zedo
Parking Attendant
Posts: 5
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posted October 21, 2009 01:04 PM
valve cover leak
I've read several threads discussing a leak that can occur on the left side valve cover and sure enough it looks like I have it. I discovered the leak while pulling the plastics off for a good cleaning. It's actually more of a weep than a leak. I've got a 2008
It seems the solution is as simple as a few washers, but I wonder if I should even mess with it. Oil doesn't seem to be hitting the ground and just the area around the gasket is wet. If I do choose the washer fix, do I need to get the washers under all six bolts? If I only have to do the offending area, can I get away with just loosening that bolt and re-torquing? Or do I really need to loosen all of them?
Thanks!!
  
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LOCK 2121
Expert Class
Posts: 160
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posted October 21, 2009 02:11 PM
Fix it a littel oil makes a big mess , it's not that hard, pull a bolt take it with you to the hardware store, brass washer bin find the realy thick one's , avaitiation form A gasket , both sides of washer , tighten back down carefuly , from inside out , like the manual , hand tighten all very even you can feel when they hit the bosses , to much tighter they might strip, very small threads.
takes only 2 hr or so fairing's being the most time , use small 1/4 inch drive , it's all the power you need on the small stuff .change them all , then you have pretty washer's no oil leak.
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bigwil
Expert Class
06 zx 14 turbo stage 3
Posts: 423
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posted October 21, 2009 02:26 PM
i would leave it alone and ride
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bigwil// going fast aint easy so turbo it
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gilberjj
Needs a job
Friend of Fast
Posts: 3196
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posted October 21, 2009 02:49 PM
 Edited By: gilberjj on 21 Oct 2009 22:50
I've heard that can happen by overfilling the oil. Don't have it more then 3/4 full on the sight glass.
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LOCK 2121
Expert Class
Posts: 160
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posted October 21, 2009 03:35 PM
Lot's of post's here and all zx14 site's , you would think kawasaki , after all this time would firure it out , The valve cover dosen't pinch down tight enough, oil pools in that side, while on side stand, leak's , weep's , take some pride fix it .
frame cracks, oil leak's , no stering dampner, I would buy one more still a great bike
took only 2 hr to fix leak , hasent leaked yet , it's clean .
Lowes of all place's has realy nice thick brass washer's that fit the stock cover bolt's perfect
any auto part's has formagasket brand sealer , the non harding brush on type.you can reach in with out pulling the tank .
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted October 21, 2009 03:43 PM
I would fix it. If its not a expensive thing, just do it. Otherwise your always going to be cleaning up oil, or if it were to get worse you really wouldn't like that mess!
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Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
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zixxer14
Pro
Damn that was Quick
Posts: 1233
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posted October 21, 2009 08:36 PM
28,000 + miles.....still leaks...........don't give a shit...........just ride it
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted October 21, 2009 08:57 PM
Did you try and put washers zixxer? I believe stevewfl had a valve cover leak that he couldn't stop. Maybe he will speak up.
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Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
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INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
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posted October 21, 2009 09:12 PM
These aren't Hardley Davidsmesses . These aren't supposed to leake . Fix it already with the washers! 
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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Flame On
Needs a life
Fuel Air & Spark
Posts: 17104
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posted October 21, 2009 09:51 PM
thinner bolt washers didn't Kawasaki correct it
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77 RD 400
80 GS1000 GT
06 ZX14
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INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
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posted October 21, 2009 10:02 PM
You mean thicker washers . No Kawi still didn't fix. Its a hit/miss problem . Mine was a miss , geez I've checked the valves pretty much every 15,000 and used the same gasket with no mods whatsoever and still no leaks at almost 54,000.
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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kaw now
Expert Class
Posts: 446
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posted October 21, 2009 10:07 PM
Mine did it also weeping making a mess out of the bike. Used washer under every bolt on the valve cover. I cleaned off the dirty engine and absolutely no oil leak at all since. I don't know what the formagasket is for you don't need any its a rubber gasket.
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INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
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posted October 21, 2009 11:06 PM
I think the formagasket was for the washers to prevent leaks at the bolts.
