Valve guide seals

Wrenchmonkey posted this link and I thought it would be a good idea to start this thread with this title so it would be easy to find in search.
The author should have proof read it but it gets the idea across.
Thanks wrench
Steve
www.enginebuildermag.com/1998/07/valve-s...terials-and-designs/

What are the stock Kawasaki seals made out of? Regardless of material, I'd use them with a clear mind if they weren't so expensive.

On my 750E engine rebuild I bought some of those generic "viton" seals off ebay which I think was a gamble. So far so good though. Viton is a good material, but buying generic seals is risky. The quality and application fit is critical, arguably more important than the material.

Mine are holding up very well. The stock ones I had to replace at 31,000 miles.
Steve

:woohoo: thanks for posting that . I'm in the process of changing mine, very interesting information!

I have always had a preference for shrouded valve seals on car and motorcycle engines alike, with a metal bucket around them. Most times valve seals just loose tension on the valve and leak, they don't really wear that much. The metal bucket keep them in tension.

Z1-E has the seals you want here....

Valve Seals

I have used these on my 650 and my 1300.


I know they are a Suzuki part No. but they are a direct fit a kawasaki. There is a similar part for the liter bikes.

Nessism wrote: What are the stock Kawasaki seals made out of? Regardless of material, I'd use them with a clear mind if they weren't so expensive.

I think they are butyl rubber and they failed repeatedly on my 750 twin. I would get about 10 - 12 years service out of a set. They harden over time and leak like crazy. I think VITON is a much better material.

You know of course they didn't intend them to last that long. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Steve

bountyhunter wrote:

Nessism wrote: What are the stock Kawasaki seals made out of? Regardless of material, I'd use them with a clear mind if they weren't so expensive.

I think they are butyl rubber and they failed repeatedly on my 750 twin. I would get about 10 - 12 years service out of a set. They harden over time and leak like crazy. I think VITON is a much better material.

Humm, maybe the stock Kawasaki seals are not so great afterall. There are lots of KZ's running stock seals without issues was my thinking. Maybe the 750 twins run hot and cook the seals?

They worked well but like I said, they were toast after 31000 miles. Didn't have Viton back then. I'm using them now.
Steve