STULER
Novice Class
Back Road Racer
Posts: 31
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posted July 26, 2011 02:23 AM
Clunking noise coming from under the seat
Hey all, new the the zx-14 forum. I've been a member of the katana forum tho for a few years so i know there is much info to be learned here. Basically, i bought a 07 zx14 limited edition last october with 12k miles on it. I put about 3k on since then. the odo now reads 15,5xx+. I do have a question for you guys. The bike runs great..... shifts fine. When i ride it tho, and i pull the clutch in, i can hear a clunking coming from the clutch area. even when the bike is riding down the road, i can feel the "clunk" on the footpegs. The motor runs great. the bike shift great. just a clunk. What could this be? i was thinking friction plate in the clutch? a clutch kit could solve this? Thanks in advance!
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Seno
Pro
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posted July 26, 2011 04:12 AM
I have an 07 also with much less mileage and yes I notice a noise also. It is reduced when the clutch is pulled in. I my friends 14 makes more noise then mine but I am running Spectro synthetic blend, he is using non synthetic.
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STULER
Novice Class
Back Road Racer
Posts: 31
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posted July 26, 2011 04:20 AM
I agree. there is a "wobble" sound when the clutch is released and its quiet as a mouse when the clutch is pulled in. Im thinking about installing a barnett clutch kit and seeing if that helps.
Which brings me to another question.... The barnett kit only has the plates in it. The description says DOES NOT INCLUDE SPRINGS.... so do i use the stock springs or do i have to by springs as well??? I never installed a clutch kit before.
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NINJA12
Needs a job
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posted July 26, 2011 01:27 PM
stick with stock clutch!
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eklipse636
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ZX-14
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posted July 26, 2011 02:00 PM
Stuler, I haven't heard a lot of good stuff about Barnett clutches. Try cycle concepts or oem
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STULER
Novice Class
Back Road Racer
Posts: 31
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posted July 27, 2011 12:23 AM
Whats the deal with clutch "kits" and oem? would i need to install a whole new oem clutch to get rid of this noise? Mind you, i wanna keep this cost effective. I dont have a whole lotta dough at this moment to just drop on a kawi clutch.
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STULER
Novice Class
Back Road Racer
Posts: 31
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posted July 30, 2011 02:32 AM
Just purchased an EBC "OEM quality" clutch and spring kit. Will install soon and write up a review...
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dubious
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posted July 30, 2011 05:31 AM
I dont think the rattle will go away. I think its the clutch actuator rod rattling since its free, and not under tension when in gear or neutral, we just never hear it when the bike is moving and at elevated rpm.
I wouldnt worry about it. Enjoy your bike. Its one of the best motorcycles ever made!
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STULER
Novice Class
Back Road Racer
Posts: 31
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posted July 31, 2011 03:28 AM
quote:
I dont think the rattle will go away. I think its the clutch actuator rod rattling since its free, and not under tension when in gear or neutral, we just never hear it when the bike is moving and at elevated rpm.
I wouldnt worry about it. Enjoy your bike. Its one of the best motorcycles ever made!
Not only can I hear it, I can feel it too. Its a pretty bad rattle when at speed.
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dubious
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posted July 31, 2011 04:29 AM
 Edited By: dubious on 31 Jul 2011 12:31
I think it might be one of your balance shafts out of synch.
There is one right above the clutch
Have you taken it to a dealer or had any mechanics listen to it?
does it only happen when the clutch lever is released?
Might want a second opinion, hard to tell from here but I cant really see a clutch actuator rod being that noisy.
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Jamesfs912
Novice Class
Posts: 84
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posted August 01, 2011 08:20 AM
My '07 SE makes that noise too. I took it to three dealers and they all said clutch basket. They changed the part # from the 06-07 models to the 08+ models. I have gotten used to it and notice that with synthetic oil it is much quieter. Maybe in the future I will get an '08+ clutch basket but it is just not worth it right now.
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STULER
Novice Class
Back Road Racer
Posts: 31
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posted August 04, 2011 09:41 PM
Well, I have gotten several opinions but all the "mechanics" around my area are high school kids that don't know their ass from a hole in the ground. I do a lot of my own work and will try to diagnose it myself. I refuse to pay $90 an hour to have some novice start dissassembling my bike and not find out what it is. Jamesfs912, I always run full synthetic in all my vehicles and change the oil/filter religiously at 2,500 miles. It is still noisy even running fully synthetic.
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NINJA12
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posted August 05, 2011 04:43 AM
make sure the basket is tight.
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dubious
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posted August 05, 2011 04:46 PM
Stuler I hear ya on the mechanics and the rates.
Just thought maybe you have access to a mature respected mechanic.
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Y2KZX12R
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posted August 06, 2011 05:32 AM
quote:
My '07 SE makes that noise too. I took it to three dealers and they all said clutch basket. They changed the part # from the 06-07 models to the 08+ models. I have gotten used to it and notice that with synthetic oil it is much quieter. Maybe in the future I will get an '08+ clutch basket but it is just not worth it right now.
The 08 and up clutch baskets do not interchange with the 06-07. Just so you know.
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dubious
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posted August 06, 2011 10:12 AM
Edited By: dubious on 6 Aug 2011 18:12
unless you change the crank too! 
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natural selection.....
