are my cases normal?

[LondonZ1]

I have been dismantling my Z900 prior to a complete rebuild and I noticed what looks like damage to the front of the engine case casting, see picture 1. The rib above the front engine mounting bolt looks like it has been nibbled by a metail eating rodent.

I started looking for a some better cases and the first set I saw on ebay seems to have very similar 'damage'.

So are my cases damaged or are they all like that? The Kawasaki castings are generally very high quality so it seems unlikely they would leave the factory like that but two engines with the same localised 'damage' seems odd....

[zed1015]

Yes! Fairly normal.

[Z1parR]

Yes , bloody rodent's been at mine too

[mikey]

i blended mine in on my ltd motor that i just put back together.

[GUYZED]

Yep...same on my Z1000.

[Garn 1]

Agree with others, the engines are always rough in that front area, where the front mounting bolt goes. I usually do a bit of draw filing to neaten them up. It's not always easy as they are often terribly uneven.
RegardZ.

[LondonZ1]

Thanks guys for the quick and very helpful replies. The quality of the head casting is excellent and I am amazed that the front case is so rough. I will get the engine powder coated satin black so hopefully it won't be too noticeable behind the exhaust headers. I was starting to panic, thinking that my engine had been in some sort of major accident, so thanks again.