My Gorgeous Kawasaki seems to have died. Help

[andywrob]

Hi guys/girls, help. Just joined this excellent forum, I have had a kawasaki zzr600 bike now for 5 years, 2006/56 ZX600,
and for the last 13 months, I have been really cruel to it, what I mean is, I have started it once a month, turned it over for about 5 minutes, (still on its stand), and then covered it over again. Usually it starts great, but due to this laziness the bike has only done 4000 miles, because of the awkwardness of getting it from the back of the house, down a side entry and into the road and then back again - if you see what I mean (yes laziness and neglect).
Anyway last week, I tried to start it as usual, and instead of starting up straight away and coming to life, it started for about 3 seconds then died, and further attempts to start it just result in horrible loud pop noises from the exhaust, really frightening and sinister sounding.
Tried a few times, in the last week, and just makes one horrible pop sound, and then any futher attempts either don't work or make even louder popping noises. Battery is new, starter turns over at normal speed, no horrible clanging noises when starter tries to turn it over, just these horrible scary one or two loud bangs from the exhaust.
Looked on you tube, and changing the spark plugs alone is a 1 year task harder than brain surgery, and just wish i had a garage to perhaps work on it as a project.
Dont suppose any of you out there have had the same experience, caused by obvious neglect. Sadly here we have a mint bike, and thats about all its good for at the moment.
The bike has always been on it's full stand, covered up, but again I have made the mistake of never turning the fuel switch off.
Thanks Andy

[skip]

Hi
Sounds like a build up of condensation in the tank mixing with the petrol, a common problem with bikes left under a cover and only started once and a while. Best to drain the fuel out and wash the tank out, replace any filters if fitted. whip the plugs out and clean, while the plugs are out turn the engine over a couple of turns, it may be worth a couple of squirts of engine oil down the plug holes just in case the is a light build up of rust in the bore's, cover the plug holes with a rag turn the engine over again but keep your face clear as you may get covered in oil. Drain the carbs of and fuel by undoing the drain on each carb, if its possible it may be worth spraying some carb cleaner in through the drain holes if a lot of crap runs out you may need to take the carbs of and strip and clean. Make sure the air box is clean the filter is not damp and there is no water in the air box. Put the plugs back in checking the correct gap on each one refit the air box and put new filters on the fuel lines if it had some in the first place put the tank back on and refill with clean new petrol. Make sure the battery is full charged before trying to start the bike. the bike should start after a few turns there may be some blue smoke from the pipes this is just the oil that was squirted down the bore's burning off also check the oil inspection window if the oil looks milk do an oil change with a new filter.
If your going to leave the bike over the winter turn the petrol off drain the carbs of petrol whip the plugs out squirt oil in the bores, put the plugs in, take the battery off and put it indoors. you could spray the engine wheels swing arm forks with WD40 this will help stop them going white and furry and rusty but make sure you clean well in the new year.
Hope this helps please let me know how you get on Skip

[chris gale]

I agree carbs will need cleaning , also check in line coolant filter as this causes problems if left standing . This model also suffers carb icing too