So here we go, my first problem.

Problem: Enough water go into the intake to get into the engine and caused #4 rod to let go.

Story: My club and I had a national meet in Va. We left New Bern Saturday morning and the second we leave that place it was a horrible down pour. Could only make out the tail lights of the bikes and was going like 10mph. All fine and dandy. Continue up NC to Va drying off and stuff, then shortly cross over to Va hit a smaller patch of rain. Got wet again then dried off by the time we got to Va Beach. Did our business then my chapter left the same day to head back home. Amazingly, more rain yaaaay. We crossed over into NC caught a rain break and dry roads. At this nice strip of road we had some fun. Bad luck struck again and one of our members bike motor just like explodes (i thought he had a rear tire blow out). We were by the road for a minute then a storm was definately coming over us. We decided to push the bike down the hill to the bridge which looked closed by. A mile later we get that bad boy under the bridge, had just started to pick up raining badly again.

Coming up is my problem. Once we figured out who is going to stay and wait for the truck the rest of us headed back. Like the amphibous motorcycles we are, we took off before the rain picked up again. My position is staggard next to the lead bike. For the lead bike was kicking up tons of water and it wasnt misty like how cars drive on wet roads, it was like a car driving in a constant puddle of water. That water was getting into my intake and over time I was able to hear the cylinder roughing it out and low temps (140*). We started to slow down, I down shifted then engine just dies and I coast off to the side of the road. Cussing and all kinds of accusations being thrown out. The motorcycle didnt initially start and after some time has passed and everything settled it started. This time though it had this horrific knocking noise.

The next day I change the oil, old oil looked like it had a creamer in coffee look (moisture). Put new oil with seafoam (someone suggested to free the lifters). Was a no go, took it to a shop and claiming it on insurance. Warranty would of been a hassale, not pay for everything, and may have been denied saying its not a warrenty issue. I have seen on these forums theres a lot of problems with the enginges especially rod #3. I am going to file a report on this to Kawasaki the mechanic believes its a warrenty issue. Bikes should not fail riding in the rain.

So its in the shop and going to get estimated then presented to the insurance representive. It gouged part of the casing too.

Never heard of water causing an rod bearing to let go....but maybe you are one of a few to recognize this trouble...? The ram air has a water drain, I think....The airbox does definitely have a drain tube.

I have heard of people saying their air filter was soaking wet after a rain ride. I suppose a lot of water in your oil would reduce lubrication. I would think that would be something that would be more of a risk when the engine was under heavy use which I am sure you were not doing when yours went. Might have been ready to let go at any time and this just happened to be it.

Good luck . Hope you get a free engine.

First off, sorry to hear about your troubles Hammbone. Thank you for sharing the information and experience with us.

I agree with Rook. All air intake boxes have drains in them to prevent accumulated moisture from finding its way into your intake. It is amazing how much water an engine can pull in before it hydraulics. I watched an instructor once spray several pumps from a hand pump spray bottle into the intake of an engine. The engine dropped very slightly in rpm, and there was evidence of moisture in the exhaust, other than that it continued to run.

I am not sure if the crank case breather of our ZX-14 are routed up to the air box (a good old pollution control method that sends the oil vapour /fumes through the engine to burn up the nasty and reduce pollution. This could possibly be a water passage means from your air box to your crank case. If the oil became contaminated with enough water it may not provide adequate lubrication and may cause a main bearing failure, possibly stressing a connecting rod.

When I see water in the oil (butter) I am thinking head gasket or cracked block. (what was your coolant level at?)

Once they break the engine open they will know what happened.

Keep us posted on what they find. If it was a failure based on water intake from following another bike on a nasty rainy day........ I will never follow again. Sorry again to hear of your troubles.

Spyglass

* Last updated by: spyglass on 8/22/2012 @ 12:40 PM *

I'm having a tough time believing this but maybe....tuners have been using water mist injection in engines for years
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_injection_(engines)

Did you ever wide open throttle your bike during the "dry off" period? or give it anything but light throttle?

Sounds like the mechanical problem occurred first, and because it was raining etc. that got into things and clouded up the issue.

How long had the oil been in the bike? What information aren't we getting?

Because frankly, in 45+ years of riding Kawasaki motorcycles, sometimes in rain so heavy the truckers were pulling off the road, I have never once had a problem.

If your dealer fixes it under warranty, you want to hug your dealer, because it doesn't sound like warranty to me.

I have seen on these forums theres a lot of problems with the enginges especially rod #3.

Where in these forums have you seen a lot of(ZX-14R) engine problems?

ETA: I've only had my ZX for a few weeks, but I have been caught in 3 strong surprise storms while on the highway. No signs of water in my oil.

* Last updated by: bigbore on 8/23/2012 @ 7:36 AM *

I'd talk to Grn, the new 14R engines are perfect and have zero problems just like the rest of the bike. If something broke you must have messed up somehow, I repeat, these machines are perfect and cannot fail...it is not possible.

" If something broke you must have messed up somehow, I repeat, these machines are perfect and cannot fail...it is not possible."

Ah! BG must have rebooted the free danish application.

;)

If rain caused this I will never get a ZX-14R I ride in heavy rain way to much shit I just road 4 days in a row through a tropical storm about a month ago with no problems!!And sorry about your bike thats just sad!

maybe , just maybe, you lost a coil or two? wet plug leads? you could be just misfiring
creamy oil does suggest gasket, be amazed if that much water got into engine via air intake, can it?

Rook - that is what the mechanic believes. Water reduced the lubrication causing a bearing to come out of place messing everything up.

