ZXGRIFF
Expert Class
Posts: 184
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posted March 03, 2008 04:16 PM
Oil leak... Any suggestions?
Well, I had my '06 14 in about a million pices this weekend for a good cleaning/service. I found that damn valve cover gasket oil leak so many of you have posted about and my warranty ran out in September! 
  
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted March 03, 2008 04:19 PM
I resolved mine after it happened so many time and Kawi couldn't resolve it - see in my signature
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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FasterThanStink
Pro
Posts: 1218
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posted March 03, 2008 05:00 PM
I have a nice big Harley like pool of oil sitting under mine as well. I have not checked it out as to the cause.
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Speed has never killed anyone,
suddenly becoming stationary...
That's what gets you.
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NinjaNick
Needs a job
'08 ZX14 (Blue)
Posts: 4558
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posted March 03, 2008 06:15 PM
Is it a problem with the '08s??
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zxplosion
Parking Attendant
Posts: 10
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posted March 03, 2008 06:33 PM
My 2006 ZX14 leaked twice after the dealer fixed it, I have the extended warranty which helped alot. they had to shim the bolts to make them screw down tighter on the headcover, also they used aftermarket sealer to seal the gasket.......NO MORE LEAKS..........
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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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busajack5
Expert Class
Rocket lll
Posts: 173
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posted March 03, 2008 08:02 PM
Havent seen anything on mine yet Nick and its been all apart. Course I don't have many miles yet.
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Jack
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ninja14
Pro
Posts: 1136
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posted March 03, 2008 08:52 PM
 Edited By: ninja14 on 3 Mar 2008 20:53
The bolt shoulders are too long.....it may never seal w/o help. A thin washer under the bolts and lightly torqued..........mine hasn't leaked since.
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2006 Turbo ZX-14.
2005 V-max 20th Anniv.
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted March 03, 2008 11:28 PM
ya the second or third time mine was in they replaced a ton of parts shaved bolts and added washers. it was good for 10,000 more miles then leaked again.
my leak never was really bad, I just don't like a bike in my garage thats like that. I think only a handful had the problem and I was one of the lucky ones.
I was due for a knee-dragger bike anyway but I enjoyed the 14 while I had it.
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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MJ
Zone Head
Posts: 560
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posted March 04, 2008 12:58 AM
quote:
Well, I had my '06 14 in about a million pices this weekend for a good cleaning/service. I found that damn valve cover gasket oil leak so many of you have posted about and my warranty ran out in September!
If the leaks bad put some washers under the front cover bolts. If its not don't worry about it. My 14 has leaks in several places...but the oil never makes it to the plastic or the ground. Just leaves a film on the engine. So I've fixed it by riding  
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted March 04, 2008 06:15 AM
quote:
quote:
Well, I had my '06 14 in about a million pices this weekend for a good cleaning/service. I found that damn valve cover gasket oil leak so many of you have posted about and my warranty ran out in September!
If the leaks bad put some washers under the front cover bolts. If its not don't worry about it. My 14 has leaks in several places...but the oil never makes it to the plastic or the ground. Just leaves a film on the engine. So I've fixed it by riding
not all of us were lucky as you withy it being "minor", at high speeds mine would blow oil on the left side fairing. inside of fairing had oil film, outside had film, of course engine. washers helped for a while but 10,000 miles later prob was back
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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jeff martin
Pro (closed)
jamming
Posts: 1168
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posted March 04, 2008 10:04 AM
How many miles are you seeing the leaks..I only have 936 miles on mine and dont see any leaks..Should i fix it now or wait to see if its a leaker..Or is it only a few that have this problem..
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i play with boats my wife plays with my dingy.
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted March 04, 2008 10:11 AM
quote:
How many miles are you seeing the leaks..I only have 936 miles on mine and dont see any leaks..Should i fix it now or wait to see if its a leaker..Or is it only a few that have this problem..
just a very few
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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ZXGRIFF
Expert Class
Posts: 184
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posted March 04, 2008 07:01 PM
Thanks for all the comments guys.... I'll try the washer route first and if it keeps leaking I'll sell it!
