[biftekos]

Hi everyone. I bought my zx6r G1 about three weeks ago. This is the bike I used to dream of having when I was 15. I remember waiting anxiously to be of legal age and get my license but life happened and that was postponed. After a piaggio, MTX, Spacey, TZR, Virago, GS500 and a Sportster I finally moved on to what I wanted. The bike is in a bit of a streetfighter state without any gauges although it looks, sounds and drive amazing... Until three days ago.

Got up in the morning to ride to work but passing from the petrol station beforehand as I was running low. I run out of fuel about 50 meters before the station but I switched to reserve. Nothing happened. the bike wouldn't start. Maybe I didnt wait enough time, in any case I was close to the petrol station so I decided to push the bike. I filled her up and she immediately started. Rode to work, no problem.

During lunch I switched it on to show a friend what it sounds like. I had the choke on and gave it a good throttling a couple of times. Switched it back off and didnt touch it till I finished work.

On the way back, I suddenly felt it loose power and at the lights it cut off. I could get it to turn on again. Tried the choke, engine was turning but nothing. After calling the insurance and getting them to send someone over i kept trying to get it to turn on. I finally managed to do so by pulling on the gas full untill it finally started with no choke so I cancelled the pickup. I managed to get it home by keeping the revs up.

The funny thing is that over a certain ammount of revs (no gauges) it pulls like a train. Bellow that it stutters and feels like its out of gas. I took it to the mechanic the next day and they took out the carbs and cleaned them and also changed the plugs. They call me to say its all ok now so I go and pickup. after 10 meters the bike has the same problem so I take it back. After listening to the mechanic for 20 minutes going on about all the possible things it can be and not guaranteeing he can fix it, he advised me to get a "new" set of carbs but couldnt guarantee that would fix it. Seriously?? If I did that at my job I would never have any customers. While I was investigating on the net about similar issues I came across carb cleaning, TPS problems and one guy had put the wrong fuel.

I went back to the petrol station and checked the pump I thought I used and I think It is a possibility that I used super diesel. I called the mechanic right away and told him I thought I put diesel in it and to draing it. After calling him again he said It wasnt diesel and I should get carbs. Not really sure what to do. Should I get another opinion? This will cost me another 120£ to get the carbs out and them have a look.

As a first step I think I might just drain the tank anyway.

What do you guys think. Anything I should consider?? Please help. I need to get back on the bike asap.

 

[RJ2112]

When a bike with carbs runs poorly at low speed, that is typically an indication that the smaller passages in the carbs are gummed up.

This may be happening due to the bike having sat for a long time, or it may be due to contaminated fuel. Rust and dirt in the tank will play havoc with a fuel system.

No info on the bike -- miles, service history, etc...... no idea what your level of expertise is in things mechanical, although it's reasonable of us to presume you are just starting down the path by the questions you are asking.

Learning is typically done when there is need. 120 pounds to take the carbs off and clean them is not unreasonable of your mechanic. Spending 20 minutes telling you all the things that might be wrong, is 20 minutes he isn't earning money from working on something else. Here in the US, that cost him something like $30-40, as he can't bill someone for the labor.

Motorcycles cost at least as much as cars, to maintain. The danger of having a poorly running motorcycle is IMHO GREATER than having a poorly running car as you don't have the same level of protection if it conks out at an inopportune moment.

If you cannot afford to have the mechanic sort out your problem, stop riding the bike and develop the skills to do so yourself. First thing is to down load the shop manual from this site for your bike. That's the same information any mechanic relies on, to make repairs.

 

[biftekos]

Some pics of my little beasty

 

[biftekos]

Hey RJ2112, Thanks for your reply. I have already downloaded the manual and will start having a look at fixing this myself not so much as to save a couple of quid but because I find this subject very interesting and would love to be able to take care of her myself. I agree its not the mechanics fault in any way. They seemed really nice tbh I just have had bad experiences in the past and im a little dubious. Im reading this forum and has a lot of great info and links to videos of how to's so will start there. What I dont understand is why should I get another set of carbs rather than clean these? Is it because it will probably cost the same for a mechanic? Is there something that might go wrong with a carb and is not possible to fix? Before buying the carbs which I understand doesnt guarantee this will fix the problem or even that they are good as the only ones you can find are on ebay, I will attempt to take them off and clean them myself. The last time I did this was on my Honda MTX and I put the pin in the wrong way and the bike flew off when I started it lol. The main problem is I dont really have a place to work apart from my parking space so I depend on the rain.

Anyway this adventure is about to start. Anyone with any ideas or tips will be greatly appreciated

 

[biftekos]

BTW, I dont have the bikes history, only what I know from the MOT's. Last time it had the odometer it read 16000 Miles. that was a year ago

 

[RJ2112]

Having a place to work on the bike is pretty important. Difficult to get anywhere deep into the bike in the elements, especially when someone may walk off with your parts.

