Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: Snype on August 25, 2017, 05:38:29 PM
-
My gas cap on my 2012 is all but frozen. My stove knob clicks when I turn it. Suggestions to get this working again? I used graphite once with no luck
Snype
-
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=20069 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=20069)
-
Great thread. I kept digging because it does not really solve the problem, just kind of maintain it. What I found was the following product. Going to order a tube and try it.
United Erie E Z TURN Yellow-Brown Fuel Resistant Lubricant
United Erie EZ Turn Yellow-Brown Fuel Resistant Lubricant is designed for use on oil and fuel line valves. The lubricant is resistant to high temperatures and is efficient as a gasket paste and anti-seize agent. It is excellent for tapered plug valves and can be used in marine applications or aircraft engines. EZ Turn lubricant will not gum, dry out or crack and the lubricant is also resistant to high temperatures. Each shipment of United EZ Turn lubricant is independently tested for quality. Available in 5-ounce or 1-pound sizes.
Snype
-
Let us know how it works.
-
Better yet, replace the cap with a quick release fuel cap, no key or maintenance needed.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Racing-CNC-Quick-Lock-Release-Gas-Fuel-Cap-Kawasaki-ZX-6R-636-Ninja-2013-/151319895548?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item233b5e5dfc&vxp=mtr (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Racing-CNC-Quick-Lock-Release-Gas-Fuel-Cap-Kawasaki-ZX-6R-636-Ninja-2013-/151319895548?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item233b5e5dfc&vxp=mtr)
-
I researched that avenue a little. I heard that people have issues with those leaking gas or fumes.
My little tube of grease arrives tomorrow. I'll have at it this weekend and give you a preliminary report. I'm planning on just doing the lower lock; though I'd really like to clean out the entire lock.
Snype
-
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=20069 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=20069)
What he said. The materials that Kawi used on this gas cap just can't hold up to the fuel.
-
Ok... I got out my seran wrap, hunted down my dremel tool, bought a crap ton of new bits, grabbed my screwdriver and began as that thread suggested. After securing the tank with plastic wrap and a towel, I forced those little crews loose carefully. That is when I noticed all of the little springs grinning maniacally; quietly chanting, "Free at last!!!" I stopped to reassess my situation.
I'm not sure if this article was for the 2012 variant or not. It seemed very clear that if I proceeded the gas cap would oblige my curiosity by exploding into a million peices. I opted for a, possibly, less successful route.
I carefully squeezed the grease into the lock mechanism from any angle that I thought I could grease and wiggled the key a lot.
SUCCESS!!!! After about 1 nickel sized drop, the lock moves almost like new. This stuff is not suppose to dissolve in gas. It is very tacky. Even if this only lasts a few thousand miles between reapplication, I think this is still the best solution for cost/implementation.
I'll let you know when it starts to get crunchy again.
Snype
-
I'm not sure if this article was for the 2012 variant or not.
They are all the same
It seemed very clear that if I proceeded the gas cap would oblige my curiosity by exploding into a million peices.
You can't say I didn't warn as such in the thread :)
-
Some warnings are best kept close to heart.
The grease is working fantastically. I wish I had used it from the start. I think all of the graphite and other crap I tried to use, screwed it up.
Snype
-
The grease is working fantastically. I wish I had used it from the start. I think all of the graphite and other crap I tried to use, screwed it up.
I am thinking the same thing happened to me. BUT, I think it was still going to fail with corrosion, I just accelerated it by using graphite the first go-round. Don't be surprised when it starts acting up again, you put in more grease, and the second time lasts half the time as the first, and then the next half that time...
-
Mine was getting harder to open.
Currently it does not appear corroded like the one shown in this discussion...
I lubed with plain old 3 in 1 household oil.
Great improvement..
My plan is to lube it regularly as long as I can.
Expecting a eventual failure I bought a cap from Gas-Cap-Dude on Ebay.
I liked this design as it's simple and has vents built into it, and the guy was great to work with..
He went out of his way to answer everything and to find me a black cap.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251245016943&rmvSB=true (https://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251245016943&rmvSB=true)
I have not installed it yet. My plan is to see how long the stocker works.
When/if it eventually gives me problems, I have 1 ready to install.
Ride safe, Ted
-
Still smooth as glass. If I leave the key in, I can push close the gas cap. I'd recommend this over 3-in-1.
Snype
-
Still smooth as glass. If I leave the key in, I can push close the gas cap. I'd recommend this over 3-in-1.
