TOPIC:

Hi,

Just finished bolting on my new engine covers and noticed a minute

weep from this 17mm nut/cap. I'm assuming there is a rubber 'O' ring
or washer situated in here. Nothing to worry about but I will be
changing the oil ( I'm putting 20/50 semi motorcycle oil in )..so is it safe
to undo this cap when I change the oil so I can inspect in there?

Only asking as I'm not sure what will drop out etc !!!

Its a very unusual place to get any oil weeping from as its not a bolt / head that you would ever need to remove or loosen under normal circumstances ?
Is it not just oil running down from above to the lowest point and looking like its coming from there ?
I cannot remeber what is behind that bolt head so I would not attempt to loosen it at all as it may have anything loaded behind it !

Dont use 20w/50 grade in a Z1300 in the UK...........too cold here and that grade too heavy.
The correct grade is 10W/40 Semi Synthetic and it MUST be oil for a motorcycle with a wet clutch.
Most 20W/50 oil in the Uk is only for cars which have a dry clutch............so not suitable for bikes.

The oil many owners use in a Z1300 including myself is Halfords own brand 10/W40 Semi Sythetic which is ideal and well priced.
Alternatively you can use the oil below which is actually Shell Oil but sold through Smith & Allen as their own brand...........its very well priced and the only oil I use now in any bike.
EBAY Item Number 300855378264

Hope that helps ?

Pete F
UK

It is a summer bike only so ordered the 20/50 semi syn. motorcycle oil to try, as she ( though not burning any ) seems to like a drink of oil ( may have been me not checking level when I bought her ). No rush on that cap and clean as a whistle underneath so not apparently coming from elsewhere ?? Advice appreciated.

I would not use 20W/50 in any wet clutch Jap bike..........summer or not.
Is the 20W/50 oil for BIKES or just 20W/50 ????

The correct oil for all year round is 10W/40 Semi Synth.......stick to that.

Most early Z1300's use oil, as most 4 stroke Kawasakis of that age did.
Kawasaki Motors stated it was acceptable to use up to 1 litre per 1000 miles back in the late 70's / early 80's.

Even rebore and new rings does not guarantee fixing it for long.

Pete F
UK

I have used nothing but Valvoline 20w50 car oil in my kz1300 for the last 34 years and 150000 miles ,no trouble what so ever

Thats great to hear..........not sure what addiditves Valvoline oil has as its not a very popular sold brand in the UK.

As a young lad in the late 70's working as a bike mechanic in a HON/SUZ/YAM/KAW Franchise, one of the most common regular problems we had with customers bikes was clutch slipping.
90% of these were caused by owners using car oil (mainly 20W/50) in their bikes. This resulted in us having to repalce the oil with motorcycle type oil to solve the issue and in some cases strip and wash the clutch plates in petrol.
Car Oil will lubricate the engine no problem at all and do no harm to it but does not have the required additives in it for a multi wet plate clutch. That is one of the reasons why it is normally much cheaper than bike oil !!
If you check the specification of the oil Kawasaki recommend for the Z1300 and compare against 20W/50 Car Oil.......it will speak for itself.
In most or many cases this will result in the clutch slipping, especially in cold temps which we have for 11 1/2 months in the rubbish tip of Europe ( The UK )!

No harm in trying it if you want, but at least you know the risks beforehand !

Pete F
UK