Swammped Brute Still having Issues.

[TUMBLEWEED]

Calling all web mechanics!! Back in May, I ran my

Brute into some ponded water and sucked in some of

it into the air box and engine. Having full -coverage

insurance, I made a claim and had the so called

"factory authorized" mechanic try and fix it.

After two months of dinking around I get it back finally.

After several trips out with no oil consumption or

leaks (break -in mileage/hours), I am now seeing oil

consumption = 1/2 quart every twenty miles. The oil

is jet black too. In fact, I drained and replaced

oil, put on 4 miles and drained again = more jet black

oil!!!!! I mean really nasty looking.

The repair invoice shows they put a new piston and rings

on the front cylinder, as well as a crankshaft.No work

done on valvetrain, or rear cylinder. They also did no

machine work, and used the old front cylinder assembly.

There were many "three-peats" of gaskets and stuff,

indicating trial and error mechanical work.

Any ideas what the heck is going on here?? They charged

my insurance company nearly 5K$$$ already and the dealer

is giving me no answers here. I think this kind of repair

was WAY over their head. Somebody throw me a line here

AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

[Surface Tension]

I'd suspect exhaust valve or rings.

First thing to do is a compression test.

If you find one side low now determine if it is a valve or rings.

Squirt 40 weight oil into the clyinder.

Repeat the test. If the compression comes up you have bad rings.

Little or no change would indicate a bad exhaust valve.

[TUMBLEWEED]

The stealer wrench says the compression is good. I showed them

the completely black oil with 4 miles on it today. I told

them I suspected an exhaust valve too.

We were suppose to bring it in, have the filter,cap,and plug

marked, and then do 50 miles. I told them I was concerned

about dropping a valve into the cylinder!! All they did

was reduce the mileage to 25 miles now.

This "factory authorized" repair center is a joke.

I wish I could pull the accredidation within the Kawasaki organization.

Under no circumstances would I ever do any business with these

fools anymore. I am "stuck" right now, so don't have a choice.

[Macgyver55]

Did they replace or at least check the rod for being true?Years ago my buddy swamped his Honda 300. It injested quite a bit of water through the intake. It never ran the same and used oil too. We checked compression and it was within specs, but we decided to go in all the way. After tear down, we found that the piston rod had a slight bend in it causing the piston to not ride exactly straight in the bore. It must have been small enough that the compression rings still sealed but the oil ring didn't. Since it was apart, we put in a big bore kit and a cam, in addition to the new rod. That little thing was a great runner after that.

Taking water into a cylinder can do lots of bad things with the hydraulic pressures exerted on it when still turning over. Water does not compress so something has to give.

[TUMBLEWEED]

MacG55, I will have to see on the invoice if they swapped out

the rod? I'll check. Thanks for everyone's input out there.

Why I as a customer,I have to do all the groundwork on this is way beyond my understanding.

Just got back from bringing it down there. We had to untrailer it and they took it back in the shop to check it out and

mark the filter,cap,plug. Heard it start up a few times..

Not sure what the guy was doing?? (Probably overfilling

the dang thing!!) It's sad I have to put my money and trust in

them, but it's a whole different thing when they have to listen

to me.

I still believe this level of repair was way, way over

this shop's ability.

[stumper]

Do a search for kawiriders forum. There are some guys on there that will be able to give yyou some good info.