Hello..

I had to take my 2013 14 into the dealer after it started making a bad noise at low rpm...

Bike has 20000km on the clock ...

The dealer has been great... they split the cases and found the cush rubbers in the back balancer had let go... I hope to have the bike back shortly... no spares in Australia so have to wait

Not so good for you.
Glad to hear Kawasaki is onto it.
Let us know how it pans out.

Wow...strange.Glad she didn't go Koo Koo on ya;)Yup...sorry about yer wait.:(

Well i finally got my bike back yesterday

it looks like a bit of metal went through the starter gear and damaged the gear on the crank shaft.

Took two goes for the mechanic to find it as the damage was so small you can only see it with a magnifying glass. It looks like it was hit with a centre punch making the tooth a couple of thousand's wider on the end of the tooth.

The end result was a new crank shaft as it's all one piece.

The local dealer (Kawasaki Country) said it's all covered under warranty, all bearings rings etc.. were replaced

basically got a new motor back in the same cases.. they inspected every part in the gear box etc... for damage

Nothing is damaged or missing so it has been put down to a foreign body from manufacture or elsewhere..

while I had no bike I had a trip organised in which Kawasaki Country gave me a loaner so I could still go...

Can't complain about the service and follow up provided by the guys... just the back order system from Japan to Australia really sucks in how long it takes.

Glad your back in the saddle again.

Bottom line: Kawi came through! That seems to be the rule for them on this bike! They stand behind it and make it good.

Two months without the bike was hard to take, I expect, but they gave you a loaner; at least that shows good faith.

Isn't riding season just starting "down under"? Excuse my ignorance, please, if that is not even close to being true
but I seem to remember that when it snows in Illinois, its going into spring in the southern hemi.

If so, then you got a timely fix after all.

Good riding to ya.

pb

Hey PB

Yes were into our hot weather riding season 34 ? today

I ride 365 as I don't own a car. so no bike hurt... Luckily I also had my wife's ninja 1000 to thrash.

In the southwest of Australia if your not scared of the rain you can ride all year

It does feel good to be back on my bike

At least you had a spare to flog a little, gotta love a woman that rides, kinda works out both ways, lol. Good to see you getting it in!!

If I ever have to split my cases I'm going to delete both balancers. Un-needed parasitic loss. Prob a decent little weight savings as well.

Real question Mav that wouldn't pose a vibration problem?

Its gonna buzz like crazy

Nope. I've pulled balance shafts out of 4g63 Mitsu motors and there was absolutely zero difference in vibration. It states very clearly in the Kaw literature that the rotating assembly is perfectly balanced as is.

The Mitsi engine was mounted in rubber.

The balancers aren't there to counter a "heavy spot" in the reciprocating assembly. They serve to counter the sudden bump of the engine from ignition of a fuel charge.

My 4g63 was solid mounted and the balancer is only there for a "creature comfort". I'll take the extra power and weight loss over complaining about chassis vibration.

If I ever have to split my cases I'm going to delete both balancers. Un-needed parasitic loss. Prob a decent little weight savings as well.

Haven't heard of anyone doing this mod on the Gen1 or the 14r. if it works, I'll do it too. you first, mav.

There maybe a small weight saving as the balance shafts aren't that big...

You still have to have eliminators installed to allow for oil flow etc...

Not sure the power gain would out weight the expense and effort required

It wouldn't be worth pulling the motor for, but that's why I said "IF I ever have to crack the cases". And yes of course you have to block the oil ports with a dummy shaft or weld them up to prevent oil pressure drop. I just assumed that anyone that would actually attempt this mod would do the proper research. Furthermore, you wouldn't be after the static weight loss alone, but the parasitic rotational mass and its effects.