ZX11 servicing

[Disco Dan]

Took the bike to bits to make sure all is fine and dandy...

Only worry is the spark plugs - see picture. They are covered in engine oil, not the electrode just the thread. Is that bad? Have I got oil leaking into the plug well?

Oh and I found a pebble!! A great big pebble wedged between the head and the alternator!! ...the only way to get it in or out is by taking the tank off... so I can only assume it's my very own "Christchurch Pebble" !

[Cajun]

throw some new plugs in and pull them out in 500kms and see if covered in oil still

[Disco Dan]

Cheers Cajun, will do.


...and yes that is a tub of vaseline.

[dickytoo]

Only worry is the spark plugs - see picture. They are covered in engine oil, not the electrode just the thread. Is that bad? Have I got oil leaking into the plug well?

i think you're right about oil getting into the plug well. it could be the rocker cover or this little number (circled). you'd have to take the cam cover off to change though.

11009-1725, its called a spark plug gasket

[Disco Dan]

i think you're right about oil getting into the plug well. it could be the rocker cover or this little number (circled). you'd have to take the cam cover off to change though.

11009-1725, its called a spark plug gasket

Oh choice, cheers for that. Know of others with similar problem, but does not seem to be a 'big deal' so was never done.

Will look into it on this bike as it seems a tad worse.

[Ixion]

Maybe the previous owner was an old timer who learned the hard way to always lubricate a spark plug thread before screwing it in.

[Coldrider]

Oh and I found a pebble!! A great big pebble wedged between the head and the alternator!! ...the only way to get it in or out is by taking the tank off... so I can only assume it's my very own "Christchurch Pebble" !

A few years back before a zx11 was born it was fashionable to have a 'pet rock', came in its very own box.

[classic zed]

Because the thread of the plug is coated in oil it means that the oil got there as it was unscrewed, therefore the oil is in the plug tube. I see it in cars all the time, the only solution is a rocker cover gasket and seals round the plug tubes

[FilthyLuka]

Because the thread of the plug is coated in oil it means that the oil got there as it was unscrewed, therefore the oil is in the plug tube. I see it in cars all the time, the only solution is a rocker cover gasket and seals round the plug tubes

The oil on the socket in picture one makes me agree with you, check the rocker cover gasket dan.

[Max Preload]

I had this problem with mine. Just replace the plug seals - no need to do the rocker cover gasket itself - they'll just be hard from old age. Make sure you clean the plug leads out too or you could end up with a misfire through the spark shorting to the plug tube not the electrode (that's what alerted me to the problem - an occasional hesitation (twice) on the way back from Paeroa 2007 to running on 3 at any throttle opening but idle, a week later.

Since you're there you may as well check the shims as well. They're not at all difficult to do.

[ynot slow]

A few years back before a zx11 was born it was fashionable to have a 'pet rock', came in its very own box.

Also the great Dick Johnson found one through his windscreen coming down conrod straight at Bathurst 1984?Real big farkin rock,and not his pet one either.