River Incident 2

[Miles]

Hey guys, got those hoses sorted in the end thanks for the help. Finally finished the re-build last night but try as I might cannot get the bike to start. Tried abit of cold start and have traced the fuel all the way to the carb's, so fuel is getting to the cylinders. Pulled the plugs out and there's a good spark from them.

Is it wise to place a bit of fuel into the cylinders and then fire the bike. See if that will suck some fuel through into the system?

[Davw]

Try some "easy start" fired into the carbs - gently lift slide and give each one a quick blast of Easy Start.

[masterofinsanity]

Try some "easy start" fired into the carbs - gently lift slide and give each one a quick blast of Easy Start.

definitely!!!

[cargo]

I've had serious starting problems with my ZXRs when they have been laid up for long periods..........................never quite figured why.
But I've found that warming the plugs helps I've used a hot air gun to get them hot.

The carbs can take a while to fill

And I've toyed with the idea of filling the cooling system with boiling water as an initial effort to get heat into it.....................doesn't really work if you've already filled it with coolant. But then I don't use coolant just plain old water for me

You have the plug caps on the right plugs I hope ?
And all the wiring is connected.................I'm thinking side stand switch or clutch switch or neutral light switch

[liam7200]

dont realy now that much about the tec side of bike im a car man my self but when this happend to me crosser it was the wire to the sparkplugs, it had a split and had moisture getting to the wire.

[Scott221]

Try starting it using the choke if you havnt already.

[Miles]

Hey, yes have the plug caps running 1-2-3-4 left to right (as if sat on the bike). All four plugs are firing and fuel is getting to the carbs. I'll keep going as a mate had also said that the carb's will take time to fill the float bowls etc. All the wiring is ok, I had taken the loom out and left it to dry in the airing-cupboard so its dried out and working. Going to try some easy-start when I get home.

My other problem is that the choke has jammed shut. Very strange as it was working fine when I rebuilt it, came back to it the next day and the choke-plate on the carb's won't budge at all. I'll have to strip the carb's. Possible sediment is jammed in there after my zxr went for a swim

[Miles]

Hello, Got the choke working again. 3 of the pins had jammed so some WD40 and gentle pulling freed them up. Unfortunately the damn thing still won't fire

I've tried some easy start but still nothing. Thought maybe a blockage in the float bowls but their all filling up fine. Maybe a bump start might do the trick???

[masterofinsanity]

try some jump leads from your car if you have one, zxrs take a lot of umphfth to get going

[Davw]

This is a long shot but are you sure that the HT leads are on the right plugs? I got one mixed up and whilst the bike tries hard to start and all the plugs produce sparks - ot wont fire - so worth double checking

HOwever, it the sparks are there and fuel is getting through then the only other suggestion is like Baz says - try the car battery / jump lead deal - sometimes the zxr takes a load of "oomph" to get it to initlally fire

[Miles]

ok just to double check the HT leads plug 1-2-3-4 from left to right. Left being the generator side, right being the coolant tank/oil casing side?

[Davw]

1+4 from one of the coils and 2+3 from the other (cant remember which is which and am not at home so cant check) - Provided the leads still have the markings on them and you havent changed coils around then clearly this shouldnt be a problem.

Have you got the wiring from the CDI to the coils right?

[cargo]

Given what you've said in the other thread about the engine being full of water I have questions ..................

When your bike went into the water was the engine running ?

Seems to me that while some water would find it's way in it could only possibly fill the crankcases with water if water was being drawn in via a running engine...............water does not compress......................can I now ask did you have the engine apart ? Or as you say in the other thread did you just remove the sump and drain the water out ?

I ask because if you didn't your engine mightl be full of all sorts of river crap..................and as water does not compress you could have some damage in there like broken rings ? Or a holed piston or two................................

Which might explain why it's not starting....................

Just thinking out loud....................

Your in Bangor NI aren't you ?...........................I could call round if you continue to have problems.............

[Miles]

Hey, Finally got it to fire the other night about 2 in the morning. I had the engine competely stripped and re-built so everything was dried. Was getting lots of flames coming from the exshaust ports so possible timing problem. I've just had all the shims done though and I didnt hit anything when I went into the river (I went through the barb wire first, bike followed me in) so i dont know why thats happening. Possibly just burning excess fuel that may have dripped in when I had the bike apart etc. seems to be running ok now, will run rough for a few days i would have thought.

Yes Bangor, was just returning from picking the bike up from steve baker racing, carrowdore after he had done all the shims.

Any more problem and I might need you to come down and have a look