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Greetings from British Columbia. I have been a lurker for a while and find the information exchanged overall is really helpful and useful. I have a question related to valve cover removal and the order in which the bolts are required to be removed and replaced. I do not have a service manual and it is the first time that I am doing this to replace gaskets. I am told (I am not a mechanic) that the order matters of bolt removal and replacement is important and I am reaching out for advice. I have downloaded the supplement service manual however the page with the diagram is missing--but who ever uploaded the manual I appreciate what is there. Any advice is welcomed, Craig

Greetings Craig...so the supplemental KZ1100R manual refers to the base manual (KZ1000/KZ1100, 3rd edition)...(which is posted on this site under the 1000cc category) to address your question.  Go to page 6-15 to 6-17 in the base manual.  The manual does not list an order for either removal or replacement of the bolts (all 24 of them) suggesting that order doesn't matter.  Common sense would suggest that when tightening them, do all finger tight then in a crosswise pattern, tighten them to specs (87 inch lbs.).  Nice motorcycle...too bad we never got it south of the border.

Rule of thumb is loosen from the ends working towards the middle and tighten from the middle working towards the end in a "criss-cross" as mentioned

Welcome! 
Loosening does not require any specific pattern.
Tightening :  Crisscross pattern, starting in the middle, work toward the outside.

Pictures please! 

Thanks to you all for the prompt reply. As stated, very helpful forum.// Craig

CT5110 wrote:

Thanks to you all for the prompt reply. As stated, very helpful forum.// Craig


 

Nice...did you recently purchase that bike from a fellow by the name of Glenn?

McDroid.....indeed I did. Bought it a few years ago actually when I was in Vancouver. What do you know about the bike?//Craig

Hopefully, you plan to adjust the valves while the valve cover is off.  

CT5110 wrote:

McDroid.....indeed I did. Bought it a few years ago actually when I was in Vancouver. What do you know about the bike?//Craig

Sweet bike...he took good care of it and he was instrumental in me getting information on that model (I collect info on different models).  I do remember that he had issues with that tank leaking fuel via some pinholes...which I think he resolved by brazing those holes...and then had the tank repainted.  I am surprised he sold it, actually...but he does have (had) a 1400 Concours.  It will be wise of you to print off or purchase both the KZ1100R supplemental manual (Kawasaki part number 99924-1038-02) and the base manual (Kawasaki part number 99924-1026-03).  There are a few idiosyncratic things about your model, e.g. carburation. Nothing scary. Both are still available on eBay. If you ever tire of the bike...keep me in mind.

Don't tighten over 60in/lb is my only advice. The bolts aren't going to come loose. Tighten to 87in/lb you are looking to strip threads.

And in case it needs to be said, torque is in INCH-lbs, not ft-lbs.  you never know sometimes. ha ha.