shawnski
Pro
Posts: 1809
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posted December 26, 2007 08:26 AM
valve cover leak in my 07 like 06
well guys, went for a nice ride yesterday and came back and decided to check few things in bike and i noticed the same location on valve cover i had leak in my 06 zx14 is doing the same in my 07. it is not as bad but still piss me off. i was hoping kawasaki had the problem fixed for 07 but i guess not. oh well.... comes march bike will be gone for sure. bike has 3500 miles on it it must have start leaking recently.
CHECK YOURS.
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zxplosion
Parking Attendant
Posts: 10
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posted December 26, 2007 08:41 AM
Shawnski, My 06 was just recently fixed for the same problem, they replaced the seal, put sealant on it and shimmed the the top part of the cover bolts so they can be tighten down tighter......
The bolts were the problem and the solution!
Good Luck!
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2006 ZX14R/ZX-PLOSION
The more we sweat in peace, The less we bleed in war! USMC
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tg1820
Expert Class
Posts: 199
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posted December 27, 2007 05:39 AM
How thick are the shims? Or can they be purchased from Kaw?
TG
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zxplosion
Parking Attendant
Posts: 10
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posted December 27, 2007 08:52 AM
quote:
How thick are the shims? Or can they be purchased from Kaw?
TG
I was told by the mechanic that the bolt has this flat piece attached to it, so what they did was shave that part of the bolt down to make it screw in tighter. He also said that the HEAD COVER bolts are not long enough.....I have contacted Kawasaki Motors, California at 949-460-5688 and the consumer rep wanted me to pass on for all who are having this problem should call. It not a recall item unless KAWASAKI get the calls.
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2006 ZX14R/ZX-PLOSION
The more we sweat in peace, The less we bleed in war! USMC
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted December 27, 2007 09:56 AM
blah they had my ZX14 several times and had called Kawi each time and replaced junk. I fixed it myself the last time the problem occured. Look in my signature.
good luck with yours
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted December 28, 2007 05:14 AM
just about every bike i've ever owned from honda and suzuki had a valve cover leak sooner or later. my 14 doesn't leak, but if it did i would fix it. trading the bike for such a minor issue seems a little extreme. do you trade it when you need brakes, tires or a chain, too? i would remove the valve cover, check and clean the surfaces, apply some 3m weatherstripping sealer to the gasket, put it back on and dare it to leak.
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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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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted December 28, 2007 06:05 AM
 Edited By: stevewfl on 28 Dec 2007 07:21
quote:
but if it did i would fix it. trading the bike for such a minor issue seems a little extreme
fix it!? some people get tired of taking it in over and over and over for the same chit lol "yes sir its fixed" just to have it happen again a third time 4000 miles later when one is 1000 or so miles from home hitting mountain twisties.
minor!? and sure its a minor issue, but other than junk like harley I don't expect to ride down the road smelling my bike burning, and cleaning oil off the outside left side fairing was BS and smelling it burning on the header.
I was planning to keep mine hi-miles because I liked the bike a lot.
I personally will not owne a bike that spits oil on the header and all the way on the left side fairing, nor will I say "ya it leaks oil but its minor". man c'mon in this day and age there are too many bikes that don't leak to keep a POS that does.
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted December 28, 2007 07:39 AM
Edited By: bigdtd on 28 Dec 2007 07:59
c'mon steve i wasn't talking about taking it to some clowns to work on it, i know plenty of qualified folks (myself included) that would be able to solve a valve cover leak if thats what it was. once its fixed there is no burning smell or cleanup yaknow.
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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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shawnski
Pro
Posts: 1809
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posted December 28, 2007 07:45 AM
quote:
just about every bike i've ever owned from honda and suzuki had a valve cover leak sooner or later. my 14 doesn't leak, but if it did i would fix it. trading the bike for such a minor issue seems a little extreme. do you trade it when you need brakes, tires or a chain, too? i would remove the valve cover, check and clean the surfaces, apply some 3m weatherstripping sealer to the gasket, put it back on and dare it to leak.
i owned 25 bikes in the past none of them leaked oil from any area specially valve cover. my 02 zx12r leaked on valve cover and my 06 zx14 and my 07 zx14 same location. that is going to tell you something. i fixed my 06 and it was a painful experience and i am planning to leave the 07 alone and trade it for another bike. idon't want to keep the bike in dealer for 2 months to get it fixed and each time they come up with some bullshit excuses.