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Jamesfs912
Novice Class
Posts: 84
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posted August 07, 2011 06:40 AM
quote:
quote:
My '07 SE makes that noise too. I took it to three dealers and they all said clutch basket. They changed the part # from the 06-07 models to the 08+ models. I have gotten used to it and notice that with synthetic oil it is much quieter. Maybe in the future I will get an '08+ clutch basket but it is just not worth it right now.
The 08 and up clutch baskets do not interchange with the 06-07. Just so you know.
Didn't know that thanks
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STULER
Novice Class
Back Road Racer
Posts: 31
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posted August 09, 2011 02:33 AM
Still doing the clunking....
quote:
I think it might be one of your balance shafts out of synch.
There is one right above the clutch
Have you taken it to a dealer or had any mechanics listen to it?
does it only happen when the clutch lever is released?
Might want a second opinion, hard to tell from here but I cant really see a clutch actuator rod being that noisy.
Dubious, Here's a typical day riding. I fire the bike up. Starts great. I let it idle for at least 2 minutes before I even start riding it. I pull the clutch in, kick down the shifter, and off I go. When the bike is in gear (any gear) and I am moving, there is a "clunk, clunk, clunk" coming from the clutch area. The slower I go, the slower the "clunks", the faster I go, the faster the "clunks" When I'm driving 15 mph, for example, the clunks are relatively slow, say one clunk every second. Now when I'm driving 80 mph, the clunks are about 6 or 7 a second.
Now, this happens when the bike is in gear and throttle is applied.
HOWEVER, say I'm driving the same 15 mph as stated above and I am nearing a stop sign. I pull the clutch in and the clunk is still heard. Even when the bike is in neutral if it is rolling forward, it clunks. Obviously much slower cause you can't roll that fast.
Edit: A few weeks ago, I had brand new OEM red rims installed with new Michelin Pilot Power 2ct tires. I normally do all my own work on my bikes, seeing as all of them up to this point had centerstands. Well, the tires and rims were already at the shop, so I figured I'd let them just do it. Well, they mounted the rear tire backwards on the rim. I confronted the manager and they fixed the tire the same day I called. When I got the bike back the clunking stopped? I thought maybe by some miracle, the tire had something to do with it. So I cancelled my clutch kit, thinking that the problem was fixed. After about 20 miles of driving it, the clunking came back.
After reading this, can anyone narrow down my choices of what it could be? I am going to be ordering a repair manual so I can rip apart the clutch and diagnose the problem if no one on here can help....
Thanks,
Seth Tuler (STULER)
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Superman T
Pro
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posted August 09, 2011 12:07 PM
I had something similar. After I put the bike on a stand and just let the rear wheel role in 1st, I noticed a small mis-alignment. I have since bought a new chain, problem fixed
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WARBIRD
Needs a job
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posted August 09, 2011 02:59 PM
Tight spot on the chain? Put the bike on a rear stand and turn the wheel a few inches at a time checking the chain slack. I have seen chains go from 1" of slack to 2 or 3 or 4" of slack in less than a complete revolution of the wheel. I have also seen master links ( the kind you stake) staked so tight it stays kinked all the way from the rear sprocket to the coutershaft sprocket and would go "clunk, clunk clunk" when the wheel was rolling.
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dubious
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posted August 10, 2011 04:54 AM
quote:
Tight spot on the chain? Put the bike on a rear stand and turn the wheel a few inches at a time checking the chain slack. I have seen chains go from 1" of slack to 2 or 3 or 4" of slack in less than a complete revolution of the wheel. I have also seen master links ( the kind you stake) staked so tight it stays kinked all the way from the rear sprocket to the coutershaft sprocket and would go "clunk, clunk clunk" when the wheel was rolling.
I completely agree with this statement,
My 06 had a tight spot and and so did my factory 09 chain. Friends noticed my chain bouncing when I was riding.
I am beginning to think kawasaki chain installation or adjustment from the factory is causing this.
Both were stock chains, new bikes, and I noticed this on both bikes in the first 3000 km.
I noticed it on my BRAND NEW 06 in the first 1000 km it was diagnosed, and the 09 I noticed right away, bough it with 3000 km on it.
Get a DRZZZ and throw the stock chain in the shit bin.
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natural selection.....
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GREYHOUNDMOSES
Expert Class
Posts: 324
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posted August 10, 2011 11:32 AM
quote:
The slower I go, the slower the "clunks", the faster I go, the faster the "clunks" When I'm driving 15 mph, for example, the clunks are relatively slow, say one clunk every second. Now when I'm driving 80 mph, the clunks are about 6 or 7 a second.
This slow frequency definately points to the chain.
Everything else is turning much quicker.
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WARBIRD
Needs a job
Posts: 2739
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posted August 14, 2011 11:35 AM
So..........did we help you any? 
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WARBIRD
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Posts: 2739
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posted August 18, 2011 10:26 AM
Ever find what the noise was???
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STULER
Novice Class
Back Road Racer
Posts: 31
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posted August 19, 2011 02:48 AM
quote:
Ever find what the noise was???
There was a tight spot in the chain, i jacked the rear up. ran the bike and sprayed some degreaser on the chain... cleaned it off.... I thought the chain was original, however once the 8lbs of grime was cleaned off, I found out that I have a gold DID chain. lol i cleaned it like there was no tomorrow and got it nice and hot and lubed it with chain lube. Then i tightened it a little bit. Problem solved! thanks gjuys!
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