OpenTube

Not Another Broken Engine!!! Kawasaki ZX10R Engine Swap - Part 1

Palmer Performance

7,600 views

Hi!

Something we wouldn't normally do but we've been asked to take a look at this 2017 Gen 5 Kawasaki ZX10R which has a bit of a rattle coming from the engine!

Join me as I strip it down and find the problem then go about fixing it!!!

Thanks for watching as always 😁

00:00 Intro
00:51 Firing the bike up and talking about the engine noise and what we're going to look at first
04:07 Removing the pulser cover to check the cam chain
05:14 Removing the clutch cover to reveal our problem!!!!
06:14 Time for a new engine!!!
09:28 Removing the sump to replace the cracked one and taking a good look inside
11:42 Checking valve clearances on the replacement engine
13:03 Removing the old engine
17:25 Both engines out and discussing what parts to swap
18:26 Outro

16 Comments

@astrostrotch 2 years ago

Hard to believe there was so little noise from that big end, i wouldn't bet against some piston/valve contact as well.

@ianlawrie919 2 years ago

Beautiful work and unbelievably beautiful work space, I would be jealous if I didn’t know that the whole area would look like bucket of swarf and oily rags if I was let free. It’s inspiring to see how you diagnose with the scantest evidence. I am looking forward to seeing the method of using the adjustable engine mounts to align with the wheel sprocket. 👏👍👌

@motorax.service.motociclete 2 years ago

it's mind blowing how many new bikes i see wrecked up. we constantly beat 1st gen r6/r1, gsxr, ninja.s, and they deliver all day everyday and these new engines get tossed up...

@malibu188 2 years ago (edited)

Great to watch the complexity of engine swaps on these competition/road bike. @ 17:00 the car hoist works well. I’ve found on some of my bike engine removal and installations that using a high engine cradle to support the engine then just lifting the frame up and off the engine is less work and a lot lighter to handle.

@theenergyhealingstudio 2 years ago

Thank you for another great video 🙏

@cb4me450 2 years ago

I bought a gen 4 dirt cheap and found out is making a knock. Think I'll get a shop to do it over tackling it myself.

@Stae-t8r 1 year ago

Sounds gud. How'd u get midpipe that shiny?

@gk73man51 2 years ago

Send it.

@Tilly787 1 year ago

What year is it and how many miles has it done?

@Uninfluenceable 1 year ago

These bike's (and ALL Kawasaki's for that matter) need to be burped! You can't just toss an empty oil filter on them, and even prefilling is not enough! If you place an empty oil filter on it, it takes up to a minute (probably more) to build up oil pressure again, if it ever even will with the pump fully drained. Even if you prefill the filter, that is NOT enough. You must start the engine and immediately crack the filter loose a turn until the oil starts pouring out of the filter housing and then immediately wind the filter back closed. It's absolutely astonishing how many workshops and even dealers do not know this. If you run the bike with an empty filter, it WILL start having audible bearing knock within 15-20 seconds of running, and permanent bearing damage IS occurring due to metal on metal contact. I'd be willing to wager that this bike has had one too many "empty filter" oil changes, which is what killed the bearing. Very unfortunate, because otherwise, if you take out human error, these bikes are quite bulletproof..

@paulwilkinson6608 2 years ago (edited)

Why didn't they strap it down on its back.

@QuicKurtZX14R 1 year ago

I'd imagine if it already had the clutch replaced at such low mileage, that they'll be friction plate materials in the sump pickup and either spread throughout the engine and oil passages or just flat blocked the sump pickup.

@THAT2STEPPINGJETTA 2 years ago

i just got a really beat up 2012 zx10r but i can’t find a crank case that looks similar to mine on ebay even tho it says it fits it just doesn’t look like it has the right bolt holes any idea?

@envy_lucky7116 1 year ago

Hi, so im currently rebuilding my 2013 zx10r but im struggling to get the “thrust adjusters” out of the bike, does putting the engine on the crane make it easier to take them out or is there any method to taking them out specifically?