ZRX common problems

[bonester]

My 'new' zrx has many of the same problems that my green one had. So far:

Loose swingarm pivot bolt.

Cracked radiator fan shroud.

Lost two of the frame cradle bolts behind the radiator shroud- green bike lost one and one loose, causing the biggest mutha fukka of a tankslapper at anything over 200...

Leaking oil into spark plug well. (easy fix- new gaskets)

Starter chain tensioner hitting clutch.

Checking valves- 1 in 16 in spec. Gotta buy 6 shims.

(must have had a failed radiator as well which my green one hasn't yet. It has an aftermarket one on it.)

Worth checking these if you own a ZRX.

[Glen]

Yep gotta do the starter chain tensioner on mine. Already got little dings on the clitch

[bonester]

They shoulda fixed that problem before 1984 when the GPZ900r came out....

[Phil]

I have the "Kwik" fix, when I did the "Kwik Slip" clutch I put a new basket on and no marks at all on it now.

The OE radiators did have some issues with cracking near the top mounts. Is the replacement you have a Delkevic? Heard some horror stories on the OA about them but Marty put one on and didnt have any issues. Still, cant fault my Tealdo (when you run the correct coolant in it )

[bonester]

Nah it has a PWR radiator in it- made at the Gold Coast. Polished alloy. Looks OK. The old fart in me would prefer a more original looking radiator. May change it at a later date. Getting rid of the 'bling' bits.

http://www.pwr.com.au/

[Errol]

My 'new' zrx has many of the same problems that my green one had. So far:

Loose swingarm pivot bolt.

Cracked radiator fan shroud.

Lost two of the frame cradle bolts behind the radiator shroud- green bike lost one and one loose, causing the biggest mutha fukka of a tankslapper at anything over 200...

Leaking oil into spark plug well. (easy fix- new gaskets)

Starter chain tensioner hitting clutch.

Checking valves- 1 in 16 in spec. Gotta buy 6 shims.

(must have had a failed radiator as well which my green one hasn't yet. It has an aftermarket one on it.)

Worth checking these if you own a ZRX.

So tankslappers @ 200 are a potential symptom of the loose frame bolts.....

Will have to check mine, it is throwing @ fit @ approx 195/200 kph on the strip, about 6 to 10 bike lengths out from the finish line, knocks your nerves around after 3 or 4 passes.

Even did it slowing down once. I had checked these bolts way back, not for about 5 yrs now, best look into it.

Everything else you note I have already fixed over the years, + the cams have been replaced.

I am only checking valves every 30,000 k's & only ever have 1 out of adjustment per 30,000, must help if you rev the crap outer them all the time, keeps em clean

Thanks for the lead bonester

[bonester]

No worries. Yep those bolts cause the slappers. I tried everything to get rid of it- new tyres, head bearings, wheelbearings and nothing worked until I found the bolt issue. New ZRX steered a bit funny too until new bolts. It does need head bearings replaced which I am gonna do in the next week or so.

Luckily the cams in both my ZRXs are perfect. My old ZZR1200 chewed them up though- the only bike in this engine family that I have owned that did- also the only one I pussied to run in. Others flogged. Tells its own story.
(I had a GPZ900r, ZZR1100, ZZR1200 and now 2 ZRX1200Rs.)

Got another tip too- if you need o rings for the pilot screws on the ZRX, the Kawasaki diagram shows that you can only buy them as an assembly- screw, spring, washer and o-ring. Over $80 for the four. I had a look at GTR1000 which has kinda similar carburettors and the o-rings are available separately. $12 for 4. Hmmmmmmm.