I’ve tucked it away so far back I almost forgot about it—the ZX12R.
There are several bikes that are starting to look a bit sketchy.
I’m not sure what’s going on, but the work just doesn’t seem to end.
Everyone says they just want an oil change and inspection, but I can’t really do that.
Alright, let’s get moving (‘ω’)ノ
I always save photos when things look sketchy.
Later on, when laying things out, I end up wasting time wondering, “Wait, was this on top or bottom?”
I’m not sure if this orientation is correct, but I can at least draw a line at what’s worked fine up until now.
Since we’re draining the coolant anyway, I went ahead and replaced it.
Since the throttle cable has to come off anyway, I cleaned and lubricated it while I was at it.
Oh, that’s right! The starter cable was indeed broken. (It hasn’t arrived yet.)
It’s ridiculously low-slung. I really wish it wouldn’t be.
It’s magnesium, I see. Is that a recycling mark? Pretty cool.
But once you remove this many parts, I realized the serviceability is actually pretty good.
Removing the head cover is way easier than on the oil-cooled bikes. (Though the ZX12R is definitely superior overall.)
Plus, liquid gasket sealant is applied all the way around, so I wondered if Kawasaki recommends it.
Not just at the cam plug location.
Liquid gasket sealant and pad grease are the two big names in preventive application, I’d say.
I don’t think applying liquid gasket sealant really extends the gasket’s lifespan much when it comes to oil leaks from gaskets—it’s basically a matter of gasket deterioration.
I think preventing overheating is far more effective.
For now, we’ve made it through the head cover gasket replacement and a few other bits (‘ω’)ノ
