boxcar
Novice Class
Posts: 35
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posted May 29, 2009 03:41 PM
Valve cover leak, let dealer handle it or do it myself?
Cleaning my 08 today and noticed the valve cover is leaking very lightly at the front of the engine. Dropped down to the dealer today and they ordered a new gasket and bolts for it, she's under warranty but I'm not so sure about the dealers mechanics, should I let them do it or just get the parts and do it myself? Unfortunately I don't have another dealer within 250 miles of me so going elsewhere is not really an option. How likely is a dealer to screw something up or is it fairly straight forward? I have done it on other bikes but nothing this "cluttered".
  
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1badzx12r
Needs a life
Posts: 8321
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posted May 29, 2009 04:13 PM
new bolts and gasket is not gonna fix the problem ..the bolts bottom out and don't squeeze the gasket tight .. this is a khi fuck up on all models it looks like .. the fix is washering the bolts shoulders up to get more tightness on the gasket .. and it is a pain in the azz to do
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S06nIz4scvI
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87gtNOS
Zone Head
Posts: 620
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posted May 29, 2009 04:19 PM
I was just at the shop....they had a ZX14 with valve cover off. Leaks.
It is a whore of a job to do!! Tight fit under there!!!
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01 ZX12R
07 ZX14 - YEAH BABY!
03 ZX9R-traded in for the 14!!! June 07!
05 636-traded in for the 9 Sept 05
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted May 29, 2009 05:28 PM
more of 'em huh 
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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Flame On
Needs a life
Fuel Air & Spark
Posts: 17104
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posted May 29, 2009 06:14 PM
I would think Kawasaki would have shorten the bolts or ad washers by now . Some ZX14 had this prob back in 06
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77 RD 400
80 GS1000 GT
06 ZX14
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bigwil
Expert Class
06 zx 14 turbo stage 3
Posts: 423
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posted May 29, 2009 06:29 PM
do it your self i hate dealer flunkes all you need is some washers on top of the valve cover its fixed
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bigwil// going fast aint easy so turbo it
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kaw now
Expert Class
Posts: 446
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posted May 29, 2009 09:10 PM
I did mine myself and found it not too difficult. Comes down to removing the stuff to access the spark plugs. Remove the plug wire harness. Lower the radiator but not disconnect the hoses. Found at least one loose bolt on top so it was a good venture. The pain was that stupid plastic piece that runs across the front and is intertwined with the rubber over the engine. Also had to remove the emissions valve covers. But after all that it was easy and did fix the leak. I'm not sure if I used too thick of washer. Just used hardware store washers and torqued the bolts to spec.
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted May 29, 2009 09:55 PM
quote:
I would think Kawasaki would have shorten the bolts or ad washers by now . Some ZX14 had this prob back in 06
People trash the 'busa for it having some of the same problems as well over and over year after year. So in all fairness its not just the ZX14 or Kawasaki.
Although that leak on mine over and over PISSED me off. They tried gasket sealant, shortening the bolts, new valve cover and I forgot what all before it was said and done. I was posting about it each time and gave up on that after a few
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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 May 30, 2009 11:44 AM
Dealerships are scary. Just put a washer under the bolts you can reach and call it done. No need to pull the whole cover 
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted May 31, 2009 11:36 AM
 Edited By: bigdtd on 31 May 2009 20:33
quote:
quote:
I would think Kawasaki would have shorten the bolts or ad washers by now . Some ZX14 had this prob back in 06
People trash the 'busa for it having some of the same problems as well over and over year after year. So in all fairness its not just the ZX14 or Kawasaki.
Although that leak on mine over and over PISSED me off. They tried gasket sealant, shortening the bolts, new valve cover and I forgot what all before it was said and done. I was posting about it each time and gave up on that after a few
but you kept taking it to the same flunkies 
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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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