Hello Everyone
I have a question about the Kawi warranty on my 2007 14 , I purchased my bike with the extended warranty at the end of 2008 so I should be covered until Sept. 2011. I installed a full after market exaust from roaring toyz at the dealer with a power commander and yesterday while riding home I cracked my engine block. So my question is will Kawisaki honor the warranty even though I had the after market exaust and power commander installed?
Any Info Would be Great
Thanks
Snuffy

No aftermarket or spit box is going to crack a case. Did you recently crash the bike? No? Man, you got a good case with the pun intended. I would 'goodwill' that case you pay labor say we call it 50/50 abuse we have no clue how you rode it.

Muffler will break at the studs or mounting bracket if we muscle up on a load. How many pigs and pipes are on the 14's and we have my stock pipe that bottoms [more than twice so far] on the raised bumps they use in parking lots here, my case is not pouring out on the garage floor I get home.

Tell you what, you just tell the insurance company or the factory, you are going to record the conversation(s) 'for training purposes only,' as you come back here and I want to hear their logic to that broken case, on their end, the case is closed in so many words.

Let us know. Here is an example: They told you the pig and pipe broke the case. Then ask for a detailed record how that came about as in a constant occurrence you throw on a pipe and pig on bikes. You have no idea how much the insurance has your law on their side, you need a lawyer to know the laws they know as in, pay in full, no charge. Only because you do not pursue the law to sue, as if it was your case design that breaks along with a frame design to begin with is your problem now.

* Last updated by: Hub on 7/26/2010 @ 2:19 PM *

Guess what? Chunk on the fairing is not a crack. That chunk means the rod came around and blew a hole in the case. It seized that cylinder. Sit on the bike, which side did it come out of, left 2 or right 2, then down to which one, inner cylinder left or outer cylinder right. 1-2-3-4? Which cylinder?

No, it is a factory fluckup. Way too many 14's matching bmw's, you know, a few go pop. Everyone cranks up the bike or why buy this baby. I've been trying to break mine since day one.

YW, Snuffy. You bought the extended insurance. Good move!

That will be the fun part about this. To see the logic and fact from friction how a pipe can blow a hole in a case if the piston is still intact like if the piston caused damage, then all 4 would take the same fuel hit and you add fuel to a preset so it more cools the bike rather than heat parts up, I'm going to laugh it up, you tell the dealer you go to, have him read this thread...

... I'M WATCHING THEIR ASS!

It will only get worse on their end they try to justify the pipe and PC. No, you do not have to change anything. In fact, I would take as much off so they can work faster, have less scratched on their end handing them the complete bike for weeks on end being pushed outside, then jammed as tight as nuts in a candy bar at night.

Hand them the stock pipes once they install the rebuilt engine, so you time that in with them as to when the bike can be fired and ridden. Pipes won't be banged around or say less room at the shop.

I had one of my friends contact a local dealer today to ask if the warranty would be valid and the guy at that particular dealer said it wouldnt be covered because roaring toys exhaust is like running open headers and that theres no back pressure and thats what caused the piston to crack the casing. I s this even possible or a bunch of dealer double talk A.k.a. Crap!

... the guy at that particular dealer said it wouldnt be covered because roaring toys exhaust is like running open headers and that theres no back pressure...

You need to ask him to select any Youtube drag, road race, street race, and any other 14 that is now in his dealership or other dealerships around the world, because if that is true and I am just playing with their abstract is a list so long I'd put you to sleep. But, ask if normal back pressure out of a stock bike will break cases eventually due to back pressures. And don't laugh when asking these questions! Be very serious.

ASSk if the guy can explain how all the winning 14 runs that Rickey G has made last year and the year before that, have not failed this year due to back his ass up against a stock muffler, Rickey's bike having equal back pressure or close to an open pipe is hitting the top of my knee I am hee-haw-ing that shit all up he looks the fool to you? I think so if I just used a few tube RG's to shout it back at him or drop their phone number here. I'll ask about back his pressure cooker will he be one pissed off dude!

I think Kawi will give them a call once they take a whiff of this thread. Is that a real, all professional with that answer is make Kawi look like jerks no shit! BAD PR! Poor training. They need to be schooled big time. I'm for hire is give them a crash course in theory.

... and thats what caused the piston to crack the casing. Is this even possible or a bunch of dealer double talk A.k.a. Crap!