Spyglass - I know these things are meant to ride in the rain, but instead of using a hand pump spray gun, use a hose of water. That is what it looked like to me visually. The roads were really wet so it was like driving in a constant puddle.

speedfreak - I did have a WOT run, but the bike was running fine before and after. This was just before the first bike broke down.

Privateer - You must be one of the lucky ones then huh? Oil been in it for 3000 miles. I was going to change it when I got home because it just hit its 4500 mile mark during the ride up. What other information do you want?

Bigbore - I didnt specify the engine problems strictly to the ZX-14R, I was talking about the site in general so that means all ZX-14. Leaders me to..

Kruz _ these bikes are not perfect, nothing made by man is perfect. It just needs more field time before everyone starts to notice problems. I'm sure everyone said the BMW S1000RR was prefect, it already had recalls. Its a bold statement to tell me I messed this bike up. I love this bike and it runs great, but anything under certain conditions can and will fail.

Cooter - it isnt so much the rain. It was the water on the ground from the rain that was splashed up into the intake.

Motero - No the mechanic already saw the damage. Rod #4 let go, gouged the casing and also the camshaft is toasted.

So the mechanic gave me a rough 6000$ est initally (new casing, camshaft, piston assembly, gaskets & seals, and labor). He hasnt torn into the engine completely because he is waiting on the insurance guy (lazy f^&*) to find out if they are gona total the bike. He said there maybe more damage since the rod had let go it may have damaged the valves and he cant tell right now.

Sorry to hear this Hammbone, what does KHI have to say about it?

BTW, I was joking with the perfect bike commentary, I don't believe that you messed up or are in anyway responsible, it was just a little poke at a friend of ours...lol!

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/24/2012 @ 11:43 AM *

At 195 you have no friends.I predict... ...200+ this year.Maybe.I need a bigger sprocket.A 44 should do nicely.No limiter...oh yeah....Cool thing about this bike...the speedo stays accurate no matter what gearing you install;)

"I don't believe that you messed up or are in anyway responsible"...sure Kruz...the bike rode itself (now I'm kidding Hammbone)...I do hope they'll get er right with ya...really a bummer .

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 8/24/2012 @ 11:50 AM *

it isnt so much the rain. It was the water on the ground from the rain that was splashed up into the intake.

Rod #4 let go, gouged the casing and also the camshaft is toasted.

So the mechanic gave me a rough 6000$ est initally (new casing, camshaft, piston assembly, gaskets & seals

This is a first for me. I have to be honest and tell you that in all the years I worked in the industry, I've never heard of so much damage inflicted to an engine caused by rain, ever. I seriously doubt Kawasaki, or any other brand will cover this as warranty. Sorry to hear this happened to you.

Kofla

NINJA ZX-14 MotoVlog

Hammbone I can relate to what you are saying. I ride in a MC club also, and have been riding 44 years, and have been in the same conditions you are talking about. What many are failing to understand is the amount of water your bike was subjected to while riding in close formation in a down pour. If I took a garden hose and directed it into your ram air ducts while you are going down the road you will have water in your engine also. The ram air drains can not keep up with that much water entering the system. I can only recommend that in the future you increase your distance from the bike in front of you, or ride in single file with plenty of distance between bikes. Good luck. It should be covered under warrenty. For those that never heard of this happening trust me, it happens. Look at the way the ram air ducts on newer bikes are, then look at the size of the water drain outlets, then maybe you will see how this is possible. This would be a problem on any bike with ram air, not just the ZX14.

If you are riding in formation behind someone and the downpour is now being redirected into your ram air duct by the rider in fronts tire, STOP riding in that position. If this solves our issue we can cancel the recall.

Just sayin.

Hamm: Sorry to here about the breakdown. For my own info, why would your insurance cover an engine failure?

Awesome.... Just the thread I wanted to read after my taking my new zx14r out for the very first time today and the last 100 miles I rode was in the rain...... Fudge! I'm going to be paranoid as hell now. I am definitely going to change the oil right away tomorrow.
Btw Hamm, I'm sorry to hear about your tough luck.

On a positive note I have to say I never felt more confident or more comfortable riding in the rain on any other bike as I did today on the zx14r. This bike is awesome, period.

It is awesome nasty!!! And you don't have to be paranoid about anything. The situation was basically a garden hose turned full bore down the intake while cruising at 70. You and I are not ever putting ourselves in such a position. Hence, no worries brother! But hey! Always a good time for an oil change!!! :)). I ride in the rain and I haven't even gotten enough water in my overflow catch to be more than a drop.

Got in 250 miles today. The first 150 I about froze to death, haha, it was around 38*f most of this morning. I had no rain gear with me either today but to my surprise I was still about 95% bone dry when I got home. Only my shoulders were slightly wet.

"My first trouble" and it's a big-e too. Sorry to here. Hope good news on the repair follows.

Anyone else notice that this thread stopped in August of last year and Hammbone, who initiated the "problem" thread, hasn't been heard from about it since 8/24/2012?

Cblast rejuvinated it on 4/13 (eight months later) with a generic comment; so there's really no reason to be taking it as a current problem or even one that is firmly established as a true problem, whether incidental to Hammbone or more general in etiology, resoved or not resolved, etc.

By now, Hammbone should know what Kawi thought of the issue of his lost rod; but he hasn't shared with us on this thread, so.................................

I obviously never looked at the date. Is 'my bad' appropriate???

It's like losing an errection right before climax. No apologies needed, people contribute and tag threads as they go, there is no text book on etiquette. Worry not C