Zx6r 1998 ticking problems

[ZX6-Chris]

On my way home couple days ago my bike devlopped a ticking noise. Thinking it was nothing sinister i check oil and it was a tab low, so i did an oil and filter change (it was due one anyways just done 1 or 2 month early).

Started the bike up and ticking noise remained. I thought i would give it a ride to work and see if a blast would get the oil circulating and rectify the problem. 15 miles later and it still remains sounding like a time bomb.

Any suggestions what it could be?



My first thoughts were the tappets (thinking of cars that used to tap)

The bike is a 1998 kawasaki zx6-r (600cc), it is a carbed bike.

[Wheelnut]

Exhaust manifold gasket?

[ZX6-Chris]

Sept 3, 2015 7:38:52 GMT Wheelnut said:

Exhaust manifold gasket?

few people on facebook have suggested that,. didn't get chance to check it out during break so gunna have a look later hopefully.

[200magicnumba]

Im hoping that it is the exhaust gasket for you, so it will be an easy fix.

But its hard to diagnose off a video, to be honest its sounds like camshaft or crank damage, possibly terminal.

When you took it for a ride, after the oil change did it feel down on power. Because when you revved it, it seemed slow on the uptake and sounded like it was carrying a cylinder. cross my fingers for you that its not buddy.
        

But my glass is always half empty, im a miserable old goat

[Mainjetmike]

That's running on 3 for sure !

As KOTD says it's hard to diagnose from a video , but I also hear drawing air , if your lucky a carb rubber has popped off a middle carb and hence drawing air n running like a triumph , imho .

Limit poorly running usage or it will go kerboomb

[ZX6-Chris]

Sept 3, 2015 19:06:02 GMT Mainjetmike said:

That's running on 3 for sure !

As KOTD says it's hard to diagnose from a video , but I also hear drawing air , if your lucky a carb rubber has popped off a middle carb and hence drawing air n running like a triumph , imho .

Limit poorly running usage or it will go kerboomb

very limited use since ticking noise made an apperence (35 Miles Max).

on way home and bike has gone kerbang.

loss of power after around 20 miles of first hearing ticking noise )felt like 1 cyclider had gone, then about 5 miles after that felt like a 2nd cyclider had gone (with a bit of smoke but the smoke stopped) then about 2 mile after that bike had lost all power.

clutch in engine stopped and well won't start again even from bumping to of the button.

i am going to speak to the garage but having a few opnions from people and knowing a bit myself it going to be a relatively expensive repair. £300-500+ so it may be going the journey and ill be sourcing a newer bike over the winter. but watch this space.

[David]

Bad news Chris, sounds like the WOB was correct.

[nickw]

Ouch... Not good Chris.

[Mainjetmike]

Second hand engine could be way forward !


Shouldn't have been running it with it as it sounded , but you prob know that now so I'll shut up

[ZX6-Chris]

Sept 4, 2015 18:08:45 GMT Mainjetmike said:

Second hand engine could be way forward !


Shouldn't have been running it with it as it sounded , but you prob know that now so I'll shut up

I certainly know that now, i normally wouldnt do vut when i did oil change it was too late to try it and then give it a quick run to work see if the oil need chance to get round the engine to see the least it didnt.

Im looking at 600ish for a new engine and fitted atm need to ring a couple of slavage yards on monday but may be selling it for oarta or splitting it myself.

So on the look out at moment

[ZX6-Chris]

well quick update on the extent of damage to the engine and what my plans are.

once getting home from work their was a small patch of oil on the floor so i thought id investigate a little.

my findings were it was crank of camshaft damage internally. which has pierced 2 holes in the bottom end of the engine and shattered a few valves and a piston rod.

the force of the damage had also pierced a hole into the startor motor.

I have sourced an engine that has been rebuilt around 5000 miles ago for a small fee plus my engine. so my engine is currently sat awaiting collection/swapping which should be tonight somepoint.

and then the install of my refurbeded engine starts tomorrow night if my hired muscle isn't busy images to follow shortly.


SlideShow Click Here

[nickw]

Tried that link Chris but it says that album is private.

Now I don't want to intrude, but you may have put that album link on that you really do want to keep private...

Anyway, I hope that it all goes in well and that you're soon back in the road.

[ZX6-Chris]

Sept 10, 2015 6:31:54 GMT nickw said:

Tried that link Chris but it says that album is private.

Now I don't want to intrude, but you may have put that album link on that you really do want to keep private...

