ZX9R on 2 cylinders...
Discussion
Hi all,
I just discovered there was a bike section here on PH! Could someone help me on this:
I tried to restart my Kawa ZX9R (99 model C1). She stayed silent for 2 years while I moved in my new house. I cleaned all I could, changed the spark plugs, the filters. Filled new 98 in the fuel tank, but it still runs rough above idle. I tried to find which cylinder was missing, and to my big surprise, I discovered that while on idle, there is no RPM change while I disconnect the spark plugs from cylinder 1 and 3! So only 2 and 4 are running normally. When I ask for power, I have a lot of bang bang in the exhaust, which confirms that some fuel vapour is not burnt where it should!
Any idea? I tried checking the IC igniter, but the workshop manual says only the kawazaki reader will give a good reading...
I'm stuck! any ideas welcome.
JP
I just discovered there was a bike section here on PH! Could someone help me on this:
I tried to restart my Kawa ZX9R (99 model C1). She stayed silent for 2 years while I moved in my new house. I cleaned all I could, changed the spark plugs, the filters. Filled new 98 in the fuel tank, but it still runs rough above idle. I tried to find which cylinder was missing, and to my big surprise, I discovered that while on idle, there is no RPM change while I disconnect the spark plugs from cylinder 1 and 3! So only 2 and 4 are running normally. When I ask for power, I have a lot of bang bang in the exhaust, which confirms that some fuel vapour is not burnt where it should!
Any idea? I tried checking the IC igniter, but the workshop manual says only the kawazaki reader will give a good reading...
I'm stuck! any ideas welcome.
JP
I wouldn't change the HT leads, but unscrew the plug caps and look for corrosion. It will probably be this, if the carbs are clean.
Also check for sticking sliders in the carbs. It the diphrams have perished, this could also be causing problems. You'll need to whip the cap off the top of each carb to check that. Becareful because it will spring off, and don't damage the needle. While it's out, it's worth checking that and the emulsion tubes for wear, although any mechanical wear would have been present before switching off.
If you have time, pull the carbs off & check the float heights & for gummed up jets- easily cleaned.
However, before going deeper, I would definitely check the plug caps.
Also check for sticking sliders in the carbs. It the diphrams have perished, this could also be causing problems. You'll need to whip the cap off the top of each carb to check that. Becareful because it will spring off, and don't damage the needle. While it's out, it's worth checking that and the emulsion tubes for wear, although any mechanical wear would have been present before switching off.
If you have time, pull the carbs off & check the float heights & for gummed up jets- easily cleaned.
However, before going deeper, I would definitely check the plug caps.
Edited by VidalBaboon on Monday 12th November 17:25
Wow thanks for all those quick answers!
I don't think it's a fuel problem related to the carbs. As you suggest Vidalbaboon, I check the diaphragms on each carbs, and they are ok. The sliders are all moving freely.
The coils packs proposed by Steve... that might be. Do you know which one gives the juice to which spark plug? I will any way exchange them. If then cylinder 2 and 4 are not working that will confirm the failed coil.
Ok back to work until Friday. I'll be back to you next week end.
Thanks to all
JP
I don't think it's a fuel problem related to the carbs. As you suggest Vidalbaboon, I check the diaphragms on each carbs, and they are ok. The sliders are all moving freely.
The coils packs proposed by Steve... that might be. Do you know which one gives the juice to which spark plug? I will any way exchange them. If then cylinder 2 and 4 are not working that will confirm the failed coil.
Ok back to work until Friday. I'll be back to you next week end.
Thanks to all
JP
Mr2Mike said:
Toga said:
Wow thanks for all those quick answers!
I don't think it's a fuel problem related to the carbs.
I bet it is. This is a very, very common problem when you leave a bike standing for any length of time.I don't think it's a fuel problem related to the carbs.
Pilot jets are small. Easiest thing is to take the carb bank off, take it to a tuner for a strip and ultrasonic clean.
Flush the tank too as ZX's can rust on the inside too which then dumps a load of rust particles in the carbs (the tank fuel tap filter is a bit pants and the in line fuel filters often never get changed.
My 99 ZX7R blocked up its pilot jets after sitting for just 5 months.
