Apologies if this has been covered...

How often should this be done? I only have about 2500 on my bike so far, bu a friend has 4500 on his, so I was thinking he might be getting due.

Has anybody done a write-up on doing them? I've done "regular" style valves where you find TDC then loosen the lock nut and adjust 'em, but never the shim over bucket type.

My friend isn't all that mechanical so I figure I'll end up doing it for him... figured I'd better ask here.

Thanks.

Rob

 

This thread might help you:
https://www.kawasakiforums.com/forum...acement-35136/

The newer ones are the same.

The pictures aren't there any more. Perhaps contact (pm) the poster to see if they can be made to reappear.

 

Yeah I was just noticing that about the pix, dangit. Good writeup otherwise.

Rob

 

on my 2012 it says first valve check at 7500 miles I believe

I was shocked all my smaller engine bike are all at 600 miles and around 2000

 

my valves went out of spec for the first time bit under 9,000 miles...

 

My exhaust valves were close to being too tight when i checked then during the big bore install. that was at ~2000 miles.

 

What are the symptoms that your valves are out of spec?

 

Usually poor running and hard starting, depending on the bike these symptoms may manifest when the valves get a little out of spec or not until they are WAY out.

 

Over time the clearance decreases, left too long a valve(s) will no longer close causing loss of compression which will cause HARD STARTING. Once started the engine's performance will be poor. Valves that no longer seat will burn requiring replacement of the valves and possibly the seats* as well.
*don't know if the seats are replaceable, might mean a new head.

 

I had mine done around 9250, hard starting (very slight compared to usual) power just wasn't there, wasn't as snappy and the rpms wouldn't climb at full throttle like usual. My intake(one) and my exhaust (one) were too tight