Head Gasket

[jopotts]

Hi Guys,

I'm new to this forum having recently upgraded from a 125 to a 400. Anyway - the problem:

I've got a '92 ZZR400 with a head gasket that needs replacing. The only problem is where to get one. Even my mechanic doesn't know where to get one as it's an import. I've seem to have searched the whole of the internet and about 3 or 4 forums for answers and can't get any. Does anyone know either where to get one or another bike which would use the same gasket (e.g. zxr400??).

Cheers in advance,

Jo

[ZRX61]

Kawasaki dealer, evidently your mechanic is fucking clueless. They don't chance the bore/stroke etc just for the UK market...

[Kickstart]

[DynaMight]

Try a guy called Greame France on 07778628448. He doesnt specialise on ZZR400's but does on Jap 400's so may have some good contacts.
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[jopotts]

Cheers guys...will try them tomorrow.

[ZRX61]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Only recent 400 sold in the UK was the L model ZXR400, and I am fairly certain that is a totally different engine to the ZZR400 (slightly different bore and stroke for a start).

All the best

Keith
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[the grim reaper]

I'm not 100% certain on this but wasn't the ZZR400 ridiculously heavy for the power because it was just a sleeved down ZZR600? If it was, there's no reason why a ZZR600 head gasket from the appropriate engine won't do the job, it may just be missing the extra material between the sleeves. I don't know if this would be a problem but it's got to be better than no gasket at all and the compression on the 400 would be lower.

Cheers

Grim
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[ZRX61]

[the grim reaper]

This thread seems to back up what I was saying:

https://www.aberdeenbikers.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=264&sid=443577b8f8d3ba775e294e5eebd5c968

It sounds like either a second hand ZZR600 engine would be a good bet but make sure that it fits first and that may give problems with insurance.

If you want to repair the existing engine, take out the old head gasket and order a ZZR600 one from a kwak dealer. When you go to pay (assuming you don't pay in advance) check them against each other, if the 600 one is vastly different, walk away.

Cheers

Grim
____________________
Adverts don't always work: Remember that advert, where the army are running across the desert and they have a wounded man on a stretcher. They get to a ravine, the bridge is down and a caption pops up that says, 'What are you thinking?'. I don't know about you but I was thinking, 'Christ, I'm glad I'm not in the f***ing army'.

[Kickstart]

Hi

ZZR600 has a 64mm bore, ZZR400 has a 57.5mm bore. A fair difference.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[mchaggis]

I answered the original question via pm, I think the gap in the gasket between the head and barrel would tend to collect soot and cause hotspots -> pre-ignition.
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