back to no start :(

J

JR1337

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So i had her running for a bit.. now no start. Changed plugs, wires, and boots, new battery, spark is STRONG. I know I have fuel, running off a auxiliary tank. Just went over carbs and it ran great after. I changed a gasket on generator cover, and changed oil, used rotella 15-w40 nonsynthetic. I have no idea why I am not running now. Getting so tired of this, I just wanna ride. Probably gonna get a new bike this spring because I could have had a newer bike for what I have into this thing. I love this bike, but its moving out of fun confidence building DIY into miserable PITA that is really discouraging me.
 
Well, all you need is spark and fuel for a bike to start, are you sure your plugs aren't wet? Have you tried a small shot of ether or carb cleaner into the airbox to see if it helps get it to fire? What are the symptoms? Does it even "act" like it's going to start? Fresh battery???
 
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It cranks like a champ, plugs are literally brand new. No way they are wet. I just put them in. I hear the sucking noose the crb diaphragms make, but no chugging like when it wants to come to life.
 
JR1337 said:
It cranks like a champ, plugs are literally brand new. No way they are wet. I just put them in. I hear the sucking noose the crb diaphragms make, but no chugging like when it wants to come to life.
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How do you know they are sparking? Do have a extra good plug to hook up to each wire and crank it while it's grounded to the bike somewhere to verify the spark for each cylinder? Or grab each one and hit the starter button and see if you get a good shock? :rotf:
 
I don't know much about the 600's but could there be a vaccuum leak of some sort? Problem with the pick up coils - air gap not set right - if the 600 has pick up coils? Just throwing out ideas - seems like you've checked about everything else. Ignition switch or a fuse? Good luck. Later.
 
How are you certain it's getting gas? Have you drained the float bowls? A shot of carb cleaner in the airbox, assuming you have correct timing and good spark should at least get a "sign" of trying to start?
 
Pardon my novice question, what are pickup coils and what do they look like? How would one check that they are working correctly?
 
They are pulse generators that live under the roundish Kawasaki cover on the left side of the motor. If you are getting spark to the plugs, they are almost certainly working!
 
+1 for BGT's response -- except on the ZL6 ('86 at least) they're under the right hand side cover. They built the big ZL's backwards. :laughing7:

Maybe I missed this reading your first post -- was there anything specific you did to the bike between start and no-start?
 
If the pick up coil wasn't working there would be no spark on any of the spark plugs at all. Had that happen after the rebuild of my zl600.

In sitting here thinking about it I would check the run switch on the right hand control and make sure it is clean and greased with dielectric grease and I would also check the electrical part of the ignition switch and make sure that is also clean and greased with dielectric grease. (spraying a cleaner in the key slot doesn't help clean the electrical part of the switch) I know the 96/97 ignition switch is different from the 86/87 ignition switch. The 96/97 ignition switch is more like the switch on a Ninja http://www.powersportsplus.com/parts/search/Kawasaki/Motorcycle/1997/parts.html will show you what motorcycles use that same ignition switch by part number

Much good luck and I hope you get it fixed quickly.
 
It takes three things for an engine to run.... Fire, fuel and compression. If it ran before and you have verified spark, I would double check your hoses and lines that run to your carburetor if you had these off. The carbs give a vacuum to the petcock and allow it to open during cranking. If you have the hoses crossed or not hooked up properly, it will not pull the gas from the tank. I am with John, take a spray of a little carb cleaner ( not a fan of either, if not used properly will burn a piston) and spray into air box. If it tried to crank at this point, check your fuel system thoroughly. If you have spark and it was running earlier, the problem most likely is fuel related. How clean is your tank? Remove fuel line and let fuel drain into container or flask and look for rust or water. Your carbs may have been given you trouble because of rust in the tank and you are now back to a clogged situation within your carbs. Good luck. If you need additional help, pm me and I will give you my phone number. Sell your bike? No, no, no!!
 
So to clarify, tank is off, no petcock on the equation either, I am running on an auxiliary tank I made. I know carbs are getting fuel from it because the line is see through. It ran with this setup before.

About the ignition system, its possible to have spark but no ignition? What should I be looking for?
 
salamander said:
+1 for BGT's response -- except on the ZL6 ('86 at least) they're under the right hand side cover. They built the big ZL's backwards. :laughing7:

Maybe I missed this reading your first post -- was there anything specific you did to the bike between start and no-start?
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Only thing I can think is it was about 20 degrees warmer last time it ran.
 
Even though you're on an aux tank right now, if you have rust in your tank, you might have re-clogged the carbs like badbrad suggested. You know the carbs are getting fuel because of the see-through line, but the gas may not be leaving the bowl if you have rust plugging things up. It seems odd though, that none of the cylinders sound like they're trying to fire -- possible that all four carbs are clogged, but seems unlikely.

Just a thought, and I'm not sure this would give the complete lack of sounding like the bike wants to start, but is there a possibility the choke is not being engaged (ie, broken cable -- I don't recall if you have an 80's or 90's ZL6) or is not being fully opened? Maybe the 20 deg lower temp is making the difference.
 
Couple more thoughts:

1. check your tailpipes for mouse nests -- it's that time of year when they're looking for shelter
2. make sure the carb vent hose hasn't gotten pinched or blocked somehow
 
salamander said:
Even though you're on an aux tank right now, if you have rust in your tank, you might have re-clogged the carbs like badbrad suggested. You know the carbs are getting fuel because of the see-through line, but the gas may not be leaving the bowl if you have rust plugging things up. It seems odd though, that none of the cylinders sound like they're trying to fire -- possible that all four carbs are clogged, but seems unlikely.

Just a thought, and I'm not sure this would give the complete lack of sounding like the bike wants to start, but is there a possibility the choke is not being engaged (ie, broken cable -- I don't recall if you have an 80's or 90's ZL6) or is not being fully opened? Maybe the 20 deg lower temp is making the difference.
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well, the tank hasn't been back on since it ran last. good thought about the choke, but there is no cable, just a lever on 96 bike. i will check it but the choke worked fine last time i fired her up, and carbs havent been off since.
 
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