WHAT WENT WRONG WITH MY 23 Y/O KAWASAKI NINJA ZX9R!

[@milkmancometh420]

If the only reason youre taking the head off is to replace the collets, instead you can rotate the engine until that cylinder has both valves closed, hook an air compresosr up to the spark plug hole and pressurise the combustion chamber, allowing you to use a valve spring compressor that doesnt require you to pull the head off - this is very common on LS V8 engines to replace valve springs

[@HalfdeadRider]

Unfortunately not an option, and for the tools it would cost even more mate.

[@David_Gardener]

Hope you get it sorted, what a pain eh, and outside too. Think of the future rides ahead knowing you’ve sorted it properly, best of luck buddy👍

[@HalfdeadRider]

Thanks mate 👍 It is a pain having to work outside, obvs not good when it's raining a lot as can't do it, and when it is warm it's not always nice 😂 I may buy a large tent for growing indoor 'veg' one day so I can set that up for keeping the weather off me and the bike.

[@Nxthxn.]

Nice video mate, hopefully you can get it sorted soon.

[@HalfdeadRider]

🤞 Thanks mate 😎

[@whitetribe6424]

That's a real nightmare, you've definitely got more patience than I've got, hope it works out better the next time 🙏🏻👍🏻.

[@HalfdeadRider]

Believe me, I did nearly give up on it 😂 But overall it is a good engine, still with relitively low mileage. Was running perfectly still as you can tell when it overheated.

[@markhanley1838]

Thanks for the reply, much appreciated 👍👍

[@tonymontana897]

Hey mate, I'm surprised the bad luck you've had with this bike. They are usually pretty bullet proof and reliable. So was the overheating issue due to a dicky thermostat ? Also, how did the collets dislodge ? Are there 3 collets in total with the one remaining holding the valve up ? It's a tonne of work. You are a very patient man. If you had a garage, you could invest in a bike platform thingy so you could raise the whole bike to a more comfortable working position. I'd also be more inclined to drop the whole engine and go right through it whilst it's out. Another plus for using the factory workshop manual. I wouldn't really trust anything else. All the best mate. I'm sure you'll get it sorted.

[@HalfdeadRider]

I think the main reason the gasket went is due to it's past, it was only on 16k miles when I got it, but was off the road for seven years, five of which were when it was left outside just under a cover. That is not good, unused and un-maintained, especially in the UK. The collet (two per valve), came out due to the one exhaust shim that I didn't need to change coming out of it's recess, pushing the valve spring down without the valve, was very lucky both collets didn't jump out. Yea it is a pity I don't have a garage, maybe I'll buy a lottery ticket and cross my fingers 🤣🤣 Bike is good now, as said in my other reply, had my first anxious ride today, vid here kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZXCdaZ5oaifZqM

[@ma_rjs]

Wishing you luck and see you soon, absolutely! 🤗 Not that I understood a word about what's inside of bike. ))) Good luck and hopefully we can see you riding soon enough. 🍻🤗💝☀️

[@HalfdeadRider]

🤣🤣 Thanks! lets hope so 😎👍

[@BeansOnToast_YT]

WTF, sorry to see all this, what a struggle it's been.

[@HalfdeadRider]

Was very close to just giving up on it and selling it on at one point, it got that frustrating 😂 Hopefully it's perfectly fine otherwise 🤞

[@0x7FFFFFFFFFFF]

Just so I understand (I'm a bit slow), you changed the old head gasket for new one, got everything ready again, and then on startup one of the valve collets flew off? Did you find the collet in the engine or is your plan to strip the engine apart to look for it? Or are you taking the head off just to fit a new collet? When I was checking the valves on my zx-10r (same model and colour bike as your friend's, btw) I ended up taking all the valve springs out to change the valve retainers which had all broken.. I didn't take the head off to do that, I used a technique similar to the video someone posted in the comments below to compress the springs. Might be different for ZX-9R though. It's a slog working on those bikes eh, I would defo suggest sticking with the official service manual, even though some of the photos and grammar can be a bit off, the info is spot on every time. Hope you can get it sorted soon!

