We have a ZL down!!!!!

[zl900_moab]

I just thought I would tell everyone that Rick's dream bike is in serious peril, the head appears to be cracked, and after wanting a ZL900 for 20 years he is understandably upset with this latest development, so if anyone has some encouraging words for Rick, or some advice on what to do next, post it up here. We need to circle the wagons and help him out with this one, ZL faithful!!!!
moab...

[Kawasaki-krazy]

or some advice on what to do next, post it up here.
moab...

He could allways send me the rest of the bike as spares :stir:



Sorry..........I just couldn't resist.

As it happens I have a spare head minus the cams. Only problem is that I'm at the other side of the pond. It would not be worth the shipping when there are plenty of Concours engines over there already.

KK

[Kawasaki-krazy]

I've just had a near do with my GTR (concours) on the way home from work. I noticed it was making gurgling noises this morning when I got to work but didn't have any time to look at it. Riding home tonight I saw the temperature guage rising steadily and by the time I hit Aberdeen city centre I had to pull over to let it cool down. Got to the nearest garage and topped up with water, just enough to get me home.

When I had a look at it after tea, I found that the expansion bottle had touched the exhaust downpipes and melted through.
Its a stupid place to put it, right at the bottom front of the fairing, sort of housed within the belly pan, also it is only held in with one bolt either side so it can pivot (which it did) and touch the downpipes where they bend round under the engine (which it did).
I managed to fit a spare I had from a ZL1000 and stuffed it under the sidepanel (sticks out a bit but what the hell) held on with a couple of cable ties.

Do you think that if I repair it with fibreglass, it will hold? Its made from the same material as the ZL1000's and I don't think that pressure is an issue as it only holds hot water.

KK

[jas16]

hey

wouldnt it be possible to put some kind of heat shield (from any scrap bike), modified between the expansion bottle and the exhaust and hold it down with a couple of jubilee clips

[SnakeDoctor]

Rick, buy the one bike from down south and I think you'll work out better in the long run. Just pull out that complete motor and plunk that one in. Then you can part out that bike and make some money back from those spares. Getting a good looking Eliminator for $2000 is hard to find. You could check to see if the original head could be welded but then you have the expense of that pluss a gasket set and the rest of the costs involved.


KK, post some pics so we have a better idea of what you're woring on.

Cheers,

SD

[monkeyhanger]

DON`T THINK FIBREGLASS WILL ADHERE TO PLASTIC TO LONG. TRY COVERING HOLE WITH PLASTIC STRIP (OR SHEET DEPENDING ON THE HOLE SIZE)USING SIKOFLEX TO SEAL AND ADHERE IT .BUT DON`T GET NONE ON YOUR HANDS IT`LL BE THERE FOR MONTHS(WEAR LAYTEX GLOVES) GOOD LUCK ANDY(try a bit of tin over the top as heat shield maybe????)

[furchin]

Moab, in case rick does not read this let him know to check e-bay item # 290068641355, ZL1000 head, starting bid of $25.00 with another 25 to ship. Located in Illinois. I did not notice how long yet. Furchin

[zl900_moab]

Got that info to Rick, furchin....Thank you very much for your help!!!
moab...

[Rick_in_WA]

the question comes to mind is the 1000 head the same as the 900?
Chris, the bike in SanFran , Bull has the thought that there is something fhishy about the entire deal that he doesnt like. we are playing the waiting game with them

[LUMI]

the question comes to mind is the 1000 head the same as the 900?


yes, i have had both on my hands at the same time

[SnakeDoctor]

Lumi, so what's the diff if any and are the camshafts the same?

[bull]

Rick go to the website alumaloy.com they state right on the website this **** repairs aluminum heads. Remember when I told ya about this crud a couple of weeks ago? Just maybe this will be the fix. We could alumaloy it in the garage take it down to the machine shop and have it milled and resurfaced.

Bull