If it was working when it was parked up and was dry stored, it's unlikely 2 coil packs or HT leads have died.
Hi all,
I had 2 hours free this morning. Not enough to clean the carbs, but I swapped the coil sticks: no effect. Touching the exhausts gives cold 1 & 3! But something else appears to be strange: I have a new battery, and after 2 tries last time, it ran flat. I charged it, and today with a full battery, I had only 2 tries with the engine running on idle for 5 minutes, and the battery is flat again! Could it be that the charger or something else is out, and running on the battery gives not enough power to ignite the 4 cylinders?
I'll be back Saturday. I posted also on a Kawazaki forum; If I get the solution I'll keep you advised.
Cheers
JP
I had 2 hours free this morning. Not enough to clean the carbs, but I swapped the coil sticks: no effect. Touching the exhausts gives cold 1 & 3! But something else appears to be strange: I have a new battery, and after 2 tries last time, it ran flat. I charged it, and today with a full battery, I had only 2 tries with the engine running on idle for 5 minutes, and the battery is flat again! Could it be that the charger or something else is out, and running on the battery gives not enough power to ignite the 4 cylinders?
I'll be back Saturday. I posted also on a Kawazaki forum; If I get the solution I'll keep you advised.
Cheers
JP
Easiest way of checking if it's eletrical or fuel is to take one of the plug caps off, stick a spare plug in (or take one out and connect it to the cap) and hold it near the engine block and turn it over. If you get a spark then it's fuel, if you don't then it's a coil.
The fact that it's 1+3 leads me to guess a dead coil pack - they normally serve two cylinders (assuming it's not stick coils).
Re not charging - if it's been sat it might be the battery but get it runnning properly first then you can start checking the charging system. Where are you? Someone close might be able to help.
The fact that it's 1+3 leads me to guess a dead coil pack - they normally serve two cylinders (assuming it's not stick coils).
Re not charging - if it's been sat it might be the battery but get it runnning properly first then you can start checking the charging system. Where are you? Someone close might be able to help.
Xenocide said:
The fact that it's 1+3 leads me to guess a dead coil pack - they normally serve two cylinders (assuming it's not stick coils).
A wasted spark system typically pairs cylinders that are at TDC at the same time, i.e. 1&4 and 2&3 for most inline 4 cylinder engines. The ZX9R has individual "pencil" coils on each cylinder anyway, so it would need to separate coils to break down at the same time in this case.Good morning gentlemen,
I found a web site dedicated to the ZX9R: http://www.zx-9r.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=542168...
you are more than welcome to follow me there. Thanks for your help.
Here's a paste of my last post:
yesterday I remove the carbs and dismantle all I could to spray carb cleaner and blast with compressed air in every hole I could find (on the carbs
) I put them back on the bike this morning. I checked the pump by connecting it directly to the battery, I started... and no change!!! I still miss cylinder 1 and 3! #-o
I checked the new spark plugs, and each one gives a spark; I swapped again the stick coils, no change.
So I have spark, I have fuel ( spark plug 3 was wet when I checked it) and exhausts 1 and 3 stay despairingly cold.
Any more guess welcome, I'm now thinking of the electronic IC igniter... I think I going to spray some start pilot directly in the carb to confirm it's not a lack of fuel
a few pictures:
I found a web site dedicated to the ZX9R: http://www.zx-9r.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=542168...
you are more than welcome to follow me there. Thanks for your help.
Here's a paste of my last post:
yesterday I remove the carbs and dismantle all I could to spray carb cleaner and blast with compressed air in every hole I could find (on the carbs
) I put them back on the bike this morning. I checked the pump by connecting it directly to the battery, I started... and no change!!! I still miss cylinder 1 and 3! #-o I checked the new spark plugs, and each one gives a spark; I swapped again the stick coils, no change.
So I have spark, I have fuel ( spark plug 3 was wet when I checked it) and exhausts 1 and 3 stay despairingly cold.
Any more guess welcome, I'm now thinking of the electronic IC igniter... I think I going to spray some start pilot directly in the carb to confirm it's not a lack of fuel
a few pictures:
Edited by Toga on Saturday 17th November 13:02
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