hi all, A bit of a ramble i know but if i don't put all the details i could miss out on some help, and i really need some.
first of all a bit of background as it may have a bearing on the current problem.
I've had my 03 Z1000 for nearly 2 years now, only mods are a K&N and aftermarket slip ons (with a power commander planned). So I was massively disappointed last Christmas when it gave up completely. Fired it up one day then 2 days later lost all compression and wouldn't start. After dropping $1000, or £600 in real money on it, it turns out that, and i know how stupid this is gonna sound but i saw it, all the valves were unseated with carbon deposits.
The only thing that makes any sort of sense is the engine was freezing cold, sudden heat and the carbon in the top end cracked, as i only fired it up quickly and then turned off as the engine cooled the carbon came away leaving lumps in the bore. When i next tried to start it the bits got jammed in the valves before it started and could be fired out. Sounds raving mad i know but it's the only explanation that makes any sense. I sat there turning it over and there sounded like there was no compression. When the mechanic stripped off the top end he filled the head with petrol and it drained away in all 4 cylinders, the centre 2 particularly quickly. So an new set of rings and all the valves reseating and she was good to go.
I recently had it Dyno'd and peak power was 120hp at about 10500rpm but it was a alittle rich below 6500rpm and above 8500rpm
All had been good then suddenly one Monday morning it wouldn't start on the button, a bump start later and it fired straight up no problem. I thought this was odd but rode it to work any way. In the afternoon it started up fine on the button so all was forgiven. by the end of the week however every morning non starting on the button, but in the afternoon it was fine. Went to my mechanic but he doesn't have computer software to plug in and diagnose so that was a dead end. Filled it up with petrol on the Monday morning and for the rest of the week it started fine on the button. At this point i thought i had just had a dodgy batch of petrol but the following week it started again.
The only thing that had changed was the weather, when the bike is cold in the morning or afternoon, no way it's gonna start on the button but jump starts really easily. If it has been in the sun all day and relatively warm out it will start on the button but may need full choke and a bit of throttle to get it to fire
Has any one got any clues as to the problem? Is there a temperature probe on it somewhere? has the curse of the Kawasaki struck me again? (this will be the third time and maybe time to give up on Kwaks all together)
Cheers all
Smiffy
first of all a bit of background as it may have a bearing on the current problem.
I've had my 03 Z1000 for nearly 2 years now, only mods are a K&N and aftermarket slip ons (with a power commander planned). So I was massively disappointed last Christmas when it gave up completely. Fired it up one day then 2 days later lost all compression and wouldn't start. After dropping $1000, or £600 in real money on it, it turns out that, and i know how stupid this is gonna sound but i saw it, all the valves were unseated with carbon deposits.
The only thing that makes any sort of sense is the engine was freezing cold, sudden heat and the carbon in the top end cracked, as i only fired it up quickly and then turned off as the engine cooled the carbon came away leaving lumps in the bore. When i next tried to start it the bits got jammed in the valves before it started and could be fired out. Sounds raving mad i know but it's the only explanation that makes any sense. I sat there turning it over and there sounded like there was no compression. When the mechanic stripped off the top end he filled the head with petrol and it drained away in all 4 cylinders, the centre 2 particularly quickly. So an new set of rings and all the valves reseating and she was good to go.
I recently had it Dyno'd and peak power was 120hp at about 10500rpm but it was a alittle rich below 6500rpm and above 8500rpm
All had been good then suddenly one Monday morning it wouldn't start on the button, a bump start later and it fired straight up no problem. I thought this was odd but rode it to work any way. In the afternoon it started up fine on the button so all was forgiven. by the end of the week however every morning non starting on the button, but in the afternoon it was fine. Went to my mechanic but he doesn't have computer software to plug in and diagnose so that was a dead end. Filled it up with petrol on the Monday morning and for the rest of the week it started fine on the button. At this point i thought i had just had a dodgy batch of petrol but the following week it started again.
The only thing that had changed was the weather, when the bike is cold in the morning or afternoon, no way it's gonna start on the button but jump starts really easily. If it has been in the sun all day and relatively warm out it will start on the button but may need full choke and a bit of throttle to get it to fire
Has any one got any clues as to the problem? Is there a temperature probe on it somewhere? has the curse of the Kawasaki struck me again? (this will be the third time and maybe time to give up on Kwaks all together)
Cheers all
Smiffy