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted December 28, 2007 07:55 AM
my comments apply to out of warranty scenario, if it is under warranty you would want to use the dealer, but if your dealer takes two months to fix a leak i would not go there, we have lots of choices in dealers to go to, or hell i know smokin could fix it pronto.(if you asked him nice)
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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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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted December 28, 2007 08:15 AM
Edited By: stevewfl on 28 Dec 2007 08:17
quote:
c'mon steve i wasn't talking about taking it to some clowns to work on it, i know plenty of qualified folks (myself included) that would be able to solve a valve cover leak if thats what it was. once its fixed there is no burning smell or cleanup yaknow.
the clowns were Kawasaki certified warranty mechanics, with Kawi on the phone. Its funny you'd shift topics to the mechanics when it leaked at...get this....right after brand new, again in a few thousand miles, and then again thousands of miles later. Is that clowns or a POS from delivery?
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted December 28, 2007 08:32 AM
Edited By: bigdtd on 28 Dec 2007 08:59
is that the same place you took it each time? the guys that left it dirty after working on it?
fyi florida has a lemon law, they get three tries then they have to buy it back
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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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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted December 28, 2007 09:02 AM
quote:
is that the same place you took it each time? the guys that left it dirty after working on it?
fyi florida has a lemon law, they get three tries then they have to buy it back
FL lemon law does not apply to motorcycles or watercraft, I checked into that already 
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted December 28, 2007 09:07 AM
I was happy with the outcome, I applied the same lemon law as many would've had you been sold a bike that got oil on the left lower fairing and headers LoL
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted December 28, 2007 09:11 AM
Edited By: stevewfl on 28 Dec 2007 09:11
bets on 1 out of 10 2008 ZX14s being leaky lemon bikes soon to go back to a dealership near you for multiple repair?
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted December 28, 2007 09:44 AM
Edited By: shane661 on 28 Dec 2007 09:47
Wow. Tough crowd. My 12R has had a minor cover leak for the last 18k miles or so. Still haven't removed the cover. I love the bike and it just went 193 mph at Maxton with my girl onboard.
Trading in a bike due to a leaking valve cover gasket is ridiculous. What happened to your '06, a leak around the oil drain plug? LOL
It sounds like you need a different bike.
Shane
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Hawkman
Zone Head
Posts: 747
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posted December 28, 2007 12:37 PM
My question is if you no longer have a 14, why are you still here crying about it? Move on. Your bike had issues, you got rid of it. Good for you. Next.
Had Kawasakis since I began riding. Never had a leaking valve cover. Guess I'm lucky. Either that, or my 100k miles worth of riding isn't enough. 40k being on a 00 ZX-12R. 
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shawnski
Pro
Posts: 1809
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posted December 28, 2007 01:02 PM
Edited By: shawnski on 28 Dec 2007 13:45
quote:
Wow. Tough crowd. My 12R has had a minor cover leak for the last 18k miles or so. Still haven't removed the cover. I love the bike and it just went 193 mph at Maxton with my girl onboard.
Trading in a bike due to a leaking valve cover gasket is ridiculous. What happened to your '06, a leak around the oil drain plug? LOL
It sounds like you need a different bike.
Shane
the 06 leaked the same exact place as my 07 and with the same miles. the 07 is not as bad.
yes i do need a different bike. zx14 is awsome bike and great performance but when i bought it i said to myself, please please hope to god this one won't leak and kawi fixed it, well..... guess what i was wrong... it just pisses me off.
i don't care about what brand bike, if it looks good and is bad ass i am buying it and zx14 is that, but as i said i don't have time to screw with warranty work and dealers bullshit like i did with my 06.
now... i understand if the bike had 40000 miles or so that is different story but not with only 3000 miles.
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted December 29, 2007 06:18 AM
its kawasaki karma
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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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