So, I took the "KNGKAWI" to the shop for new fork seals, sparkle plugs and a t-body sync. They called me and said that the sync was off because cyl #1 had "low vacuum". We discussed the possible reasons and they were: Tight valve, burned valve, rings getting tired. Well, I was told when I bought it that the valves were just checked but I have no proof of that, so to prevent me spending a summer riding around wondering,"Hmmm, I wonder if one of my valves is about to burn up and fail thereby destroying my head and leaving me here stranded?", I told them to go ahead and check and adjust the valves and re-sync if required. If it still has low vacuum I can live with tired rings. It doesn't smoke or use oil and it still goes as fast as I want to go. So, hopefully we'll find out that the valves have never been adjusted and are tight and he fixed it and all is well. Either way, that bike is carrying my wife and I to Oregon in June.

Mad

Oh yeah, after I get it back I have to take it to Kawasaki to see if the frame recall was ever done. I know, I should have done this right after I bought it! But I was having too much fun riding it. So excuuuuuuse ME!

Mad

How many miles on it?

Had mine adjusted at 18K Miles and all exhaust were out of spec and 3 intake (if memory serves me correct)

Good luck. Hope the adjustment fixes it.

Reminds me....I should really recheck mine. I adjusted mine to minimum. Second adjustment, I will prolly go for middle of spec.

I dont think you have a valve problem. I'm guessing rings. Bore that motor next year or two.

My valves were virtually unchanged from the factory specs at 24K on my 07.....got lucky I guess.About that frame inspection...yours is what year?IF they checked it...it should have TWO small punch marks on the right side of the steering unit...the frame part...right near the engine number/vin up around the triple tree.It was only 06's and 07's...some of em.Not all.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 5/1/2013 @ 9:23 PM *

Thanks for all the comments. Mine is an 06 I'll look for those punch marks when I get it back. Right now it has 51,000 miles on it. It runs really good, I wouldn't have even known there was a problem until the tech called me about the trouble they were having getting the sync since #1 was not responding. If it's rings I'm not going to worry about that at all. The people I bought it from seemed honest and there was a lot of new parts on it but they may have been mistaken about the valve adjustment. Whatever, at least now I have a fixed timeline from this work. For all I know it may never have had the valves looked at. I do know that the valve cover gasket is completely dry and does not leak at all. Maybe after they get done I'll have the dreaded Valve Cover Leak Syndrome.
Oh well, it's in good hands. This shop has a very good reputation.

Later
Mad

You could always enter your vin number on the Kawasaki website under the 'recall' options.It'd be in there if it needed it.It may not at all.

Well the shop called and the valves were way out of whack, so they adjusted them and re synced and all is well. Of course they then told me I have a nail in my rear tire too. But that's ok since I just ordered a new one because that one was worn out anyway. And I do my own tire changes. So, officially this is a "WHOO HOO!"
Now I have to get ready for a Grouprides ride to the Sierra foothills with my wife and son and our big ride to Oregon this June. Time to get bizzzzy....

Mad

Huh.

The cycle offered no clue that #1 synch was "lo vacuum", and that valves were way out of spec?

You were basically going in for scheduled maintenance and discovered this stuff was needed?

Huh.

I'm usually "data driven", so I'm trying to learn from you, from your experience, and the "how do I keep this from happening to me"?

If you have clues to offer, I'm listening and thankful for your time.

Thanks...

Bob

I plan on talking to the tech that worked on it when I pick it up. They provide a clearance chart and I am going to get as much info out of him as I can. As I said, I would normally do this work myself but I no longer have a place to do maintenance and I wanted to get the fork seals done and added a couple extra things while I was at it. Then one thing led to another as often happens. The important thing is I now have a start point to keep track of things from this point.
Now it's time to piss off the cops and giggle in my helmet again.

Mad

Yes, I'd like to know also what you were feeling at idle or in off idle throttle response if the sync was that far out? Engine rough, surging, inconsistent idle speed?

I don't know how far the sync was out, they just couldn't get it in due to the low vacuum on #1. I'm going to ask the tech when I pick it up tonight. It actually ran really well. No stumble, no hesitation so it couldn't have been too bad. I'll have more info tomorrow.

Mad

"Due to the low vacuum on #1?" Didn't the guy take a compression reading to verify it was the bike or him not getting the sync correct?

Hi all I'm back. They changed the computers at work and now I can't access the interwebs anymore. Bastards!
Here is an update on the service. All the valves were a little tight, just under the limit. He re-set them all to the middle of the range. They found the low vacuum problem wasn't with my bike, it turned out that the hose to the gauge was cracked. So they re-did the sync and now all is well. New sparkle plugs and new fork seals and oil. All told the bill was $1000. I'm happy to have a good baseline for the valves now, like I said I never knew if they were done when I bought it. So, tomorrow my son is riding his 91 CBR600F2 out and on Saturday we are joining 51 other bikes for a ride up into the Sierra foothills. Should be fun. Then in June, the three of us are off to Oregon. Whoo hoo!
I'll try to check in here as often as I can. Stay safe and have fun!

Mad

Great to hear your out or almost out touring with your boy. I only wish for a xhance to do it with my son or daughter!
Cheers.