Newbie..changing sparks plugs on a gsxr400r??

[AntzRoweGSXR4...]

Hi there guys, im new to the forum, just bought my first bike which is a gsxr400r.

Think ive flooded the engine and wanted to check and maybe change the spark plugs, see if that fixes it as shes not starting up now.

Ive pulled the side fairings off and can see the plugs however what tool can i use to get them out? sorry if this seems a daft question but im starting from absolutely no mechanical knowledge!!

the only two tools i have in my tool kit too pull off the plugs are too short and wide, anyone know the correct size i need?

Many thanks in advance as im at a loss at the moment!

[Deano1]

hey mate:

you need a 16mm long plug socket and maybe an exstention bar to make things abit easyier

cheers

Deano

[AntzRoweGSXR4...]

thanks mate thats a great help, should cleaning the plugs fix the problem do u think if i have flooded the engine? many thanks

[Groove]

What are the symptoms?
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|| Past: 1991 Kawasaki ZXR 250 ~ 2003 Honda CBR 600 F Sport ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1999 Yamaha R1 ~ 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R J ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1998 Honda VTR1000F Firestorm ~ K1 GSXR 600 Track bike ~ K6 GSXR 1000 ~ 2006 Speed Triple 1050 || Current: 2005 R1 https://www.adrucore.co.uk

[Misc]

I did the same to a moped when i tried changing the throttle cable & turns out an engine part had ceased & wasn't the sparkplug.

How did the bike come about not starting?

[AntzRoweGSXR4...]

the bike had been just standing for quite a while, and when i tried starting it using the elec start i stupidly used the choke fully out and was pulling the throttle back! didnt realise that i didnt need to be pulling the throttle back.

battery ran flat as i keep repeating this mistake in my frustration, so now ive left it fully recharge, checked theres petrol in the tank and warmed the garage up to a warm temp.

The petrols coming through as you can smell it and see the fumes coming form the exhaust, all the electrics look as if there working and it almost starts on a bump start, though still doesnt no matter how many times ive tried!

if ive flooded it, it wouldnt dry out until the plugs are out would it? and im hoping that could be the problem?

[AntzRoweGSXR4...]

the nite i bought the bike she was running, brought her back from yorkshire and fired her up again when i got home, no problems (5hour journey)

however went to bed and the next morning i tried starting the bike, probably not correct, using the throttle and choke and since then it hasnt started

[Andrewc2oo5zx...]

id burn it out and get a zxr400
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zxr's and cbr's

SUNDERLAND AFC

[AntzRoweGSXR4...]

ha ha an option but not quite what i had in mind!

[AntzRoweGSXR4...]

anyone know what else it possibly mite be? and cos ive flooded the engine is there anything else i should do?

cheers

[lilredmachine]

The plugs may just be wet if you have flooded it. May be worth removing one and turning it over, if fuel pumps out of the plug hole then it might be full of fuel.
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Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.

[kb-zxr]

Sometimes leaving it for 15 minutes then trying to start it with no choke or throttle works. Give it a try. If you keep trying over and over again you may keep flooding it.

Don't give it any throttle until the engine has fired.

[Nath]

Have you got a car you can jump it off? Even an old car battery lying around will be better than nothing. Bikes have a tendancy not to start after they've been left sitting for a while - The solution is just to keep cranking it over till it fires.
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[Misc]

Or the seller didn't want you t know something which i doubt he would.

[michaelryland]

New plugs are always a good idea with an unknown engine, as it's Christmas treat it to Iridium .

No choke and a sniff of easy start should bring her to life meanwhile.

[LUXY DJ]

id say keep trying with a push start in 1st or 2nd
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GSXR750
(FAR FAR from standard) www.gixerjunkies.net

[carvell]

Check to see if there's a spark before changing the plugs.

If you are sure there is fuel in the cylinder, then a spark should ignite it, so I imagine the spark plugs aren't sparking.
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Yamaha TDM 850

[iDON]

Owning one myself, I can say they are hard to get at. Best is to remove the tank.

I have to say I have never changed a plug on these yet, but I know the pain into getting to them, specially on the middle cilinders.

HOWEVER.

The GSXR suffers from one BIG problem.

The (many) o-rings in the mikuni carbs, and mainly the one underneath the main jet.

I don't know which Mikuni noodlehead thought of this, but thing is, over the years these o-rings parish and will leak fuel around the mainyet, making the engine run too rich, which can lead to washing the bores (or something).

It's a known problem, which I learned on the very usefull 400greybike.co.uk forum.

Many people suffer from it. I have an occassional stall when I'm riding, so maybe mine need replacing too, but it's not as worse as some stories I've read.

But hard starting can mean many things. Since I have no garage, my bike is outside under a cover.

When I tried starting it 2 weeks ago, after having standing still for over a month (at least) it took me 15 minutes and too many pushed of the startbutton, before it finally fired up.

I guess it's better to drain the carbs, since the fuel can become bad or something.

I haven't tried, and in case you don't know, the P setting on the fueltab is for Prime, so you can fill the floatbowls without the engin running.

I guess this will help in starting up sooner.
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www.idon-industries.com

[doggone]

If you think it's flooded you can often sort it by just closing the choke and twisting the throttle full open - seems illogical but that's what you do.
Starting any engine without auto choke found on newer models is not hard but you need to know what suits the individual engine best.
It's certainly best to try getting initial firing with full choke and no throttle.
Then if it doesn't catch try a bit of gas and maybe half choke.

[meooo]

do as doggone says, but also, if you lift the ht leads slightly off the plugs the coils will give out more spark to jump the extra gap, this can help clear the flooding, but remember to re-fit them properly afterwards.

[BenBray]

If you know someone with a car, quids in.

If not, bump start it. Padle it down a hill like a mofo and give it all you've got, dont be a wimp

How long were you trying to start it for?! Drained the battery?! The battery should last longer than your desire to start the bike in vain!

Choke cable on my bike is naffed, so when I have to start it I pull the choke cable out, start it, and give it a little bit of throttle before letting it do its own thing. Then a bit of throttle when I stick the choke back in.

I still have no idea how managed to get yourself into this situation though. Thats mad.
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Current Bike: nc30

[bidman]

Hi, I have owned 2 of the GK76A gsxr400's 1 of them is on my bikepics page. As already said getting to the plugs is a pain in the arse but not impossible. Once you have them all out, replace them as even though there may be a spark on the outside, you may have damaged the core which means it will not fire under pressure in the cylinder. Leave the tank off and plug holes open and turn over the engine to dry the cylinders out. Then replace the plugs and turn it over with no choke or throttle as with new plugs the spark will be good enough to ignite the slightest amount of fuel and get the engine running. Hope this helps Dan
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Don't ride it, RAG IT!!

[AntzRoweGSXR4...]

cheers for all the advice guys, much appreciated!

took the tank off like advised and made things slighty easier, though still an absolute nightmare trying to get the bloody plugs out! took me hours!

Good news is they were soaking! so should be that hopefully.

Gonna buy some new plugs tomoz as they prob could do with replacing and i dont fancy pulling them out again anytime soon if possible!

so fingers crossed that should sort it.