My ZX7R is sick......

[siege65]

Having problems with loosing coolant on the 7R.
She's half in bits at the moment before I get the engine out. My question is this, although it doesn't specify this in the manual, does the swing arm have to be removed to facilitate the dropping of the engine?
Also, does anyone have the removal sockets P/N's 57001-1347 & 57001-1370.
Any guidance would be appreciated guys....

[GD Engineering (Gavin)]

Don't have to remove the arm. You can make castellated sockets by butchering old tube sockets with an angle grinder.

[siege65]

Don't have to remove the arm. You can make castellated sockets by butchering old tube sockets with an angle grinder.

Thanks for that, I've had a 24mm socket milled to replicate the 57001-1347 Kwaka socket for the engine mounts.

[Crackers]

Is the oilpan on the 7 as much a pain in the arse to support as it was on my 9? Theres a tool you can get which creates a level jacking point but theyre about $US 500 - when I change my engine I reckon i'll get a block of wood cut to size. That's plan A anyroad!

[reddog]

siege.. it'll be interesting to knwo what you find with the ZX7.

My brothers does the same after riding it, it dumps some coolant. He just tops the coolant up as it doesn't appear to be getting hot on the gauge.

is yours losing coolant but not out of the overflow?

[vbroom]

not sure what size it is but i have a castle socket.

i needed it to remove my swingarm on my ZX6 so it'll most likely be what you're after.

drop me a PM if you want to borrow it.

[RAVENGSXR]

Seems you have a leak somewhere , mine never lost a drop even on the ride to Karratha ( mid january ) she never got beyond normal operating temp

[perdition]

check coolant bottle , they get brittle and split along the join , especially near the mounting holes....well mine did

[Desmo]

Yep, I'd be checking for overflow loss before pulling a motor out.
Eliminate all the easy to fix problems first before condemning it to a rebuild.

[Sean'o]

Something as simple as a radiator cap that wont hold full pressure anymore will give you coolant loss.

[Jamathi]

If no water in engine oil then why pull engine out?
These bikes are easy to work on and parts are plenty!

[siege65]

I checked all the usual before taking the engine out. Replaced radiator cap, thermostat, checked water pump, flushed radiator etc etc but still same. Having removed the engine and stripped the top end, found cylinder head is knackered. Whoever had the bike beore me must have known this as there were signs of a quick repair just to get rid of the bike.
I need either a complete engine or a cylinder head from any bike from 96-03. If any knows of a 7R being wrecked please PM me.

[Jamathi]

Pics please of head.
Maybe able to weld and reface.

[siege65]

Had some good advice from Gavin of GD Engineering. He said my head might not be beyond repair but he found one for sale on Ebay in the US off a 2000 model. I've taken the chance and bought it.
I'd rather put a good 2nd hand one on rather than welding my old one up as if I come to sell the bike (or trade it), I'd rather spend more and have peace of mind that the next owner wasn't buying a dud.....
Will try and upload some pics of both heads.

[reddog]

Good stuff. Thumbs up to Gavin

[burlyoaf]

did you get her going in the end mate?

[siege65]

Replacement head put on from the US, now going like a rocket.... :- )