valve cover & coolant header

[leghorn1956]

Morning. It has been a while, and now i'm back. Can i change my leaky valve cover gasket without removing the engine. And also, i need to change the four 'o' rings on the coolant header going into the exhaust side of the engine . Thank you very much. Everyones' help is always appreciated.
Leghorn

[David (N. Alabama)]

Here is a good thread on the subject. Pay particular attention to comments made by and attributed to Carl Leo our resident expert.

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3197&p=24002&hilit ... ket#p24002

[leghorn1956]

Well David, thanks. 5 of the 8 bolts were loose. Don't know how long it has been leaking, but there was lots of crud. Mostly cleaned up and i'll check after a couple of thousand clicks. Still looking for the coolant header situation.

[voyager 2002]

O rings will take ya about 3 hr.. do not remove the exhaust. hardest is the oil tube it has 6 copper washers two on each bolt if you loose one they are auto brake hose washers. small hands and a lift table help i got both. you will need a LONG phillips drive screw driver [18]in. is perfect [to reach hose clamps on the bottom of radiator ] other then that you need a 10mm 14mm15mm socket and a 12 mm wrench. you don't have to remove radiator ether just lossen it up leave top hose on

[leghorn1956]

It will take me a lot less time to change the o rings. Not that i'm fast, but i had removed the rad to clean all the gunk off the front of the motor. Now putting the rad back on, might take me a few hours. Doing the one job, ends up making the other one fairly easy. Are these special rings that are used for the header. After this weekend , Big Red, will be ready to wisk most of my problems away. Thanks again folks.

[Rhinestone Kawboy]

Are these special rings that are used for the header.

If you are talking about the O rings for the coolant pipe manifold, no, they are metric o rings that may also be available at your local auto parts store, as well as your Kawasaki dealer. If a dealer is close and they have them, get them there, if not, the size you need is listed on the Dollar4Dollar page in the OEM parts table.

[leghorn1956]

Searching through my collection of o rings, i was able to find four to do the job. Thank God i didn't have to pay Kawy,,, $2.10 each... Once all soaped up everything went together fairly well. No leaks so far and the bike is running GREAT. After going over the bike from one end to the other, i am very happy. If God is busy, i can always count on you guys. Thanks again.