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted March 05, 2008 11:26 AM
good luck with it Griff
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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ZXGRIFF
Expert Class
Posts: 184
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posted March 05, 2008 08:19 PM
Thanks Steve
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ninja14
Pro
Posts: 1136
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posted March 05, 2008 11:08 PM
Oil puddles in the left front corner of the head and stays there while on the sidestand......so it will eventually seep through if the seal is not so good.
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2006 Turbo ZX-14.
2005 V-max 20th Anniv.
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ZXGRIFF
Expert Class
Posts: 184
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posted March 06, 2008 02:51 PM
What do you have to do, to put the washers on the bolts? Do you have to tilt the engine forward or what?
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flatoutbu
Pro
Posts: 1054
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posted April 24, 2008 05:45 AM
kinda wondering this myself because mine started blowing oil on the header last night at the track
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06 Blue 14
9.008 at 153mph @ 195 suited
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted April 24, 2008 01:33 PM
Have you all got your bikes fixed? Here is the warranty saga I went through, parts lists of replacements, etc. http://www.bikeland.org/board/viewthread.php?FID=27&TID=26799
I thought they fixed it through each warranty visit, but i finally sold the fackin' thing.
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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ZXGRIFF
Expert Class
Posts: 184
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posted April 24, 2008 02:08 PM
I've not been able to get time to fool with it, trying to take care of wedding details. I just put it on the rear stand when I get home from riding, so far its not leaking. I'm just keeping an eye on it for now.
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FastBlur
Parking Attendant
Posts: 23
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posted April 24, 2008 03:35 PM
As of today I noticed that my 07 14 with 1700 miles has the same problem, 2 months out of warranty at that. This is a widespread problem on all year model 14's and why Kawasaki hasn't stepped up and taken care of it is beyond me. After this the Busa is starting to look alot better lately. I'm one of the quickest around on a 14 but I can do it on a Busa just as easy. Anyhow I've heard that the screws they use at the factory are too long (who knows) and that is why the gaskets are not holding a tight seal, sounds like a recall would be a nice idea to me?
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted April 24, 2008 08:39 PM
"and why Kawasaki hasn't stepped up and taken care of it is beyond me"<---Kawi attempted many times to fix mine and couldn't. but they did step up to the plate
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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 April 26, 2008 10:31 AM
i would clean the surfaces, replace the gasket and use 3m weatherstripping sealer and then dare it to leak, if my bike ever did leak, which it doesn't. anyone who trades a bike in for a simple valve cover leak, well you get the idea. every bike i ever had needed some maintenance at one time or another , my 14 has been the most trouble free, september will be two years.
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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 April 26, 2008 11:28 AM
Edited By: stevewfl on 26 Apr 2008 12:38
me Dave, dayum thats harsh- That was only one of the reasons mine was traded, 3 times in the shop and Kawi couldn't fix it. Other reasons are it was time to trade, and it was the first big bike I owned and the whole time I had it I was wishing I was on a litre bike.
I'm not knockin' the bike though, but I will say I'm not having a pain in the ass around for very long either. I don't buy bikes to hassle with em and patch 'em up with 3M products and such. Kawasaki shortened the bolts on one try, then replaced all these parts on other tries
I forgot to tell them to "weatherstrip it" when they replaced all this crap:
6 each Ring-O, Head cover bolt- 92055-1616
1 each Gasket 11061-0195
1 each Cover, Head, FS Black 14091-0494-11E
every brand makes a lemon, and I got one of Kawi's
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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zx12mark
Pro
Posts: 1654
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posted April 26, 2008 03:45 PM
all you have to do is start with a new clean gasket and a clean mating surface on both sides.
apply a thin coat of hi temp gasket sealer to both sides of the gasket and get it assembled as fast as you can........NO MORE LEAK.........the zx12 as well as other bikes do the same thing.............next
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