General Discussion Forum

iv heard many times.....like more than 5 different people, that there kawi's have the drain bolts that strip out...not the bolt....the case, and many different years ranging from 96-06.....now wouldn't you think in the difference of....oh i don't know 10 YEARS!!!!! the guys at kawi would have heard about it at least a few times, and fixed the problem......i haven't heard of any other bike companies having that problem.  

thanks twist for the awesome pic

Kawasaki gives a torque spec in their manual for the drain bolt.  Most riders overtighten the bolt to stop it from leaking when they probably need a new bolt or washer instead.  If you stay withing the torque specs there does not seem to be a problem.  

It's not just Kawis either.  I have seen this happen on all brands.  

Bill H. 2000 CR250R

when i was tightening mine which has spec of 22 ft-pounds, it almost snapped the bolt head off it was so tight.  

22 ft lb.s is not very tight.  With a small wrench it will just be snugging up.  I think you must be reading your torque wrench wrong.  The manual was also probably written in Newton meters.  

Bill H. 2000 CR250R

No my torque wrench is broken because it didnt click-stop. just kept going.  

thats when common sense needs to say stop tightening.  30ft.-lb.s is about as itght as you can get with two fingers on a quater inch socket.  Thats using the finger muscles, not hanging on with 2 fingers and pulling with you arms.  

Bill H. 2000 CR250R

And smack it a time or 2 on rocks and you can have a issue. i tighten mine to 14 Ft Lbs through my skid plate and never had a issue as i did in the past years.  
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Ruff!

I have always just hand tightened mine until snug.  

im with maple haha, i've never had an issue, but maybe because my drain plug is not on the bottum of my engine lol, its on the side way down low...... its an allen headed bolt, so i just tighten it till snug like all the other bolts. ~pat  
PEACE GUYS ITS BEEN A BLAST!!!!! ~patrick

well its in a pretty thin spot on the case for kawi's  

thanks twist for the awesome pic

Thin or not the bolt should not be tightened past the spec.  

Bill H. 2000 CR250R

i tighten all my bolts to snug unless its on the engine for the exception of the drain bolt.  
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1998 cr125
2002 cr80