Well, I've been putting it off for a while now but I am taking the 14 in to the shop on Saturday.
A while ago I had the valves adjusted, they reused the valve cover gasket so you know what happened...
that's right. The dreaded oil leak. Not enough to drip on the ground, but just enough to sit on the headers causing smoke on start up. I'm planning on doing some longer rides this year so I decided I took all I can takes, I can't takes no more. While they're in there I'll have them check the valves again and clean the motor which is filthy.
Who knows, this year has been decent financially, I may even spring for a new set of Metzler M7s!!!

Mad

that leak may have come from improper tightening ya know.but i get it.they should have put a new one on there...that's in the manual,isn't it?I think most shops are okay...but it's surprizing sometimes how little some techs actually understand about the 14's.guess they just don't get many to work on?

Also,if they reused that other one,there is a possibility of oil getting up around the lip of the cover...which could simply be residual oil from the valve job.it may disappear shortly.possibly just retorque it yourself,and see?I know ya hate to do that when ya paid for quality work...but sometimes a post-fiddling is necessary.Those are finicky bolts to work with.too much...she'll leak.too little...she'll leak.improper sequencing of tightening...she'll sometimes leak.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 3/14/2017 @ 9:22 AM *

They probably figured they'd save you $60 by not replacing the gasket. I probably would have chanced it, too as long as the original gasket stuck to the head. Make sure you have them replace the ring-Os too. They lose their spring after a while. ...and do the proper torquing sequence which I do not believe is very clear in the SM.

Also, change the stick coil/spark plug well gaskets.

Yeah, this shop is pretty good. They do all the work on a guys land speed 14 there so they know the type bike.
I'm having them change all the gaskets on the valve cover, a couple well nuts for the forman grills and give the motor a good cleaning. I told them to check the clearances but don't adjust any unless they are way out and to call me first. They should be good. They were adjusted at 52k. I'm just tired of people staring in alarm as my bike warms up....

Mad

could be your tensioner.i'd guess that's more what it might be.they do go bad.or get weaker.

Hey MD, how many miles on your 14 that you had to do the valve adjustment

Well, they were just adjusted when I bought it at 39k miles. Had them done at 52k. It now has 64k and we all agreed they should be fine.
It runs great, just the smoke and oil drooling down the motor.
So, last time I was in the shop there was an 07 with the head off and a valve head buried half way through a piston top. They were waiting for an ebay replacement motor. I had the chance to talk to the service manager and asked him what happened. He stated that it threw the valve right after a valve adjustment at another dealer. The one right down the street from my house. The one I refuse to go to for this exact reason. The owner tried to get them to pay for fixing it but the dealer refused. So he brought it to the place I took my bike. They tried to get Kawasaki to do a Good Will deal but were turned down because of the age of the bike. Hence the owner had to buy the ebay motor.
I am wondering if Kawasaki has any idea of how the first shop is screwing up their reputation around here. They are a high volume sales dealer, don't seem to give a shit about service or customer care. The place I go to has a couple of techs with years of experience and seem to really want to do a god job. Staff is responsive and friendly. I'll give them a plug. Fremont Honda/ Kawasaki.
So, either do the work yourself or cultivate a relationship with a good shop.

Mad

my gawd, how would anyone attempt this without knowing wtf they were doing. i wonder if they got it off time when they reinstalled the cam chain or shafts? I'l bet they have a line of new hires every couple weeks.