You are better off calling Ghost Bust Thru The Case... Boy, do you have a CASE! Use those words against him shows the poor guy has the clue of a shoe full of piss and if he can guess how to pour it out on his tools, we'll see how much pressure is back in that service dept he cleans up his act is that dealershithe fuck!

I told you this was going to go down like I said. Let the fun begin or Kawi closes the case closed. An absolute ridiculous answer, they can only get better are worse things to come, look out!

* Last updated by: Hub on 7/27/2010 @ 12:31 AM *

I think your dealer is wrong, and it shouldn't be too difficult to demonstrate because thousands of ZX14s run with very low back pressure exhausts and they don't handgrenade.

Having said that, there are several possible causes of what happened to you, none of which have anything to do with the exhaust system. Insufficient oil is the most common cause of engine failure, followed by over-stressing causing valve float or as a result of severe detonation.

Its sort of like you seldom see a street bike blow up but the drag bikes do quite often (and they rebuild often). Yet you hardly ever see a SBK or MotoGP bike blow up. Once a while, though, I've seen several over the last year. White smoke streaming out the exhaust. Probably missed a shift, floated the valves, boom!

Still, what happened seems totally out of character for a ZX14, based on what folks have said in the forums over the years.

Sorry yours failed like that, and hope the dealer relents and covers the damage.

Here is how you trip this guy up:

When an engine is not running, we can say the 'back pressure' is there and should be breaking the bike's cases of every engine know to man. If back pressure is 14.7psi we have the bike sitting dead engine in the garage my case is in jeopardy! If we then fire up the bike, is not a pressure trying to get back in [14.7] to fill that void once the valve is closed/open?

Out of 4 cylinders, one is without a spark and waiting. At the same time, another cylinder has a valve open. At some time, it means there is no pressure from the engine out of the exhaust. It is now reversed to back pressure; back into the pipe as fast as lightening.

Therefore, every engine should break and bust through a case that is caused by back pressure.

WOT a fucking world you put that guy in charge of some sort of diagnose for a factory rep.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Piston Damage:

1. We need to see a burned skirt caused by heat. If the skirt is clean, no heat to that piston.
2. We need to see if there is a hole at the top of the piston dome. If there is, we can blame the PC if we need to blame a variable. Then we have to have the other 3 pistons all det and hot to score a skirt is the heat transfer of some hot hot heat that took out #4 piston.
3. We need to see very little damage from the dome right where the deep reach plug meets at TDC. If all 4 look the same, we can see det would take out one cylinder at that area and keep going, taking out the other 3. If it is clean, we need to look somewhere else besides a damaged piston. Now if piston is damaged from the crank rod stretched in half, we have an x-ray flaw is the human eye may have fell asleep that one time are the odds to that?

That engine has to be so carefully torn down to determine if it is rider abuse or just that engine numbered so close to the other rods letting go through the case. And who better has that warranty record? It is rather a factory flaw we have connecting rod parts split in half. It is not an oil problem IMO, or we would have one case hole after the other without any blemished parts, meaning, count out an oil design problem is my guess.

* Last updated by: Hub on 7/27/2010 @ 10:41 AM *

Seems to be the norm around the country..Kawi is getting a little tougher on warranty coverage. Local dealer told me that it may be Kawi is feeling some $$$ crunches

Thanks for all the Help Hub

In order to fix this bike does the entire engine need to be replaced or only a portion of the engine?

I called another dealer and spoke with what seemed to be a good guy and he said to bring it in as is to my dealer and my dealer will have to take the motor apart piece by piece to find out what caused the problem. He said if it is covered the dealership will be reinbursed by kawi after the repair is completed. He also said I will have to sign a work release for the dealership to perform the inspection and if it turns out I'm not covered I will have to pay for the labor that the dealer performs.

I did all my own oil changes since the bike was new and have all my reciepts for the oil and filters I purchased will that be enough proof to the dealer that all the oil changes were done in a timely fashion?

I just want to cover as many bases as I can before I bring it to the dealer.

Thanks Again
Snuffy

SnuffyZX I talked to my dealer about this, because I also do all my own oil changes and he has record of the sales and he told me it would be no problem. But we will see when push comes to shove if his word is good.

YW, Snuffy.
Yes, full engine pull, full case change. Pistons, crank, rods. It all depends on the other rods, pistons. My guess is the crank may or may not run true. Flex, bearing gall, and all else that can go wrong is still to be determined.

You'll have a fresh bottom end with all new bearings and possible crank in a new case. Lot of work. Lotta detail assembly if you look in the manual. No matter who's fault, the rebuild is all on that mechanic getting it right the first time.

