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85 zx600 ninja

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    #16
    I found a few discussions on the soft valves issue by doing google searches. From what ive uncovered the estimated bad engines were somewhere around the first 1000 to 1500. Least ive got something to look at next time i go over to my buddies place. IM about 80/20 on pulling the trigger.
    MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
    1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

    NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


    I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

    Comment


      #17
      I've had to do several Ninja 600 top ends. And,if this bike has had a" Top end" done, you better hope they didn't just grind the valves. That would remove most of the rest of the hard plate and make things way worse. Only real fix is a new set of valves. On one 86 Ninja 1000 I worked on ,one intake valve had pulled completely through the seat.

      Mad
      83 GS750E
      2006 ZX14
      2004 KTM 450 EXC
      2001 Yamaha Big Bear

      Comment


        #18
        Originally posted by chuck hahn View Post
        I found a few discussions on the soft valves issue by doing google searches. From what ive uncovered the estimated bad engines were somewhere around the first 1000 to 1500. Least ive got something to look at next time i go over to my buddies place. IM about 80/20 on pulling the trigger.
        I'm not sure about that. I saw a whole lot of them. Both from 85 and 86. If that number came from Kawasaki I'd be very suspicious. Remember, they were desperately trying to cover their asses. Apparently their main supplier of valves screwed up. Took awhile to discover the extent of the problem. By that time there were a lot of bikes out there.
        I'm not saying to not buy the bike. If I ever come across a good one ill snap it up. But I'd plan on doing the head 100%

        Mad
        83 GS750E
        2006 ZX14
        2004 KTM 450 EXC
        2001 Yamaha Big Bear

        Comment


          #19
          On a related note, my friend had a 1986 Ninja 250. It had the bad valves. It got progressively harder to start as the valves sank into the seats. So he had his son tow him and tried to bump start it. Backfired through the intake and set his airbox on fire. He was lucky to get it out. That was another one I had to fix.

          Mad
          83 GS750E
          2006 ZX14
          2004 KTM 450 EXC
          2001 Yamaha Big Bear

          Comment


            #20
            Mad.. I've been thinking do the valves regardless. I'm trying to see what the superceded part numbers were for the replacements. That or any info on what all years are the same as the 85. To be certain is better than to believe it's been done. I'll also look at the engine number.

            Anyone know where I might find old service bulletins from back in the day?. I sure am leaning hard but would feel more comfy knowing I can buy the upgraded valves.
            MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
            1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

            NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


            I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

            Comment


              #21
              I enquired about any valve work and it did have some valves replaced, lapped, and while t was apart it was honed and new rings installed. It ran and rode as it should until the starter clutch went South. Im gonna pull the trigger and clean the carbs and redo the clutch and see what happens.

              The only thing ill need for the starter clutch job is the triangular rubber dampers which isnt that big a deal. Kawasaki says they are still available so ill start there first. If they cant come through ill cruise Ebay until i have all 8 in hand.
              MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
              1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

              NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


              I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

              Comment


                #22
                Oofah. If they REPLACED the valves then you're good. If they lapped them, either you or the next owner is going to have a Sad.

                Mad
                83 GS750E
                2006 ZX14
                2004 KTM 450 EXC
                2001 Yamaha Big Bear

                Comment


                  #23
                  On a somewhat related note, I was working on a friend's 87 Ninja 750. Did you know those things have a BELT driven alternator and that it's INSIDE the cases ? I didn't either until I found his broken. I figured out a way to change it working behind the cylinder head but it was touch and go.

                  Mad
                  83 GS750E
                  2006 ZX14
                  2004 KTM 450 EXC
                  2001 Yamaha Big Bear

                  Comment


                    #24
                    Mad. Supposedly it was a combo of "some" valves replaced and all lapped. I'm currently trying to find the superceded part numbers for the valves. That or has Kawasaki just replaced bad valves with known good ones and kept the same part number? Do you think it's possible that if this bike showed some obvious bad ones and some not being bad when it was opened up that the issue has been taken care of?

                    Thing is was it just intake valves then? Just exhaust? Or a mix and match of both....know what I'm getting at?. Either way it was in fact running after the work had been done.

                    And another question for the ninja officials....what all years used the same part numbers as the 85 600?. My thoughts are that if the 85 year was the only year with the problem but they used the same head/valves setup for multiple years then it stands to reason I could buy 86 parts fiche valves and put in the 85 head. Make a reasonably theory?
                    Last edited by chuck hahn; 01-12-2021, 02:29 PM.
                    MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
                    1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

                    NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


                    I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

                    Comment


                      #25
                      I think 85 and 86 share everything.
                      "Thought he, it is a wicked world in all meridians; I'll die a pagan."
                      ~Herman Melville

                      2016 1200 Superlow
                      1982 CB900f

                      Comment


                        #26
                        Originally posted by chuck hahn View Post
                        Mad.. I've been thinking do the valves regardless. I'm trying to see what the superceded part numbers were for the replacements. That or any info on what all years are the same as the 85. To be certain is better than to believe it's been done. I'll also look at the engine number.




                        Anyone know where I might find old service bulletins from back in the day?. I sure am leaning hard but would feel more comfy knowing I can buy the upgraded valves.
                        I don't think you can get any of the bad valves anymore. They've been purged. Anything you can get now will be ok.

                        Mad
                        83 GS750E
                        2006 ZX14
                        2004 KTM 450 EXC
                        2001 Yamaha Big Bear

                        Comment


                          #27
                          I'm not sure but the bad valve we saw were always Intake. And like I said above, you can't get bad valves anymore. They made sure they were removed from the system. If it was me, and I couldn't confirm that all the Intakes, at least, were changed, I'd just replace all the Intake valves. That's what we did on my friends 86 ZX1000. I was so confident in that bike after I had repaired it, that the day after the work was done, we took it on a long trip. I ended up buying it from him. Never had any more valve problems.

                          Mad
                          83 GS750E
                          2006 ZX14
                          2004 KTM 450 EXC
                          2001 Yamaha Big Bear

                          Comment


                            #28
                            I'd for sure be looking to make money on the deal....
                            1980 GS1000G - Sold
                            1978 GS1000E - Finished!
                            1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
                            1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
                            2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
                            1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
                            2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar.....

                            www.parasiticsanalytics.com

                            TWINPOT BRAKE UPGRADE LINKY: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...e-on-78-Skunk/

                            Comment


                              #29
                              Might not be too much left on the bone. Im assuming intakes and fork seals will need replaced. Tires are for sure junk. But i think its worth the save. But on the right day and right buyer who knows.
                              MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
                              1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

                              NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


                              I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

                              Comment


                                #30
                                I would hold my worries about the valves until after I adjusted the valve clearance and did a compression test.
                                "Only fe' collected the old way, has any value." from His Majesty O'Keefe (1954 film)
                                1982 GS1100G- road bike, body, seat and suspension modded
                                1990 GSX750F-(1127cc '92 GSXR engine) track bike, much re-engineered
                                1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane; hooligan bike, restored

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