MotoCycho
Expert Class
Posts: 337
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posted November 20, 2012 11:37 PM
removal of 14r tank protector
Got a 2013 14r today and this evening I noticed that the tank protector is unfortunately not at all straight Anyone else notice this on their 14r? Has anyone removed and replaced the protector with any luck? Pretty sure I can get it off without hurting the tank and paint but I'd sure like to avoid destroying it and be able to reuse it. Yeah, I know I could take it back under warranty and all that... but I am really not that guy... as I would rather deal with myself. So if anyone has removed or even better, removed and reused it, love to read the details.
  
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted November 21, 2012 02:19 AM
Your not going to get it off without destroying it. They are very difficult to get off. I spoke with a guy last week that took his off. He owns a shop down in Naples, fl.
Good luck with it
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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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kawpower
Zone Head
Mr kawasaki 2 you!
Posts: 887
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posted November 21, 2012 05:13 AM
use a heat gun and heat it slow, u should be able to move it into place without removing it al together,
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Cecil County 2010 Motorcycle ET Champ. 9 Wins- 4 RUs .06zx14 turboed for 2012 .
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zx12mark
Pro
Posts: 1654
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posted November 21, 2012 07:38 AM
I would not use a heat gun near the paint....Use a hair drier.My bike had marks on the tank pad so the dealer replaced it.It took them a while and it turned out perfect.The oem pad is too hard and can get scratches on it by looking at it...........It sucks.My new pad has marks all over it and its only 2 months old.................I`m gonna put a softer rubber pad on to replace this hard plastic oem pad.
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MotoCycho
Expert Class
Posts: 337
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posted November 21, 2012 04:41 PM
Thanks for the replies. I will try to lift or simply slide it straight with some heat from a hair dryer.. I am probably going to be buying a new one tho... I really liked the look of the factory one they included on this gen 2 14r... so I think I'll get that same one. I have had rubbery ones before and they are too grippy and stuff grips against them too easy.. peels them up. The smoother ones seem to work best for me. The fact that the OEM one scratches easy doesn't seem like too big a deal.. more of a "feature" then a problem. "By design", sorta speak. I'll report back about what happens when I try and lift or slide it over. Leaning towards utter destruction... I think eklipse636 has it about summed up. Hope he's wrong. 
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dogg24
Expert Class
Posts: 322
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posted November 22, 2012 09:59 AM
Try using some floss or string between the pad and tank to loosen the glue holding it down after u heat it up some. Maybe some goo gone or something similar will get the rest off.
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2012 ZX14R SE, Streetmeg, PCV
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zixxer14
Pro
Damn that was Quick
Posts: 1233
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posted November 23, 2012 06:48 AM
Also if you use Pledge on it the scratches will disappear, I use it on the whole bike, you just have to buff it out good.
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MotoCycho
Expert Class
Posts: 337
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posted November 24, 2012 02:25 AM
 Edited By: MotoCycho on 24 Nov 2012 10:27
Well, I think I won this battle. The bike is literally 3 days old and it's too cold here to ride already. Apperently, the adheasive hadn't really bondsd to the plastic. I lifted up on the bottom of the protector and it popped right off. Left all of the adhesive tape on the tank though. I think I should have gone after it cold, but I made the mistake of heating a bit with the hair dryer, thinking warming it would help. Anyway, it bonded real good from the heat. Then it took 3 hours to get it off and my fingers are bloody and raw now. Finally had to use lacquer thinner to soften the adhesive a little at a time. Wax degreaser didn't even make a dent. That adhesive is way nuclear for sure. Speaking of nuclear, this white paint is some tough paint. My black 07 paint is soft as hell and shows every tiny scratch. Pretty sure it is butter based. I couldn't scratch this pearl stardust white no mater what I did. Very happy with this finish. So tomorrow I'll use some 3M VHB to stick the protector back on nice and straight. Very pleased with the outcome. Thanks all for the advice.
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