Anybody know how many hours Kawasaki thinks the 600 mile service should take? My shop quoted me 2.5 hours + oil & filter, which seems a little excessive.

Thanks
tr0g

edited for typo

* Last updated by: tr0g on 3/23/2024 @ 1:09 PM *

Your 600 mile service, that I recall, should include a oil/filter change and a bolt tightening inspection, chain slack/adjustment etc.

I'm a DIYer, and most here seem to be. If you don't have the tools, that's one issue. You will need several tools, torque wrenches, 32mm socket, 36mm socket, a castle nut socket (for the rear suspension bolts). There's also the knowledge/experience side of things.

To me 2.5 hours seems fair plus oil/filter. What oil/what filter? Use a Kaw filter (0008) and some good oil, Mobil 1 or Amsoil or something. Kaw oil is fine too, just going to be more expensive that Mobil 1 or Am soil.

These are all things you can do yourself, most of us here are DIYers. The problem is will the mechanic REALLY DO the full bolt tightening inspection? If you DIY, you KNOW what does and what doesn't get done. If you decide to DIY, REALLY do this stuff. Log your mileage/service, take some pics of WIP, and keep tool receipts and that sort of thing to ensure your warranty is maintained.

I personally recommend this approach, BUT mechanic work is not for everyone. And working on motorcycles, with all the aluminum and precision does require a great level of care. And that's part of the dissappointment, when someone hires work done and eventually get's a friend who is mechanical after a few years, and as one day you're doing something with your bike you're finding stripped or missing bolts and fasteners and broken body work tabs your $100+/hr service never told you.

Hopefully you get one of the good mechanics that care and take pride in their work, if you hire it all done.

The problem is will the mechanic REALLY DO the full bolt tightening inspection?

Exactly. Don't (DO NOT) bring it to a dealership unless you are 100% confident they will do a thorough job. If they do, it will easily take 2 and a half hours. I'd trust a shop that's not a dealership a lot more. If you're really interested and very careful and you're willing to spend a solid day maybe two, you can change your own oil, adjust your chain and check your own bolts. Look up the tutorials and ask questions here. Don't be in a hurry. I did all my own work. One important thing is to not overtighten fasteners. On things outside the engine, I almost always went 30% to 40% less than specced torque and I never had anything come loose except a couple of the fairing screws. Those just had to be checked often. You might want to go full spec on safety issue items like axle nuts and sprocket bolts but I always just checked those a few times a year. I never had any come loose but I checked them to make sure. If you're going to remove things every year or two, it makes sense to not tighten them to full spec in my opinion. It's an aluminum bike with steel screws and the aluminum can stretch or strip. I used mostly aluminum screws with a little lock-tite but you're talking money if you want to replace all of them. I had $2000 in bolts on my bike. Don't ever use lock-tight on fairings screws that go into well nuts. Use never-seize on fairing fasteners if you want but definitely avoid lock-tite. You will probably not be able to get the bolt out of a well nut if you lock-tite it. The well nut will spin when you try to thread the bolt out.

Do you have an interest in wrenching on your bike? If you do, do it slowly and carefully and ask questions. If you don't, find a mechanic you are absolutely positive you can trust. Pay extra if you're sure they're worth it. It's so easy for a mechanic to loose money trying to get things done in the time they quoted you. Most are not going to allow that to happen at the expense of glossing over the work they should have done. That's why it's good to do it yourself if you have the time and the interest.

Thanks guys. I figure having the dealership do this service will help later on if I have any warranty issues. I got the shop manual delivered this weekend, so from here on out I'll do most of it. The ZX-14 is the bike I bought so I'd have something to ride while I spend time and money getting my '99 Triumph back up and running.

As far as bolt tightening, I need a 3/8" torque wrench. I have a 1/4", a precision torque screwdriver, and a 1/2" but the 3/8" seems to have grown legs and wandered off during one of the moves. Of course, as soon as I buy one, I'll find my old one, right?

Ha, a 600 mile service is oil/filter, chain adjust and lube, bolts you can get a tool on, sans removing the fairing. Inspect coolant reserve tank, radiator hoses and brake hoses, and fluid levels.

You have an owners manual or look in section 2 of the FSM and check off the first round of dots that correlate to said items. Save your money, Save factory OEM oil and filter receipts, Buy OEM so there are no denials of using aftermarket during the warranty window. Then jump out of it and use aftermarket if you want once warranty is over with.

The first valve inspection is the big ticket item. Maybe a 4+ hour job it the guess.

Since you are the mechanical type, whatever I say here forward may be moot.

The other thing that came to mind was Front Steering inspection for the 600 mile service.

As far as bolt tightening inspection, I take this very seriously. My first bike when I was around 20, had a bracket come loose and fortunately leaned away from the bike instead of jamming itself in my back tire, and who knows, I might not be here writing this if that had happened. I created a spreadsheet and printed it and that's my guide to BTI, in which I also record the dates each time they are checked. The spreadsheet is nice too because I have the tool info needed. As Rooks point, if you have, particularly aluminum bolts, that may be the only time I would ever not torque to spec. Stainless? Titanium? all good to go to factory spec.

In my doing annual or sometimes 2 BTIs, I usually find 1 or 2 fasteners that aren't to spec. I think the last time I did one, I didn't find any, but I also have only been riding about 1000 miles a year the last couple years.

And of course your torque wrenches will be found as soon as you buy replacements! LOL...