Why is the Kawasaki manual as clear as mud?

[voyager55]

I bought my 03 with 2000 miles on it. These bikes make all sorts of engine noises. Every time I started it there seemed to be a new noise.
Over the years I don't even notice noises anymore.
Just ride your bike & enjoy it. If you wonder about every tick,knock etc it will drive you crazy.

[Lumpy Rider]

Ghostler, your welcome. Glad that you are getting out and riding.Through the years I have found MMO excellent at cleaning, freeing and lubricating noisy top ends/valve trains in bike, boat and vehicle engines. Sea Foam, like you say, is also an excellent additive. More than anything, these engines need to be run often and hard; you have that covered.

[ghostler]

I bought my 03 with 2000 miles on it. These bikes make all sorts of engine noises. Every time I started it there seemed to be a new noise. Over the years I don't even notice noises anymore. Just ride your bike & enjoy it. If you wonder about every tick,knock etc it will drive you crazy.

That noise I had with the old but new oil (my mistake) was very distinct and very worrisome. I didn't realize that oil can just break down with age. Who knows when new actually how old it was to begin with? Engine seems to be settling down some by all the riding I've been doing.

There is one noise that is driving me crazy, it's like a plastic on rubber type squeak from the front that occurs while the bike is rolling. It's of a random nature but continuous, I can hear until the wind noise goes up. It continues until the bike stops rolling. It is as annoying as squeaking chalk on a school black board.

I think it is the lower fairing rubbing against the radiator trim fairing, judging by groove contact wear. I'm going to put some washers as spacers so it doesn't touch. I've noticed the right side doesn't touch, but the left side does.
Any other places I might look to find it?

[debron]

Only when moving?? Are you sure it's not brake pads on rotor noise?

[ghostler]

Only when moving?? Are you sure it's not brake pads on rotor noise?

Not in this case. I'm in the process of elimination.

[doug of so fla]

Jack up front end and spin tire, maybe speedo cable or housing or speedo itself, shocks, brgs, fendor. all the fun stuff, all else fails earplugs!!!

[richardb, austin]

New Mexico?? Go here: http://pub36.bravenet.com/forum/static/ ... 60&msgid=0
You just missed a heckuva weekend ride with the Enchanted Voyagers

[ghostler]

Jack up front end and spin tire, maybe speedo cable or housing or speedo itself, shocks, brgs, fender. all the fun stuff, all else fails earplugs!!!

Thanks, Doug, am going to check all of that. Have rubbing wear between the lower left fairing and radiator fairing trim, plan to shim bolt locations to get it off the radiator trim. Squeak is very much like the one I have from the rear, caused by the trunk riding on the nylon glides. I partially eliminated it by sliding the trunk from back position to mid. Do you folks lubricate the nylon glide rails? Should I use Teflon grease?

New Mexico?? Go here: http://pub36.bravenet.com/forum/static/ ... 60&msgid=0
You just missed a heckuva weekend ride with the Enchanted Voyagers

I'm sure I did, Richard, would have loved to participate, but have been busy with CMA, we've had a ride just about every weekend. Our Blackwater Draw Gospel Riders is now officially Chapter #1280, we are finally formed up, based in Portales. I am their president.

This past week I was at a CMA State Rally in Black River Village, NM south of Carlsbad. Brought my bari sax, amp, "MP3 Player" netbook and put on some meal time jazz music for them.

In a former life I was a 02J Clarinet Player with 02L Saxophone secondary on active duty with the Army from 1972 to 1975. I was stationed with the 264th Army Band, Fort Shafter, Honolulu, Hawaii then transferred to 25th Infantry Division Band, Schofield Barracks, Wahiawa, HI when they deactivated the 264th. Became a reservist in 1979 transferring to Retired Reserve in 2001. Spent most my reserve time with National Guard and Reserve Bands, now drawing my retirement.
It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it.