3 months isn't enough time to say much :) I can get 3 months of smooth out of most anything. But 6 to 9 months later my ":)" becomes a ":(" But let's hope that grease keeps working for ya! I would never use 3-in-1, it has very little staying power.... (I have been using white lithium grease).
-
UPDATE
10 months. I have NOT reapplied. This stuff is amazing. The cap still moves like glass and can be closed (with the key inserted) by a push without even having to turn the key. This stuff is a must in my tool kit from now on.
Snype
-
Glad it is still working.
-
UPDATE
10 months. I have NOT reapplied. This stuff is amazing. The cap still moves like glass and can be closed (with the key inserted) by a push without even having to turn the key. This stuff is a must in my tool kit from now on.
Snype
Where did you order it from?
-
don't know, as he never said...
nimble fingers show this..
https://tinyurl.com/yczvbuol
-
don't know, as he never said... nimble fingers show this.. https://tinyurl.com/yczvbuol
Yep, already saw that, myself. $10 and another $10 in shipping. A bit expensive due to shipping, and more risk from having to set up a transaction with an unknown, one-off vendor.
A sample size of one success doesn't necessarily mean it is any better than any other lubricant, however. There are other people on the list that never have corrosion... or that have only some corrosion and use white lithium like I did and yet have no recurring problems for years and years (unlike me). So there are likely other factors, like how bad it was before it was first cleaned and lubed, the model year, the base cause of the corrosion varies wildly from part to part or area to area, etc.
Still, a "fuel resistant" lube sounds like a good idea. If it were on Amazon for $10 and free shipping, it would have already been in my cart :) Funny how "value" works from person to person.
-
https://www.skygeek.com/united-ez-turn-fuelube-5-oz.html?utm_source=transactional&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Transactional%2BEmails%2BItems (https://www.skygeek.com/united-ez-turn-fuelube-5-oz.html?utm_source=transactional&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Transactional%2BEmails%2BItems)
Snype
-
I get the concerns.. The $15 was not so uncomfortable to put out on a product that fixed my issue. This is designed for fuel valves in airplanes. I am sure it has gone through a butt-load of testing. The biggest thing I was looking for was something that did not dissolve into my gas and contaminate my injectors. I was thinking of a variety of more common greases; but most had some version of a petroleum base, or a base that had the possibility of clogging things in the engine. I was a little nervous to use this stuff, for fear that I clog something, so I used it very sparingly and worked hard to get it into the lock; and then tried to squeeze out any excess. I am still amazed at how easily this cap turns after only one application.
I don't sell the stuff, nor get any kickbacks. Just one Connie owner that found an amazingly good fuel resistant lubricant.
Snype
-
I had googled it before I asked. I found it on skygeek. Started to order it, but shipping cost more than the lubricant did. That is why I asked. I was hoping there might be somewhere to order with more reasonable shipping rates. Guess not.
-
https://www.wagaero.com/maintenance/lubricants/ez-turn-lubricant-5-oz-tube.html (https://www.wagaero.com/maintenance/lubricants/ez-turn-lubricant-5-oz-tube.html)
-
https://www.wagaero.com/maintenance/lubricants/ez-turn-lubricant-5-oz-tube.html (https://www.wagaero.com/maintenance/lubricants/ez-turn-lubricant-5-oz-tube.html)
That site won’t tell you what the shipping charges will be. They just have a statement in the checkout process that says the shipping charges will be assessed and charged at the time of shipping along with a $3 handling fee. I don’t like the idea of not knowing if it is going to cost $5 or $100 for shipping before I place my order.
-
https://www.wagaero.com/maintenance/lubricants/ez-turn-lubricant-5-oz-tube.html (https://www.wagaero.com/maintenance/lubricants/ez-turn-lubricant-5-oz-tube.html)
They want $12 plus won't disclose shipping AT ALL, even after entering all information!!! EXCEPT that is it $3 plus whatever UPS costs, so I am guessing it is at least $10 more. I have never seen a site collect payment information and still not tell you what you are going to pay. I filled it with fake info and it actually accepted the order, and gave me an order number, still not saying what it will cost.
-
That site won’t tell you what the shipping charges will be. They just have a statement in the checkout process that says the shipping charges will be assessed and charged at the time of shipping along with a $3 handling fee. I don’t like the idea of not knowing if it is going to cost $5 or $100 for shipping before I place my order.
LOL! I just posted nearly the same thing.