[Toolmaster]

Hey all - hoping to gain information and knowledge from the collective wisdom. I'm totally stumped here, and hope someone else has seen this issue.

Bike is a 1999 ZX6R. Slip on muffler, pretty much stock otherwise. 8500 Miles on the odometer.

Bought the bike about a month ago from a local consignment shop, and was told that all it needed was a carb cleaning as a float was stuck. Well, I cleaned the carbs and it runs and idles great now, but whenever I take it for a ride and come to a stop (like at a stop light or a stop sign) the bike dies. It starts right back up each time.

I've had the bike to 2 different shops now. The first one cleaned the carbs and replaced a fuel pump and then told me the issue was electrical. The second one (a Kawasaki dealer) replaced the stator and pickup (as they said the voltages were a little off and they were 99.9% sure that was the issue).

I can reproduce the problem at will - literally ride the bike up to at least 35 MPH and then pull in the clutch and you can watch the RPM's drop and the bike will die.

The dealer now says they believe it's the crank bearings allowing the crank to move away from the pickup, but I have to think that if that were the case then I'd see the issue more when the bike was cold - as things expand and tolerances get smaller as it warms up.

Has anyone ever heard of something like this? Any idea as to what's wrong? I can't believe this is the only bike that exhibits this behavior, and I also have a hard time believing that a bike that idles great and revs perfectly needs crank bearings.

Thanks!
Jay

 

[earlthepearl]

Where ur idle set at?

 

[Toolmaster]

Thanks for the reply

Idle is set at 1300 - should I try it a bit higher?

 

[earlthepearl]

I have to have my 650 set round 1450-1500 or it idles real rough....
Been this way from the time i bought it....
Had i forget how many dealers check it,nnnnnn...
They just say to let it idle at 1450-1500 then...

 

[byte2022]

Idle is set at 1300 - should I try it a bit higher?

yes set it higher. Does it die when the bike is in neutral or only when I gear. Sometimes the carb or throttle body can actually close to much too but can be adjusted too. This is a issue that can be fixed fairly easily but you need to find the flap adjustment which is tricky at times

twisted throttles brings me smiles

 

[yorkie]

Try stripping and cleaning the inside of the clutch switch, fiddly so be carful and don't loose the spring, then again there cheap enough to replace from eBay. They have a tendency to corrode slightly inside and can cause strange problems like this.

 

[Zx6rGuy]

I as well have a 1998 zx6r. It starts great, goes after warming up and throttle response is good. Problem is as im stopping and get down to around 15mph and pull in clutch the bike drops rpms and dies. Really frusterating to keep turning the bike back on when stopping. I have replaced fuel pump, carb adjustment(was needed anyways), spark plugs are fine. If anyone has further info please help.

 

[byte2022]

Have you cleaned the blade of the carburatuer? It too can gunk up and what it does essentially is choke the bike. Be sure
To clean that as well. Also sometimes your fuel hose can have a small pin hole leak in it which doesnt allow Gas to leak out but will allow Air in which will also starve the bike out causing it to die

 

[Zx6rGuy]

Alright I figured out the problem, after a valve adjustment, it seemed to fix the full deal. It runs, doesnt stall and im having fun. I made a deal with my mechanic that if I take off the fuel tank, carbs, that he would do it for $130 since taking off will cost more because of the work needed. So i suggest check your valves, they could be very tight which at idle causes them to work very bad. Hope this helps!!

 

[byte2022]

Glad you got it fixed and are able to ride and post ride reports and pictures