[@HalfdeadRider]

"you changed the old head gasket for new one, got everything ready again, and then on startup one of the valve collets flew off" Yes that is what happened so I found the collet under the tappet/bucket. If I try more to fit the collet without removing the head, it risks dropping the valve, and due to it's location and the angle of the engine, and that it still has one collet in (which hopefully saved the valve), it's near impossible to refit it with those tricks as it just falls away, also the valve almost always, if not always will go down with the spring. The first thing I tried when I found it like this (over a week ago), was to use a long socket, but it's not going to happen. I don't find it too bad working on it, it's just a pain having to do it outside (especially in the heat), and running up and down stairs for tools and stuff all day lol

[@markhanley1838]

Thank you for this video, sorry to hear of your bad luck. Could you please let me know where you got the single seat cover and the black frame covers. Many thanks & good luck 🤞🤞

[@HalfdeadRider]

They were already on the bike, but I'm sure both were sold by pyramid plastics, the cowl needs painting, not sure they sell the frame covers any more tbh.

[@gormanspacemarine]

You could make a fitting to screw in the spark plughole and put that cyl on TDC. using compressed air @ 100psi should hold the valve shut to jimmy the collet back in place from the outside.

[@HalfdeadRider]

Unfortunately I couldn't do that, was in a very awkward position to make that easy to do if I could have anyway, so had to do it properly, been back on the road a few weeks now though.

[@gormanspacemarine]

@@HalfdeadRider BUMMER

[@davidmuir6849]

Well done great job👍 Regards Dave from Scotland

[@HalfdeadRider]

Cheers mate 👍

[@nitramh24]

You might not need a new head gasket. If the bike hasn't been run much, it should be fine if you take it off and retorque the head. I've done this a few times without problems, but I can understand if you want to be on the safe side.

[@HalfdeadRider]

Yea that's the thing mate, I don't want to risk it, too time and money consuming. Thanks for watching and commenting though 👍

[@nitramh24]

@@HalfdeadRider At least the engine bolts are reusable (once), it even says so in the manual. You have to up the torque by a couple if nm. So, you said that you got new bolts the last time you took the motor apart, and I’d definitely reuse the bolts. Just trying to save you a few bucks mate😅

[@HalfdeadRider]

@@nitramh24 I am buying new as they are stretch bolts, but they do say a different torque setting for used bolts. The second stage torque setting is actually less than with new as they have already been stretched. Thanks though mate, but my luck would have it go wrong in some way if I don't do it properly again 👍

[@nitramh24]

@@HalfdeadRider Yeah, you’re right about the torque settings for used bolts. Hope you get her up and running with no issues😀

[@HalfdeadRider]

@@nitramh24 Cheers mate, hope to be able to get on with it in a couple of weeks time 👍

[@101steel4]

That's the thing with buying an older bike (I have one myself) . They're cheaper to start off with, but once the problems start, it gets expensive. And you seem to get one problem after another :(

[@HalfdeadRider]

That is certainly true to some extent, I made sure I got a relatively low mileage bike to reduce the chance of wear related issues. I think the reason my head gasket failed as it did was due to the bike sitting outside unused for five of the seven years it was off the road. Other than this, the engine is great, only on around 23k miles, was 16k when I got it.

[@lewisbrown9310]

There are ways to replace the collet without removing the cylinder head..

[@HalfdeadRider]

There are in other scenarios, but it was impossible in this situation, the other collet was still in and would likely have jumped out amd dropped the valve.

[@lewisbrown9310]

@@HalfdeadRider it didn't drop a valve if it's still running

[@HalfdeadRider]

@@lewisbrown9310 I didn't say it dropped a valve bud

[@AdamUKG]

you shouldn't of betrayed ya last bike, i bet that's still running great, lol jokes, hope u get it sorted mate

[@HalfdeadRider]

😂 It would be if it wasn't for that pesky collet 😂 Yea I be the old ER-6f is still going strong 😎