help with motorcycle

[jacobweaver32]

Well, I get a lot of great advise on tractors from here... so I thought I'd give it a shot...

I just bought a '91 FZR 600 with 19k miles. The bike is in good shape, but it had not been riden for a couple years... so I wanted to get the carbs cleaned out because idle was kind of rough. So after reading several good things from users about sea foam I gave it a shot... and I got myself in trouble... please read through and help...

The way I used the foam was running the bike for a hour or so then letting it sit for a day, and repeating. I did this three times... the last time I let the bike sit for 2 days without starting.

So, I got back to the bike and I can't get it started. The engine backfires a few times when I try to start it. But actually as I continue to try and start it I get less and less response from the engine. Till eventually I am just hearing the starter turn. I tried till the battery wouldn't turn it much anymore.

Soooo.. here is where I think I really goofed it. I hooked the battery up to my RUNNING truck. So I try and start it and now the starter won't even turn. I am confused... and I am concerned I hurt something at this point. I checked the fuses.. nothing blown. So I realize that the bike is still in gear... I was just using the clutch to try and start it. (which would normally work). I put the bike down into neutral and the the starter would crank again. ..... So, I think I blew something related to the clutch. I was looking at the manual and their is a "clutch switch" and it runs back to a device next to the battery. Also, running into this device is a line from a switch on the kickstand.

I will continue with what I did after, but can someone inform me as to what the clutch and kickstand switch are for, and if I possible damaged thedevice they run to by the battery? Would the bike not start if this is damaged? (By the way this device has the positive lead from the battery running to it as well then to the fuse box).

Since the starter would still turn while the bike was in neutral I continued to trouble shoot. I confirmed fuel was being pumped into the carbs, I confirmed that their was initial spark when pushing the start button. I sprayed starter fluid into the carbs.

While I am trying to start it.. I do see smoke coming from the exhaust, but the bike show no signs of being close to starting.

And for the record, before I used the sea foam the bike would start no problems... warm or cold it never had an issue.

Please help all you can, sorry for the long post.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I believe your bike is totally OK and you have just fouled the plugs. All those starter exclude switches are for safety. Diff manufacturers have diff schemes to protect you but most are pretty easy to work with.

Back to starting - - take out your plugs and wash them in contact cleaner and dry them completely. While they are drying crank your engine over a few times to get the excess gas out of the cylinders. Before you put the plugs back in, apply a little anti seize to the threads. Sometimes over time and heat cycles threads can stick in AL. Results are ugly. I think it will start now. Have you put fresh gas in it??
larry

 

[jacobweaver32]

Thanks alot spyder.... when I took out the plugs I was only concerned with looking for spark. I actually checked each plug. However, it didnt occur to me that they needed cleaned. It makes so much sense because I remember the plugs being grey-black.

I ran all the old fuel through it and put new in when I used the sea foam.


Thanks so much I'll try what you said tonight and let you know!

 

[SPYDERLK]

its harder for the spark to jump the gap with compression. With this added difficulty its often easier, when dirty, for the spark to shunt around the gap using the carbon path when it trys to spark in the engine. Im thinking that bike has near 12 to 1 compression.
larry

 

[RonMar]

Fouled plugs would be my guess as well. If you can clean them and get it running fine, but depending on what or how they were fouled, they may never clean up completely. When you are done messing with the carbs and the other basic maintenance, I would reccomend new plugs. If the seafoam cleaning dosn't help with the idle, you may need to pull the carbs and take them to someone with an ultrasonic tank(works great on carbs). You may also have a vacume leak. Setting a while, the seals may be dry or the rubber carb boots and air box tubes may be dry/cracked. Not sure exactly how your machine is assembled, but that is a pretty old bike for those parts.

The neutral start switch is just that, to keep you from cranking the engine in gear. The small battery and tiny starter dosn't like acidental additional loads. The kickstand switch prevents the engine from running/firing(interrupts ignition) if you place the engine in gear with the kickstand down. All this is to help Prevent you from riding away with the kickstand down and pitching yourself over on the first left hand turn you try and make. If it has been setting for a while, it would probably also be a good idea to go thru every electrical plug connection. Separate and re-connect each plug. This will break thru any corrosion that has possibly built up on the metal contacts in the plug. The vibration from regular riding usually takes care of this.

 

[Thomas]

Good info been given,plus if you got little time maybe drain the gas from the tank and lines clean,start fresh...does the bike have hand choke??..if so make sure the choke not sticking.

 

[jacobweaver32]

BINGO on the plugs.
I took a little cleaner to them and it didnt do to much with a rag. So I used a little 150 grit sandpaper and cleaned them to a shiny finish. I sprayed a little cleaner on them after and brushed away the residue. Regapped, used some anti-seize and put them back in.

Fired up ... on the first try. Thanks so much... I am really happy, but disappointed in myself for not doing that before. ****, I am an electronic engineer...duh!

I ran it for bout 15 mins... let the MANUAL choke out for awhile which kept the revs up. I pedaled the throttle to help blow all gunk out.

Everything seems good now, even the clutch and kickstand switch is still working properly, I just didnt understand what I was doing before.

I got the oil changed, cleaned the filter good and watched the cowls before I put them back on.

Bike should be ready now (however I do need to do some idle adjustment)... I get my permit on Thursday, should be fun.

Thanks again guys..... btw I posted on three other motorcycle forums and nobody has given me anything helpful yet.... TBN does it again.

Oh yeah and the clutch/kickstand switch is working now.. I just didnt understand it before and never had the kickstand up.

 

[8561]

Glad to hear you got it running right. The FZR600 of that vintage was a nice little motorcycle. I was running an FZR1000 with some light mods in those days and it was a beast. I had a few buddies with those FZR600's, they were a lot of fun to toss around. Enjoy it and keep the shiny side up.