Hub is right, and I second his guess. If the cylinder head split open, then chances are either the crank caused it, or the crank was damaged in the process.

I've never had a ZX14 engine apart, and I'm in too much pain to start learning a new engine now. But over the 40+ years during which I've legally been riding motorcycles, I've totally rebuilt half a dozen motorcycle engines and at least ten car engines. Not all of them lasted beyond the first day of operation. You have to get literally hundreds of torgues (many in in/lbs) exactly to spec, and many times if you haven't put a section together before, you can't do it correctly based just on the shop manual.

I grew up in hot rods and fast (or loud) bikes during a time when we had no choice but to take them down to the bare block, and work from there.

Today, anyone with a lick of sense buys a crate motor, and limits what they do intake and exhaust manifolds, and maybe the valve train. Most repair shops do the same thing, because they don't have anyone who knows enough to rebuild an engine correctly. Besides, crate motors are usually cheaper in the long run.

Which is another reason the old guy in the dingy garage who build the sick motor for your 78 Corvette isn't still in business.

Hello Guys
I just left the dealer and they told me to bring the bike in for a look see on monday. The head mechanice said it sounds like a thrown rod and he said he is not sure if it would be covered or not until he took it apart to see what caused it. He seemed concerned that maybe I had the clutch replaced? Not sure what that would have to do with anything? But seemed surprised that the original clutch was still on the bike almost as though he was going to say if I had replaced the clutch that is what created the problem....anyone know why he was so concerned with the clutch? I have just over 9000 miles on her as of now should I have replaced the clutch by now?
Thanks
Snuffy

SnuffyZX , beware that once you take it to the bike shop your committed, once in there your stuck. "Oldest trick in the book" we'll just pull it down and have a look, when its down there's no turning back and your at there mercy as to what they pay for and don't.

Have it clear in your mind as to what will happen when its pull down, and the different possibilities and directions the repair may go in.

Good luck

Here is a Picture of the engine problem.

That nos is hard on shit son! LOL. That looks like good old #3 rod bearing failure.
How were you riding before it went or when it went? A lot of long top speed wot running?
I am not accusing you and im BS you about nos its just what normally takes them out.
Regardless there is to many 14's losing that same bearing to ignore it or blame the rider.
I know it mostly happens when the bikes are run hard but kaw didn't advertise the 14 as a scooter!
I hope you can get Kaw to foot the bill' I think they should and if they don't then let the dealer know you plan to hit the forums with all the details.
Good Luck.............

Hey Bill

I was running around 60mph when the bike started to shake and I thought something went in the suspension....when I checked my mirror to pull over I saw smoke so I figured I popped a hose or something and when my boys and I took off the fairing this is what we found. Really Suks!!! Riding Season Officially Over..

NOS.....seems alittle too crazy for Me.

WOT??? Wide Open Throttle? Nah just goin with the sunday afternoon traffic.

U have heard of more than just my bike blowing Up in the same way? If so this could definitly be a manufactering problem?

Thanks
Snuffy

Yea snuff'' Its a problem with some of them and Kaw knows it.
Keep us posted 'because its like Hub said above this should be covered so don't take any crap from the dealer.
What dealer and where? When you decide to take it in post it.
I was just messin with ya on the nos/wot . I have had a few do it and i know for a fact the bikes weren't abused......
Run hard but in no way abused. LUK.......

Thanks Bill

I had the bike dropped off at a dealership called Kings in Brooklyn NY. I wasnt aware that anyone else has had a similar problem so maybe this is a factory F Up.

The dealer was packed so im not expecting an answer over night but as soon as I get one I will let You guys know what happened.

If anyone knows anyone on this forum or any other forum that has had the same problem please let me know so that I can build up my case with Kawi.

Thanks To Everyone Who Posted

Snuffy

Hey Snuffy' Any news on the tare down yet?
Hope it works out for ya! LUK...........

Hey Bill
No Not Yet...
The Guys at the dealer told me they where backed up with work so I'm not pushing the issue I dropped it 2 weeks ago and if I don't here anytthing by this next Monday I'm gonna give them a call.

Thanks for asking.

After reading everyones posts on this subject I searched around and its like you said mine is not the only one having this problem so lets hope Kawi does the right thing.

I will Post once I have an answer one way or another.

Thanks
Snuffy

Kool. I am just interested in how kaw handles this case!
I know the few that a local shop handled kaw made it good!

Lets Hope So Bill Keep Your Fingers Crossed

Thanks