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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zixxer14
Pro
Damn that was Quick
Posts: 1233
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posted October 22, 2009 04:39 AM
quote:
Did you try and put washers zixxer? I believe stevewfl had a valve cover leak that he couldn't stop. Maybe he will speak up.[/quote
No washers yet, maybe when (if) I check the valves next. Total pain in the ass process. Gunk does a great job removing the mess when I care. 
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zixxer14
Pro
Damn that was Quick
Posts: 1233
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posted October 22, 2009 04:50 AM
quote:
These aren't Hardley Davidsmesses . These aren't supposed to leake . Fix it already with the washers!
But it goes so well with my ape hangers & floorboards. 
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INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
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posted October 22, 2009 11:43 AM
quote:
quote:
These aren't Hardley Davidsmesses . These aren't supposed to leake . Fix it already with the washers!
But it goes so well with my ape hangers & floorboards.
Well then you got one thing going for you in that case, at least you don't sound like a Hardley Davidsmess!
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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zedo
Parking Attendant
Posts: 5
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posted October 22, 2009 03:52 PM
OK, so I'm a loser. Inspired by the responses and the fact that I already had the plastics off I started to see about getting the cover off. I 'm having a really hard time seeing how to get in there without tearing everything else out and breaking something.
I know it sounds week, but has anyone taken any pictures of what needs to come out and the best way to squeeze in there? I have the manual, but it shows the process with the engine out.
thanks,
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INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
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posted October 22, 2009 04:48 PM
quote:
OK, so I'm a loser. Inspired by the responses and the fact that I already had the plastics off I started to see about getting the cover off. I 'm having a really hard time seeing how to get in there without tearing everything else out and breaking something.
I know it sounds week, but has anyone taken any pictures of what needs to come out and the best way to squeeze in there? I have the manual, but it shows the process with the engine out.
thanks,
There really isn't a whole lot in the way after the fairings are off. Have you changed the sparkplugs before? The coils need to come out , the coil harness unplugs and comes out ,the air suction valves com out, and a few sensor wires to unplug ,the rubber engine cover has to at least be peeled back. You can take it off but its a PITA to get it back in lol!
Basically that's it , you have access to removing the cover . And while you are at it get your feeler guage out and check the valve clearences.
But you don't need to remove the cam cover to install the washers under the bolts . You just have to get the damn rubber engine cover peeled back so you can see them .
Also if you don't have that photographic memory , you can use a digital camera to document your process.
It really isn't that complicated but like you said, you have to be careful not to break stuff.
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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Newf14
Zone Head
2007 ZX1400
Posts: 563
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posted October 24, 2009 04:53 PM
I am in the process of removing the flaring off my bike to bring her to get the valves checked...I am 10000km over on the service. The left side of the top pan is wet with oil on mine as well. I am going to pull a cover bolt and get some washers to put on em when she is reassembled. So can they be any type of washer??
Newf14
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INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
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posted October 24, 2009 07:51 PM
quote:
I am in the process of removing the flaring off my bike to bring her to get the valves checked...I am 10000km over on the service. The left side of the top pan is wet with oil on mine as well. I am going to pull a cover bolt and get some washers to put on em when she is reassembled. So can they be any type of washer??
Newf14
Yes any washer will work .Just make sure they are of good quality cause cheap ones tend to be roughly finished and could create another leak.
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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LOCK 2121
Expert Class
Posts: 160
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posted October 24, 2009 08:45 PM
Pull 1 bolt take to Lowe's find the nice brass one's they are 1/16" thick , fit the valve cover bolt shaft close, I used forma gasket on the bolt to washer side , due to the fact the bolt doesent realy tighten down enough to dig in to the soft brass , it may be over kill , but mine does not leak after repair, pull back rubber cover, reach in , from both side's, 1/4 inch drive,socket set, small open end wrench , easy touch, small part's alumn. thread's.
save $48.00 per hour shop labor 2.0 hr.
If you look close when tighting down, cover's that leak , the cover gasket dosent squeeze out ... With the washer's it will squeeze out just slightly, a barly visable squeeze out ,then it's sealed.
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INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
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posted October 24, 2009 08:51 PM
There ya go plain and simple.
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted October 25, 2009 06:08 AM
mine has 12500 miles, it barely seeped around 8000ish, i started storing it vertical in the vulcan stand (wheel chock) and voila seems to have fixed it. i am still going to put a new gasket and washers on it someday....
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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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