What to do if your Ninja 400 frame bolt holes become misaligned
Items needed:
- Floor jack or bottle jack
- Flat surface like parking lot or concrete garage floor
- Swingarm stand (may not be necessary but makes it easier)
- Some kind of block, either wooden or concrete with a piece of wood on it to protect oil pan
- A helper, doing this solo could result in your bike lying on the ground (without frame sliders)
The hole in the engine mount and the frame must be in precise alignment. The frame hole for the bolt is just big enough for the bolt to go through so there is no room for slight misalignment. When misalignment occurs it is only by a small amount so it is easily brought back into alignment.
We've found that if the bike is on a rear stand and blocking is beneath the engine, more movement of the engine is possible when the bike is lowered slightly onto the blocking by slowly lowering the stand.
The left rear and right rear engine mount bolts visible in figures P and Q in the installation instructions should be loosened slightly.
The left front and right front bolts need to be completely removed.
With the blocking in place, one person should slowly lower the swingarm stand until another person verifies movement of the engine bolt hole in relation to the hole in the frame. Steps 22-25 of the installation instructions can be performed once alignment occurs. Minor adjustments in pressure on the blocking will need to be made by manipulating the swingarm stand up or down.
Once the bolt threads into place but is not fully tightened, the same procedure can be done on the opposite side. Continue on from step 25 to complete the installation.
Alternate method:
Use a floor jack to achieve the same effect of the first method. A helper must stabilize the bike while the jack is being used. Wood needs to be used between the jack and the engine to prevent oil pan damage.
Items needed:
- Floor jack or bottle jack
- Flat surface like parking lot or concrete garage floor
- Swingarm stand (may not be necessary but makes it easier)
- Some kind of block, either wooden or concrete with a piece of wood on it to protect oil pan
- A helper, doing this solo could result in your bike lying on the ground (without frame sliders)
The hole in the engine mount and the frame must be in precise alignment. The frame hole for the bolt is just big enough for the bolt to go through so there is no room for slight misalignment. When misalignment occurs it is only by a small amount so it is easily brought back into alignment.
We've found that if the bike is on a rear stand and blocking is beneath the engine, more movement of the engine is possible when the bike is lowered slightly onto the blocking by slowly lowering the stand.
The left rear and right rear engine mount bolts visible in figures P and Q in the installation instructions should be loosened slightly.
The left front and right front bolts need to be completely removed.
With the blocking in place, one person should slowly lower the swingarm stand until another person verifies movement of the engine bolt hole in relation to the hole in the frame. Steps 22-25 of the installation instructions can be performed once alignment occurs. Minor adjustments in pressure on the blocking will need to be made by manipulating the swingarm stand up or down.
Once the bolt threads into place but is not fully tightened, the same procedure can be done on the opposite side. Continue on from step 25 to complete the installation.
Alternate method:
Use a floor jack to achieve the same effect of the first method. A helper must stabilize the bike while the jack is being used. Wood needs to be used between the jack and the engine to prevent oil pan damage.
