
I have pics of the Spark Plugs and shims removed if anyone is interested
Robert
14,735 miles
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Fuel Air & Spark
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posted October 25, 2006 05:08 PM
Dooooh!!!!! thanks hm14 .Dam they still get to shoot lead
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77 RD 400
80 GS1000 GT
06 ZX14
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INTIMIDA2OR
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posted October 25, 2006 05:09 PM
quote:
quote:
Whats up with our CA bikes 26,000 mi. What makes them differnt?
CA is Canada. I think AU is Australian.
Here is why we are stuck at 15K and the rest of the world is 26K. Seems the rest of the world uses leaded fuel and leaded fuel is somewhat more friendly to the Valves than unleaded fuel. I think the use of leaded fuel cushions the valve in some way, he continued but I did not fully understand. Here is where you all can fill me in.
Ah yes leaded fuels = more cusion less valve seat wear unlike non-leaded US fuels that allow more "pounding the valve into the head" wear.
Cool!
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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Flame On
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Fuel Air & Spark
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posted October 25, 2006 05:19 PM
Wow 7000 miles in 8 1/2 days thats some serious riding.
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77 RD 400
80 GS1000 GT
06 ZX14
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shawnski
Pro
Posts: 1809
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posted October 25, 2006 05:25 PM
quote:
Results are in:
Everything looked good but not perfect. The bike was a bit out of spec (error) was on the loose side however (2) exhaust valves were out of spec by .0085 vs .007 which is within spec. The shop said that all the rest of the valves were slightly loose but in spec. The engine does still tap just not as loud, and RPMs sit on top of 900 and don't budge even a little.
Spark Plugs: Well he changed them out. He said in although they did not look bad they could have looked better and he felt that it would be best to get new ones. My opinion, well looking at the Plugs of the VFR with 32K on them and these with 15K on them well they looked the same so I'll go with his opinion. He did think that they most likely would have lasted 32K
Air Filter: looked fair, I wish he would have given me the old one but at 20 dollars I can't complain, my Honda filter was $50.
Steering Head: was in spec:
Chain was adjusted for the second time.
Brake Pads have 1/2 life left, (keep in mind I traveled 7000 miles in 8.5 days.)
I have pics of the Spark Plugs and shims removed if anyone is interested
Robert
14,735 miles
do you see any difference in performance ? how does it run?
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INTIMIDA2OR
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RED rider!
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posted October 25, 2006 05:33 PM
quote:
(2) exhaust valves were out of spec by .0085 vs .007
Wow that is loose 
It'll be interesting to see if this will be common on the 14's because it's nice to see a motor that actually wears the valves the better way VS. tight!
____________
'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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HiMile14
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posted October 25, 2006 05:35 PM
Performance seems the same, just more quite. In fact this is the first time I've gotten a bike back from the shop and it really did not feel any different (a good thing).
Having said that the guy who did the test ride told me that he feels confident mine would have buried the one he rode. Maybe not a fair compar-o but that is what he said.
BTW for the most part I use 87 Oct fuels.
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HiMile14
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posted October 25, 2006 05:40 PM
quote:
quote:
(2) exhaust valves were out of spec by .0085 vs .007
Wow that is loose
It'll be interesting to see if this will be common on the 14's because it's nice to see a motor that actually wears the valves the better way VS. tight!
I agree, from what I understand loose is better than perfectly in spec.
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Hannula
Novice Class
Posts: 57
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posted October 26, 2006 01:09 AM
quote:
Here is why we are stuck at 15K and the rest of the world is 26K. Seems the rest of the world uses leaded fuel [...]
Nope, the leaded fuel has disappeared years ago. Limit for lead in fuel is 0,005 grams per litre in EU, and in Finland there's been no lead if fuel since '80s and the fuel is practically sulphur-free (< 10 mg per kg, EU limit is 50 mg per kg). In some less developed countries there's still leaded fuel in use (like Peru), but in Europe the fuel is practically lead-free, with an exception of AVGAS. Even sub-Saharan Africa has made significant progress in getting rid of leaded fuel (http://www.cleanairnet.org/ssa/1414/articles-69320_status_report_English.pdf).
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HiMile14
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posted October 26, 2006 03:50 AM
quote:
quote:
Here is why we are stuck at 15K and the rest of the world is 26K. Seems the rest of the world uses leaded fuel [...]
Nope, the leaded fuel has disappeared years ago. Limit for lead in fuel is 0,005 grams per litre in EU, and in Finland there's been no lead if fuel since '80s and the fuel is practically sulphur-free (< 10 mg per kg, EU limit is 50 mg per kg). In some less developed countries there's still leaded fuel in use (like Peru), but in Europe the fuel is practically lead-free, with an exception of AVGAS. Even sub-Saharan Africa has made significant progress in getting rid of leaded fuel (http://www.cleanairnet.org/ssa/1414/articles-69320_status_report_English.pdf).
Thanks for the information, I was under the same thinking, but this is what the shop guy suspected (I'm doing a little CYA for him).
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HiMile14
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posted October 26, 2006 03:35 PM
A quick update, riding today I found that the 14 was more crisp than before. The valves were a bit more noisy than yesterday but it was warmer today. She seems to respond NOW where as before it was a bit more relaxed.
Rob
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HiMile14
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posted October 29, 2006 05:49 AM
I wanted to update you all with pics of the paperwork.
The first pic is first 1/2 of the paperwork.
Second 1/2
This is a pic of the all the sparkplugs and shim, note plugs 1 & 2 vs 3 & 4.
Now you all know why I did not argue leaving the plugs in for 32,000 miles.
Shop guy says that most likely these Spark Plugs would have made 32K but looking at them I understand his concern.
Rob
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SoCal ZX-14 Rider
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posted October 29, 2006 08:01 AM
Trying to understand here.........
If .007 (7 thousanths) is the correct gap and you circled .0085 which is 1 1/2 thousanths more of a gap why isn't the .01 and .009 circled? .01 would be 3 thousanth off and .009 would be 2 thousanths off which is larger than .0085. Are we only talking intake valves or are the intake specs different than the exhaust?
Just trying to understand.
____________
If I'm not riding her, I'm dreaming about riding her! Mount up!
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Denver zx 14
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posted October 29, 2006 08:11 AM
Exhaust clearances are (0.0087-0.0106 in.)
Intake clearances are (0.0059-0.0079 in.)
His exhaust clearances were within spec and did not need adjusting.
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HiMile14
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posted October 29, 2006 05:39 PM
Thanks DenverZX14, He did not get that detailed. Is this what caused the spark plugs to look as they do?
Rob
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