Anyone happen to have a picture of the correct installation of the foam spacer on the right middle cowling??? Dealer obviously installed it incorrectly after performing the 15k mile service, including valve shims & throttle bodies:

* Last updated by: wertdaman on 8/8/2011 @ 8:05 PM *

Sorry I removed mine to help keep cooler.

That should have a cutout in it to fit over the radiator hose.The piece you're showing goes DOWNWARD against the inside if the lower fairing,with the top part fitting on the hose.Down there on the lower part of the engine/hose area.If you have the service manual...it's at the back,under 'hoses and wire routing'.

Thanks blue... I tried looking at the parts fiche. Didn't have much luck, maybe cause I assumed it went in that middle fairing. I'll check out the service manual.

Just another item I have to have 'fixed' after the service... Missing fasteners and low coolant level after change, I wasn't quite up to the task for the valves, but this will definitely change my mind next time around.

If you look on the parts fiche...it's in there...kinda hard to actually see where it goes though...but it fits over that hose and downward inside the belly fairing right about where the engine case sits up against the fairing.The angle will be flush with the fairing inside once in place.You'll see what I mean once you've got er on the hose.It appears to be 'off' the case in the pic...it's not.When it's sitting in there,it's resting between the fairing and the engine case..the long little piece keeps the fairing from contacting the case at the bottom part.The top of it is actually a 'flat side' as you can see with it in your hand...it just 'looks' a bit shaped different.Triangular with a longish leg on it and a cutout for the piping.Triangular part goes UPWARD with the cutout on the pipe.The long leg runs across the case,so you may need to move it backwards towards the engine to get to set right in there.That pic is not very accurate.The larger part will be flush against the belly fairing when in there correctly.The bottom will be 'in',not pointing straight down as shown.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 8/9/2011 @ 10:05 AM *

Click link below. The top sticky thread in the list. Newbies Guide to Fairing Removal. Go to the very end of the How Too Under "Fairing Pads." Pics of installed foam.

http://zx14ninjaforum.com/threads.cfm?forumid=385CB3F0-1372-66AE-3BFEFB42213B4276    click here

* Last updated by: Rook on 8/9/2011 @ 3:33 PM *

Awesome references blue & rook, thank you!

I've looked over that how to, but that was a while ago and I've only gone as far as the air cleaner, so none of the main fairings.

Looks like I'll be getting acquainted this weekend :)

There's a squarish one on that right side belly fairing as well.I didn't see it in the book....don't know why,but...I didn't.It goes right about where the 'panel hole' is at,just to the aft of that.Factory belly pans have that fastened onto the fairing with epoxy or something.It keeps the lower part from hitting on the case somewhere in there.Funny I'm not seein it shown on that pic of the other foam pieces.It's in the parts fiche in that diagram...but not on the manual diagram.It's NOT supposed to be 'separate' like the other ones...it's glued on to the fairing down there.Very odd they don't show that.(the bubble says 'square pc.goes here')(don't know WHY that lettering is moving like that!)Here's a better shot from the part ficheIt goes onto the fairing you see on the outside there(to the right)...the belly fairing.You SHOULD have it connected to your fairing.I taped mine in just to hold it while I installed the fairing.That other 'thing' you see there in the fiche pic is the foam pad(s) that come separate.You have to buy those if you're starting from scratch.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 8/10/2011 @ 10:08 AM *

Coot, did removing that peice actually make a difference in how cool your bike runs?

I'm not Coot...but my guess is Kawasaki designed the cooling abilities of the bodywork shape to act together.The hot wind covers and foam 'braces' I think are all one package of directing the airflow around the engine and all.I personally wouldn't start trying to remove hotwind covers and foam pieces.Kinda like how the radiator valve opens at a certain temp.Except they're using the pieces to slow down or speed up a certain airflow over a certain part or area.That's my take anyway .There's a lot more going on with this bike than it looks.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 8/11/2011 @ 7:49 AM *

Coot, did removing that peice actually make a difference in how cool your bike runs?

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Yeah, that's the what I figured Cooter, that it would make a little more heat around the legs! I'll leave mine alone, don't need any help in that area!

Thanks Blue for the explanation - kinda' what I figured, that the foam help with air management around the engine compartment.

Thanks again guys... finally stripped down the cowling Sunday using Rook's guide.
Not unexpectedly, they reinstalled the lower foam on the left side wrong too. Gaps weren't that great either and found two another missing bolt. Everything went back together great after a quick cleaning underneath and have replacement parts on order for the missing fasteners.