ZX6R J1 - Starts but dies after a few seconds running
Discussion
Last used my ZX6R Ninja (2000) last October. Since then its been in the garage and I've started it every odd weekend without any problems.
A few weeks ago I decided to take it out for a run, but found the battery was dead. Brand new battery fitted last summer and no hint of draining over winter.
Fair enough I thought and jumped started it of my car. Bike started up as normal, bit of cranking though. Got it running and allowed it to warm up before giving a few revs. When I revved it it seem to die at about 6000rpm and then pick up again. Thought nothing of it and thought a good run would clear it out.
The run never happened!!
Back to it tonight to get is sorted and take it for a blast. Problems starting it and I had to jump of the car again.
Managed to get it started but found it would die as soon as I took my finger off the starter button. Kept at until it started with popping and banging, down a cylinder or two. Perservered and it eventually idled on all four pots.
The only problem I have now is that it dies after about 10 seconds of clean idiling. The engine sounds sweet, notice the neutral light gives a quick dim and engine stops. Press button and same thing happens.
Any idea what's happening? Fuel is clean. Does it just need plugs or is there something worse wrong?
Any help from the bike mechanics would be appreciated.
Nige
A few weeks ago I decided to take it out for a run, but found the battery was dead. Brand new battery fitted last summer and no hint of draining over winter.
Fair enough I thought and jumped started it of my car. Bike started up as normal, bit of cranking though. Got it running and allowed it to warm up before giving a few revs. When I revved it it seem to die at about 6000rpm and then pick up again. Thought nothing of it and thought a good run would clear it out.
The run never happened!!
Back to it tonight to get is sorted and take it for a blast. Problems starting it and I had to jump of the car again.
Managed to get it started but found it would die as soon as I took my finger off the starter button. Kept at until it started with popping and banging, down a cylinder or two. Perservered and it eventually idled on all four pots.
The only problem I have now is that it dies after about 10 seconds of clean idiling. The engine sounds sweet, notice the neutral light gives a quick dim and engine stops. Press button and same thing happens.
Any idea what's happening? Fuel is clean. Does it just need plugs or is there something worse wrong?
Any help from the bike mechanics would be appreciated.
Nige
The battery is quite low (if anything). I'm running it on jump leads thinking the battery is just killing the system. Also tried running it on jump leads with bike battery disconnected to rule out bike battery.
Plugs changed 12 months+, I've not used it much last year so didn't think it warranted a service.
I'm planning to remove plugs and have a look at them in a minute. Not done a bike before so reckon I need access under the tank.
Plugs changed 12 months+, I've not used it much last year so didn't think it warranted a service.
I'm planning to remove plugs and have a look at them in a minute. Not done a bike before so reckon I need access under the tank.
Momentofmadness said:
I'd be deinfately tempted to buy a set of plugs - it's hard to say from that pic whether the centre electrode is worn away...
Cheers. Got an actual measurement and they are 1.5mm. Centre electrode looks like its low, but never dealt with bike plugs before.Will get new plugs and battery during week and see what happens.
Best get myself down to specsavers as well ... thanks Sfaulds

Pics can be misleading, but that does look like quite a large gap to get a consistent spark going. That said, I had the same problem with a bike that had been sat for a while. Did you drain the tank before laying up?
I'd be tempted to run some fuel system cleaner through to see if that helps matters, as well as new plugs and trying a new battery.
I'd be tempted to run some fuel system cleaner through to see if that helps matters, as well as new plugs and trying a new battery.
Plugs should be NGK CR9E and the gap out of the box is a correct 0.7mm.
I would drain the tank, carbs, fill it with fresh fuel and stick in a new battery first before changing the plugs seeing as you can actually get it fired up.
This is on the assumption you the old plugs turn out to be correct already ??
I would drain the tank, carbs, fill it with fresh fuel and stick in a new battery first before changing the plugs seeing as you can actually get it fired up.
This is on the assumption you the old plugs turn out to be correct already ??
Venom said:
Pics can be misleading, but that does look like quite a large gap to get a consistent spark going. That said, I had the same problem with a bike that had been sat for a while. Did you drain the tank before laying up?
I'd be tempted to run some fuel system cleaner through to see if that helps matters, as well as new plugs and trying a new battery.
Nah, didn't really intend on keeping it in the garage for so long, but with the weather we had it wasn't coming out really. Had a fivers worth of fuel in it which I drained a few weeks ago and replaced with fresh. Didn't drain the carbs though.I'd be tempted to run some fuel system cleaner through to see if that helps matters, as well as new plugs and trying a new battery.
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