Leaking valve cover..

stevestang

stevestang

Well-known member
So I have a slight oil leak coming from my upper left corner of my valve cover on my 2002 zx9.
I already bought the new gasket, but when I take it apart should I also replace the spark plug gaskets? The parts guy asked if I wanted them too... But I don't know if they are necessary to replace too..
Also I'm thinking I should check my valve clearances while I'm at it...
 
Is it a leak or a sweat? Every zx9 I owned had the sweat symptoms.

There is a good detailed write up on zx9r.net for the valve adjustment and gasket replacement.
 
Those spark plug gaskets/o-rings should be a few cents /each. Might as well replace them. I would suspect that you can re-use them with no issues.

valve check could be done...should be pretty easy as you'll have the cover off.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. In my opinion it's a leak. But a very slow one. I have a few oil drops on my garage floor where it's parked and I can see where the oil is coming from.
I have read up quite a bit on the valve clearances, and I will check out the write up on zx9 . net. If I am out of tolerance I need to pull the cam timing g belt tensioner and then remove one camshaft at a time as I remove or replace shims? Do they sell shim kits? Or you only get what you need from the bike parts store?
 
Just get what you need, you may be able to swap a few around also. I learned a good trick for taking out the schims, zip tie the cam chain onto the sprockets, can't loose your timing unless it comes off the crank and yes you need to remove the tensioner and re-set it when you reinstall it.
 
stevestang said:
Thanks for the replies guys. In my opinion it's a leak. But a very slow one. I have a few oil drops on my garage floor where it's parked and I can see where the oil is coming from.
I have read up quite a bit on the valve clearances, and I will check out the write up on zx9 . net. If I am out of tolerance I need to pull the cam timing g belt tensioner and then remove one camshaft at a time as I remove or replace shims? Do they sell shim kits? Or you only get what you need from the bike parts store?
Click to expand...

Good thread, same year bike as yours.

http://www.calamarichris.com/zx9r/valveadj1.htm
 
OP One bit of advice, i just did a valve adjustment (different bike$ and replaced the gasket while at it,,,

when you are putting the cover back on its real easy to over torque it even with a torque wrench, just donit by hand and start easy, if you notice a leak yku can always tighten down a bit more
 
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