replacing the timing chain on my 2003 kawasaki ZR7S
 

hows it going everyone. I am a new member, my name is Domanic. I just subscribed to KF today. I just want to tell you about what I have tried so far. I recently started having some ticking in my motor. I took it to the nearest shop and they told me that it was my timing chain. so I started researching it and some people told me it was my tensioner, so I replaced my tensioner and that didn't fix it. so now over the winter I have to replace the timing chain itself. My main question is how many gaskets do I have to replace and if so do you know roughly how much it would cost?

Welcome Domanic :) I replaced the cam chain on my ZRX a few years ago. Not real hard to do but its important to get the cams back in and timed just right. If you don't have one already, you need to get one. As for gaskets and stuff, I only replaced the gasket on the timing cover (I am blank on the name of that cover right now :( ) The valve gasket cover was still in good shape. So other than the chain itself, not a very expensive job.

is yours a DOHC though, cause mine is.

and should i replace the guides and all the other things that deal with the timing chain?

Yup, its DOHC. I did not have to replace anything else. It was clicking and re-adjusting the cam chain tensioner did not fix the problem. Once the chain was replaced, the clicking went away. I replaced the chain at 27,000 miles. My bike now has 38,000 miles

ok. did you have to pull your head off or just the valve cover on top of the head?

my bike has about 19,600 or so miles on it. also did you have to pull your motor out or were you able to just do it without pulling the motor

Nope, just had to pull the cams. It really isn't hard. Pull the valve cover, pull the cams, pull chain out, put new one in, put cams back in and done.

is the chain splitable?

I believe it is. Its very similar to the drive chain, so I would think using a chain breaker should work.