1999 Kawasaki ZX7R Ninja Won't Start - I Need Your Help!
 

So last winter the bike stopped running. I put it away and I'm now trying to get the thing running again. It's a 750cc engine with 4 carbs. Just replaced the battery, drained some water out of the carbs, and checked the spark plugs(two had a little oil on them). She's got gas pumping, sparks firing, and the starter is clearly turning the engine. She doesn't even puff once. If it helps, just before she quit working when I would start her up cold she would sound like a V-twin. Once she warmed up she was fine. What am I missing?

Was hoping you guys could help me trouble shoot so I can get her running again. Don't want to pay the $125 for the tow to the shop.

Thanks!
Phil

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44gfgMPAAhk

Have you checked that there is spark reaching the spark plugs?

I didn't test the actual spark plugs when I pulled them, probably should have just for good measure. But I have a spare that I hooked up and checked to see if I was getting spark. All 4 cables give off spark.

Even if the spark plugs are firing the ignition coil could be bad. Do you have a multi-meter?

I do have a multi-meter. I'll look over the service manual to see if there are testing instruction. What are the standard instructions?

Does the bike always start like that? In an uneven rythim?


I'm looking for an online repair manual to see what are the specs for the ignition coil.

Can you push start it?

99 zx7r quit running after it backfired? - Kawasaki Motorcycle Forums



http://www.sportbikez.net/forum/f8/z...t-start-22123/

The repair manual - Free File Hosting Made Simple - MediaFire

How did the water get in the carbs? you say you have gas flowing but how do you know? how good is the gas you have?
I'm pretty sure you have a vacuum operated fuel valve on the gas tank, water in the gas messes with the valve and they need to be cleaned out before they work right again.
So first thing I would do is make sure that you really have gas getting in to the carbs, good fresh gas, gasoline has a 6 month shelf life so if it's over 6 months old you might be able to dump it in your cars gas tank, diluting it enough that it will get used up, next thing is, if you had water in the carbs and it froze you ruined your carbs, if the water was in the carbs for more then a few weeks it's caused corrosion and is plugging the carbs up, you can either clean this out your self or take the carbs off, take them in to the motorcycle shop and pay them to do this.

I really appreciate the help guys. I'll try to answer all of your questions.

1. nayeliesuncle - Does the bike always start like that? In an uneven rythim?
From what I remember yes that's what its always sounded like.

2. nayeliesuncle - Can you push start it?
I did try a couple of times, but it's has always been a hard one to push start. Did a little EOC and you really had to watch your speed or else you would need the starter.

3. nayeliesuncle - Links
I checked out the links and I know the clutch sensor is fine because it won't start if I pull the clutch in. Plus the kick stand sensor unless I'm incorrect should still allow the bike to start when down. Just not once you place it in gear.

4. Ryland - Carbs.
I've had problems with water in the carbs ever since I bought the bike. Sadly it sits outside year round and every year I try and drain them good. I use fuel stabilizer over the winter, but every time I drain them I still find water. The gas is not the newest as I filled it up for the last time in December. But I did try just a little starting fluid in it and I didn't even get a puff out of it. The reason I know it's pumping gas is I drained the carbs once and than tried starting the bike again. I than tried draining them a second time, also finding just a little water the second go round. All 4 carbs had the same amount of fuel in them the second time I drained them. I would not be suprised if the carbs did need cleaning, as it hasn't really been done in 3 years. But shouldn't I get at least 1 or 2 puffs out of it considering it's got 4 carbs? Surely they can't all be clogged that bad can they?

Thanks,
Phil

Different Bike but similar issue (Jets clogged)
 

I had an FJ1200 with sticky jet needles. Was pretty easy to fix.

Thanks for the input guys! I think I'm going to focus on the carbs seeing as that seems to be a popular response. Hopefully I can get them torn apart in the next few days.

If you had water in all 4 of them then yes, I would say they all are clogged up, if they fill up with water while sitting over winter then drain the gas out of them before storage and turn the gas off at the tank.
You should also replace the spark plugs, with water getting in their they might be rusty or fouled and not sparking enough for the starter fluid.
After you do all that, put fresh gas in, no ethanol and try it again.
The owner of the motorcycle shop that I help out keeps saying that moving to fuel injection on motorcycles might put him out of business as 80% of the problems are dirty carburetors.

Pull the carbs out and clean them all. Purge carb all inlets, air holes jets and everything you can uncrew. Make sure everything is free of clog. Like all says above, its likey a carb problem causing not to start. I would do so ASAP before all get rusted and eaten away. Take your time and do one carb at a time, try not to touch the air pilot or remember the possition by closing snug clockwise and make note of the turns to the 16th of a turn. Some models are plugged but can be unpluged.
Water issue? how does it get there is the thinker. Either condensention or water gets in for some reason. On a zx7, theres a vaccum line next around your fuel cap, open it or take it off(screws of allens)and you may see it. Its routed to your air cleaner(maybe under passenger seat) going to your carb so trace it and see if water comes from there. See if your air cleaner is heavy and may be filled with water also..
Oil mostly contaminated with water (check sight glass for level and color, creamy white color is not good sign), i would drain, refill and fulsh it at least twice.
Please keep us posted!
Good luck..

UPDATE:
I found time this weekend to see about cleaning the carbs. I'm sure I didn't do a perfect job of it, but they really didn't look that bad in the first place. No real sign of rust either. Sadly I didn't have a way to drain and refill the tank so I had to leave that as is. After putting everything back together and hitting the starter, she sounds almost exactly the same as she did before I started. Guess she's headed to the shop to see if they can figure out what's wrong with her.