1986 Kawasaki ZL600

jberry · L Plate Warrior Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Karma :

I need a little help!
My 1986 ZL600 Kawasaki is very hard to start after it sits over night. I have to flood it very badly to get it started. I usually have to do this several times before it will ever start. I have cleaned the carbs several times and this doesnt help. Does anyone know what might be the problem? It seems like I have to wind on it over and over like I am having to warm something up if you Know what I mean.

Please help its driving me crazy!!!
Also if you Know were I can find a service manual I would be grateful.

Thanks
Jberry

Mark_petty · Brolly Dolly Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Karma :

I have just bought a bike and I found it a trouble to start in the mornings.
What I did was the following:
Changed Oil
New Spark Plugs
New Air filter
New Oil filter
Cleaned carbs ot
Charged battery
also new fuel

Mine was sat around for ages so thats why I cleaned carbs and fuel.

Once I did the above it fired up straight away. When was it last serviced?

I reckon if you replace spark plugs, maybe if its been sat around for a while charge battery it would do the trick
____________________
[Rides: Suzuki GSF600sx]
[CBT: Passed] [Theory: Passed] [DAS: Passed]

jberry · L Plate Warrior Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Karma :

When I bought the bike it had no carbs on it. I bought the carbs from Ebay cleaned them and put them on the bike had the problem cranking right away. The bike sat for ten years without carbs on it. the carbs got cracked the man that i bought it from said. I dont know the last time it was serviced. It has new oil, plugs,filter, and gas. I have rode it alot but I have to fight with it to get it started.

Mark_petty · Brolly Dolly Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Karma :

jberry · L Plate Warrior Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Karma :

Thanks for replying, I guess I will keep on trying different things maybe I can come up with something. It would help if I could find a service manual.

Thanks
Jberry

Mark_petty · Brolly Dolly Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Karma :

i'm sure someone else will be able to help shortly
____________________
[Rides: Suzuki GSF600sx]
[CBT: Passed] [Theory: Passed] [DAS: Passed]

finpos · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Karma :

Is it possible that the choke isn't adjusted properly/isn't working at all?

Do the carbs have accellerator pumps (bike that old may not have)? If they are, try quickly opening and snapping shut the throttle half a dozen times before you try and start the bike. That'll dump a load of fuel into the inlet manifold and will have the same effect as richening the mixture (aka. putting the choke on).

If you don't have the pumps, try squirting some petrol into the airbox before you turn the bike over.

finpos.