Carbs are precision devices which are deceptively simple. The idea with buying a second set of carbs is you could potentially sort them out without removing anything from the bike, and only have to tear into it, when you have a 'good' set of carbs to install. You still need space to tear into them, use the solvents to get all of the schlock out of them, install all the new gaskets, floats, etc..... without losing all the little fiddly bits that go inside.

That's a pretty clean street fighter -- I especially like the upside down mirrors. That's quite creative, IMHO.

You really need to look inside the tank and inspect for junk. Rust, varnish, etc. That's a sure way to cause issues with carbs. Do you know if there is an after market fuel filter in line?

 

[biftekos]

Hehe yeah, when I put the mirrors the right way I could only see my shoulders. I like to be able to see what is behind me so I tried them upside down and the result is good Cleaning the tank will be the first thing I do and Ill also check to see about the fuel filter. My idea was to rip the current carbs out and find a carb specialist to rebuild them. Theres no way in hell I would do a better job than them although might have a stab at it if I feel confident. The problem after is having to put them back and balance them but ive seen a few vids online and it doesnt seem that dangerous
Onwards and Upwards!!

 

[biftekos]

By the way. Would it be a good idea to use Redex?? would that possibly save me from going into the rabbit hole?

 

[RJ2112]

If the carb person can completely take them apart, and flush all the junk out of all of the very small passages in the carb bodies, you should end up with 'good' carbs. Part of the problem with older bikes is with vacuum leaks, and that is almost always due to the age of the rubber lines -- they become stiff, and brittle as they age. That means they crack, or don't snug up the way they are meant to which means air flows where it's not meant to. On your model in particular, there are balance lines between the float bowls of the carbs that have to be in place to have the system work correctly..... one of the things that gets tossed in the bin, when the street fighter look is employed.

In fact, I'd look to see if the vacuum lines around the carbs are installed properly before I tore down the carbs....

 

[biftekos]

So in this case I would probably need a carb kit with gaskets etc for each of the carbs. Ill also check about the balance/vacuum lines after I find out what they are and what they do. Why would someone take these out (rhetorical, no need for an anwser)?


Ill be testing my mechanical skills this weekend (I used to play a lot of lego when I was a kid and i've put together many Ikea wardrobes...). Thanks a million for your insight

Also, why would i need to have full throttle for the bike to start. And once it starts I still have to keep it there till the engine starts to rpm. Its as if no fuel is going in which sounds like a carb problem. As you said It could be that as the tank was nearly empty, gunk got in the carbs, but why would they work fine in high revs. Could this be an air issue? to much air? I was fiddling with the choke a few days before the problems.

 

[biftekos]

Ok no need to answer. Ive just seen some good videos on youtube on how carbs work.

 

[sutantonio]

With a manual and time, you can repair your carbs :BigGrin :BigGrin if you have good tools, you can do it. With my cbr, I disassemble the carbs and washed it, with a vapour (steam) machine and after, WD40 or lubricant spray. It was my first time. I didn´t disassemble all parts, only the important and changed the orings, tested the jet holes (not shit) the acelerator bell, etc. and cleaned very well.

You can test the fuel tap and fuel filters, if you puted diesel, wash well the fuel tank and the carbs, put new fuel and test. If the carbs are good, Have you thought if the problem is electrical?

good luck, and don´t doubt, you can do it with a friend who have carbs or mechanicals knowledge...

 

[scoot33]

good luck sorting them out they are not tht bad to to some people are like aaarrrhhhhh carbs but when you get the hang of it its not that bad ,in the manual will help you with stock settings and jet and needle sizes,loads of people on here will talk you through it and help you out ,on strip down check all pipes are secure and not split just to make sure tht its not a pipe at fault as you would be pissed if it was something simple and you have torn the carbs apart for no reason ,changing to another set of carbs might be worse than your carbs ,start at basics then you should get somewhere

 

[Action]

Yamaha

Yamaha has some stuff that is really good at cleaning the pilot jets....Says you can run thru gas ....never tried....but works good if you soak.
Most times pilot jets are better to replace as they are really small.......But I have had this stuff work.....I will look for the name of it.
Jack

 

[biftekos]

Amazing. thanks for the response guys. To start with I will drain the tank, check pipes, fill with fuel and cleaning product and if that doesnt work Ill pull the carbs and clean. If I see that the gaskets, pilot jets etc are damaged Ill get a kit for them. I think its best to use my carbs. I mean this bike has around 16k miles. The ones I see on ebay for breaking have like 30-40k so dont want to risk it until necessary. Again, thanks to all for posting.