KR-1S.co.uk Forum

Hello to all, its been a while since i've been on the site but i hope you can help me? I have KR1S that i had a engine rebuild done over a year ago but i havent used the bike and the engine is not even run in yet. The bike has been standing but regulary started, I started the bike today and noticed once warmed up water was coming out of the exhausts and from checking the coolant this was low. Does this mean my waterpump seal has gone and how easy is it to replace and where can i get one from? Do wemoto do them?

Or is it something else. Please help, many thanks, Nick.

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if the water pump seal has gone, then check if there is coolant in the gearbox oil - its usually turns to yogurt.
If the head gasket is gone, it also pressurises the water jacket and blows water into the overflow tank and eventually out of the overflow pipe.

I used to run a clear tube from the radiator over the handlebars, if I saw bubbles in the tube, then it shows the head gasket has blown (quite common for the KR1).
My problem was the both my cylinders weren't the same height so the head wasn't sealing. Also, the standard barrells have a chamfer at the top which 'encourages' detonation and eventual gasket failure.

Hi, i drained the gear oil and it didnt look contaminated to me but then i'm not riding the bike could the oil turn this quickly?. it was running for about 20-30mins at tick over and reving it up now and again, then I noticed the right hand cylinder wasnt firing as well as the left side when i noticed the water.
I'll check the coolant overflow tank level.

What part of the radiator did you connect this clear pipe to so you could check? Was it the overflow, Also you mentioned the barrels have a chamfer at the top, can you do anything about this? When removing the head if the gasket has gone what are the signs to look for?

Thanks.

remove the pipe that goes back to the expansion bottle fire the bike up and rev it if the gaskets gone every time you rev it it will blow coolant out of the rad, or at least mine did rebuild the top end and use h***a bond on the head gasket.

ade.

If your running high compression, its a good idea to get brass detonation rings inserted into the cylinders, or make the cylinder shorter and have the combustion chamber recessed into the head.
Dont use pattern gaskets (they're shyte) - I've always had problems with them. Best go for the genuine Kawasaki head gasket, no problem in using pattern everything else though.

I've heard that some people smear Wellseal over the head gasket too - (not sure if it works)

This head gasket mularky has always confused me....

I am still using the original that cam with my engine (been off and on more times than I can count now).

The black finish has pretty much all come off it.

When I re-install it all I do is put a light smear of Loctite 515 or 518 (depending on which one is to hand) around the coolant passages and bung it back on.

I have never had a leak of coolant or combustion gas.

I reckon if I recessed the head a bit to clear the exhaust valves I could just use the Loctite.

Maybe it's just me...........

Thanks guys for all the response, i will have a look at the head gasket and either replace it or re use it with some sealant.

Cheers.

even if you replace with a new one still use sealant