93 zx7 bent output shaft, dealer wants $900 to fix it

[mvk]

I took my 7 down to the dealer so they could put a 520 conversion on my bike and when I went to pick it up the guy at the counter said there was a big problem. The mechanic kept tightening the chain and it would go loose again and after getting the rear wheel in the air with the front sprocket cover off, he could see the sprocket moving forward and backward. He told me the sprocket end of the output shaft is bent, and me knowing the history of the bike I think I know why. The engine had seized at some point, maybe throwing a chain and bending the shaft, and the guy I bought it from had replaced the engine at 23k. I didn't know about it and have been riding it like this for 3,500 miles with no problems, but with this new chain and me knowing about it I certainly can't ride it like this and feel comfortable.

Anyway, the bike is almost mint except for this. 26k, with 14k on the engine. New tires, new brakes, new chain(now), new front wheel bearing, new windscreen, polished frame, swingarm and wheels, all fairings in good shape. Is letting them put a new output shaft in for $700 labor + prolly $200 in parts worth it? I don't have enough knowledge of bikes to do this myself, even though I know I could probably do it with enough time and a service manual and save a ton of cash. I really love the bike, but I'm just not sure.

Thanks,

Bobby

[QKENUF4U]

WOW that sucks. i think your right about the way it got bent. locked up motor,locked up chain,bent shaft !! ouch !
as for if its worth it, thats 100% your choice. good luck

[mvk]

WOW that sucks. i think your right about the way it got bent. locked up motor,locked up chain,bent shaft !! ouch !
as for if its worth it, thats 100% your choice. good luck

I think it may be worth it. I love that bike dearly, and I have to watch it. I get all crazy when it comes to money and my motorcycle. It's like, "$700 to pay the rent? No, I think I'll spend it on the bike!"

[GPZBob]

Why not buy a used engine?http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=35595 such as this one.

[mvk]

Why not buy a used engine?http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=35595 such as this one.

that is a real good idea and i had thought about that as one of the options i am considering.

thanks for the link.

[zx9superbike]

DO YOU WANT TO SALE YOUR BIKE. LET ME KMOW ASAP PLEASE, TONY. EMAIL IS NASTYVR6@MSN.COM

[WeBeToyz]

Well...I have a '94 ZX7 and I dig my bike. After 2 years of riding it, there is hardly ever a ride when I don't say "Man, I love this thing!"

I have just spent about $1600 to upgrade the brake system. BrakeTech SS Axis wave rotors, Braking rear wave rotor, 6-pot Tokico calipers, Ferodo pads, HEL braided SS lines, radial front M/C, all waiting patiently to be installed. Throw in the Gilles Tooling rearsets, that pushes it up towards the 2k mark.

So is it worth it? To the average Joe, probably not. Why do I do it? Because I can, because I like to wrench. I want my bike to be my bike. Because uniqueness is next to greatness. When the motor goes, I'll rebuild it. We have the technology...

I believe the '93-'95 ZX series are rapidly becoming collector bikes. They have always been popular, and will remain so. If you love your bike, do what you want to it, and Duke Nuke the rest.

[spdrkt ZX7R]

I think that the $900 estimate is pretty low to do that kind of work.

The crankcase has to be split in order to get to the output shaft. Realistically you are looking at around $1400 in labor alone. Add to that the price of the output shaft (?) not to mention all the gaskets, o-rings, cir-clips ect.. that are needed during the rebuild, it might be cheaper for you to do it yourself or buy a used engine to replace your damaged one.

I had to replace two broken transmission gears in my 7R. It cost me $600 in parts alone. It may have took me a month of Sundays to fix it, but I saved a ton of cash and learned a lot about internal combustion engines in the process.