Kawasaki Ninja Service Manual: Steering Play Inspection

Remove the lower fairings (see Lower Fairing Removal in the Frame chapter).

Raise the front wheel off the ground with the jack.

Special Tools - Jack: 57001-1238 Jack Attachment: 57001-1608

With the front wheel pointing straight ahead, alternately tap each end of the handlebar. The front wheel should swing fully left and right from the force of gravity until the fork hits the stop.

If the wheel binds or catches before the stop, the steering is too tight.

Feel for steering looseness by pushing and pulling [A] the forks.

If you feel looseness, the steering is too loose.

NOTE

The cables and wiring will have some effect on the motion of the fork which must be taken into account.

Be sure the leads and cables are properly routed.

The bearings must be in good condition and properly lubricated in order for any test to be valid.

Steering Play Adjustment

Remove: Steering Stem Head with Handlebars (see Handlebar Removal in the Steering chapter). Bend the claws [A] of the claw washer [B] straighten. Remove: Steering Stem Locknut [C] Claw ...

Other materials:

Oil Pressure Measurement
Remove: Right Lower Fairing (see Lower Fairing Removal in the Frame chapter) Oil Passage Plug [A] Attach the adapter [A] and gauge [B] to the plug hole. Special Tools - Oil Pressure Gauge, 10 kgf/cm²: 57001-164 Oil Pressure Gauge Adapter, PT3/8: 57001 -1233 ...

Moving Off
Check that the side stand is up. Pull in the clutch lever. Shift into 1st gear. Open the throttle a little, and start to let out the clutch lever very slowly. As the clutch starts to engage, open the throttle a littlemore, giving the engine just enough fuel to keep it from stallin ...

Clutch Plate Warp Inspection
Place each friction plate or steel plate on a surface plate and measure the gap between the surface plate [A] and each friction plate or steel plate [B] with a thickness gauge [C]. The gap is the amount of friction or steel plate warp. If any plate is warped over the service limit, repla ...