Any advise from the veterans on this? I have the service manual so thats not a big deal. I just want to know if theres any tricks and if you realy do need those goofy tools the manual talks about (IE can i do with standard feeler gages and wrenches). Thanks.

 

You own the older Ninja 250 right?

 

I found that it's hit or miss whether or not your socket is thin-walled enough to fit between the frontwall of the head and the locknut on the exaust valves. Mine wouldn't fit so I just measured them and leftthem alonesince none of them were tighter than spec. I adjusted the exaust side and called it good until I could get the magic Kawasaki tool. Then I sold the bike and bought the 2007. :-)

Had the 500 mile valve check / adjustment done on the 2007 at the dealer and will buy the Kawasaki tool and do the future adjustments myself.

Speaking for myself, I think taking the top of the bike apart is the hardest part of the job. I cut my teeth a few years agoon valve adjustments on my 74 Beetle...they have the same screw and locknut setup. From what I experienced on my 94 Ninja, you do have to take out the radiator mounting bolts and push it out of the way, but I don't think it's necessary to drain coolant. The only thing that stopped me was the socket wall thickness.

Good luck...it's an easy job if you have the correct tools. (Kawasaki part # 57001-1220)

 

Well if my sockets arent thin walled enough, thats what cheap Chinese tools and bench grinder are for! And yes i have the old style an 07.

 

The kawasaki valve adjustment tool cost about 40 bucks. Sound like a good deal to me. I have my on order now. The part number for the adjuster tool is 57001-1220. The Kawasaki feeler gauges part number is 57001-1553