Pitted Cams

billwest · Post by **billwest** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 6:51 pm

Hi,

Does anyone know if Kawasaki is doing anything for ZZR, ZRX owners with pitted cams?
Rumour has it that they are replacing them, almost at their own expense?

Bill.

hoffy · Post by **hoffy** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:04 pm

have you got pitted cams?

billwest · Post by **billwest** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:11 pm

Yep! On both the ZRX ('01) and the ZZR (02).

ZRX has 50000km on it, and pitting is quite noticible. I am taking the lid off it this wekend to have a good look, because it also has a loud tick from the top-end, and I don't know what it is. Shims are as per spec.

ZZR has 25000km on it and cams are showing pitting, but not as much as the ZRX.

Local Kawi dealer here seems to give the impression that Kawi is well aware of all of this, and has said "he will see what he can do for me", whatever that means.

For the ZRX, he also offers to remove both cams, have them sent to a local specialist fo resurfacing and grinding (with a somewhat hotter grind) and then re-installing, all for around $750. I guess for the ZZR it would be similar.

Therefore, if anyone is aware of Kawi's ideas on this, I would like to know.

Bill.

PeteZX12 · Post by **PeteZX12** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:16 pm

Trade the pair of them in on something else.......I suggested that to you already!

billwest · Post by **billwest** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:21 pm

The ZX12R also suffers from pitting, I'm told, and perhaps the ZX14 will also ..............

BW

hoffy · Post by **hoffy** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:36 pm

shit ey.

bonester · Post by **bonester** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:31 pm

My cams were pitted at 19000km. Got em swapped under warranty- remember too that you need 16 new rockers when you do the cams. Kawasaki are well aware of the problem- it has been happening since the 80s with GTR1000 (particularly), GPZ900, RX1000, ZX10, ZZR1100, 1200 and ZRX1100, 1200 affected as well as some other models. Seems they aren't too interested in fixing the problem.

They couldn't guarantee that I wouldn't have the problem again- really reassuring. My GPZ900 and ZZR1100 were unaffected.
BMW had a similar problem when they released the K1200S- their solution was to recall ALL the bikes and change the cams. Kawasaki? They let their customers wear it if they are out of warranty. (mostly.)

billwest · Post by **billwest** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:51 pm

New rockers? Surely only to replace those where the lobes are pitted?

My Kawi dealer won't put other Kawi cams in. They will only send them off for regrinding. They have no more problems after that.
The same dealer reckons the ticking in my ZRX engine comes from a pitted lobe hitting a shim. Who knows? I'm checking it on the weekend.

Bill.

hoffy · Post by **hoffy** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:57 pm

I am shitted that kawa wont cover it, I've heard of that prob from a couple of guys on zrxoa.
I do believe if I had that problem and they didn't help me I wouldn't buy another kwacka. Sorry but that is just shit service from kawa IMO.

bonester · Post by **bonester** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:02 pm

I am shitted that kawa wont cover it, I've heard of that prob from a couple of guys on zrxoa.
I do believe if I had that problem and they didn't help me I wouldn't buy another kwacka. Sorry but that is just shit service from kawa IMO.
_________________

That is precisely why my ZZR12 is my first and last new Kawasaki- their after sales service sucks and warranty claims are a chore. I'll buy something that doesn't need warranty work- probably a Blackbird for me next. Honda robots must paint better than Kawasaki robots too. Paint is perfect on a Honda, shit on a Kawasaki.

hoffy · Post by **hoffy** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:14 pm

I agree, essentially they make great bikes but they let themselves down on the little things *like*after sales service.
I haven't experienced the paint problem but have certainly had other similar issues.

All jap manufacturese are the same though, I had a mate with a blackbird and the digital speedo stuffed up 6mnths after purchase, they would not fix it under warranty claiming they believed he had removed the dash and shoudn't have. Funny thing is he did remove the dash in the first month to fix a rattle and it worked fine for the 5 mnths after that. That cost him $650.

They are just a law unto their own, its about time they pulled their heads in.

And.......dont start me on the Ducati stories i've heard....lucky you dont own one of those

billwest · Post by **billwest** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:24 pm

Well, I am pretty happy with my Kwakas, apart from the pitting. It doesn't really affect the running of the engine, I'm just mildly concerned about it, ad if Kawi was willing to fix it, that would be good.

One of my previous bikes, FJR1300 had different problems as a model. Those ones, like the R1, develop the 'ticking head', where valve guides need to be replaced.

I generally don't have any complaints about the service I get either, or maybe I've found a good dealer here.

hoffy · Post by **hoffy** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:28 pm

I hope we both continue to be relatively lucky, touch wood I haven't had any *expensive* probs.

It's just some stories you hear get you worried sometimes

billwest · Post by **billwest** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:30 pm

I've ridden the ZRX from Perth to Phillip Island and back twice, and the ZZR once, no probs each time.

Bill.

Johnnie5 · Post by **Johnnie5** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:23 pm

lol you guys should talk to 916/996 engine owners where the chrome flakes off the rockers