Anyway, I hope that it all goes in well and that you're soon back in the road.

thanks nickW, hopefully album isn't private no more (its a seperate album to all my other photos),. and on the other hand i wouldn't think about storing photos i didn't want the "public" to see online due to my insecurity to other companies and hackers.

[nickw]

Well, I dun't know the 1st thing about mechanics, but even I can see that is totally fooked.... If that's the new engine you've taken photo's of Chris, you really should have your money back

[200magicnumba]

That looks bad,

The lack of oil/oil pressure around bottom shell bearings would o spun them or worn them down faster than a fast thing making conrods have lift and the now huge tolerances making big end rattle that would of turned into big end knock until "she couldnt take no more captain"

Seriously buddy you have been lucky, you may not feel it right now, but I have a mate on a gsxr750 srad blitzing along followed quite closely by another mate when his gsxr let lose and exploded, blowing bits of engine casing and conrods all over the place, with oil all over his back tyre all he done was pull clutch and hang on as straight as he could, bike snaking its back end all over the place. The next mate following close was showered in smoke, oil and flying metal bits. He followed suit snaking behind. They both went across the other carriageway without traffic coming luckily.

It could of been deadly for you buddy, so im pleased you noticed the rattle and had the sense to be careful.. Sorry to hear about your bike but pleased your all well.

[Mainjetmike]

Any news on new lump ?

Help is always at hand

[ZX6-Chris]

Sept 10, 2015 19:43:40 GMT 200magicnumba said:

That looks bad,

The lack of oil/oil pressure around bottom shell bearings would o spun them or worn them down faster than a fast thing making conrods have lift and the now huge tolerances making big end rattle that would of turned into big end knock until "she couldnt take no more captain"

Seriously buddy you have been lucky, you may not feel it right now, but I have a mate on a gsxr750 srad blitzing along followed quite closely by another mate when his gsxr let lose and exploded, blowing bits of engine casing and conrods all over the place, with oil all over his back tyre all he done was pull clutch and hang on as straight as he could, bike snaking its back end all over the place. The next mate following close was showered in smoke, oil and flying metal bits. He followed suit snaking behind. They both went across the other carriageway without traffic coming luckily.

It could of been deadly for you buddy, so im pleased you noticed the rattle and had the sense to be careful.. Sorry to hear about your bike but pleased your all well.

im must admit apart from the intial their is a ticking i was riding slower then what i would useually knowing something could potentionally go wrong which it did, i didn't realise how dangerous it was untill i discover the extent of the damage to the bottom end and dent in starter.

I cant help that if i was doing some speed that the end result may not of been as pleasent and calm as it was.

Sept 10, 2015 22:32:42 GMT Mainjetmike said:

Any news on new lump ?

Help is always at hand

disconnect all relavent parts on sunday dropped the engine on monday, swapped engines on wednesday and got the engine back in last night and drained the oil from the engine, i need to reconnect all the gubbins but at a stand still due to waiting for new gaskets for the headers (manifold)

easier to get the manifold back on without radiator being there and can't get carbs, tank and air filter back on till rad is connected. and also changing spark plugs aswell which im awaiting to be delivered.

(would of used local companies alot more but due to expenses i needed to keep the cost down and saving a few quid buying online helps)

im hopeing these will turn up today so i can crack on with assembley over the weekend and just taking my time to make sure everything is connected correctly.

i know my carbs were previously running rich (overfuelling) slightly, so im hoping i will be able to load a carb sync vaccum from someone so i can adjust accordingly. or may be a case of pay someone to do this.

[Mainjetmike]

On the zx10 it's a major pain to change the outer two spark plugs with engine in place . Nigh on impossible .

Check you have access before securing engine in place , as it may be much easier to rotate engine down from frame for access while radiator and exhaust is still off .

Or you may have an abundance ( funny word buns dancing ) of room an wonder what the heck I'm on about .


Fraid I can't ho with carb balancer but I know Richy parrot at Hpool bike service is great ( but small ) .

Maybe the running rich was a cause of the fatal blow up ?

[ZX6-Chris]

Sept 11, 2015 9:37:03 GMT Mainjetmike said:

On the zx10 it's a major pain to change the outer two spark plugs with engine in place . Nigh on impossible .

Check you have access before securing engine in place , as it may be much easier to rotate engine down from frame for access while radiator and exhaust is still off .

Or you may have an abundance ( funny word buns dancing ) of room an wonder what the heck I'm on about .


Fraid I can't ho with carb balancer but I know Richy parrot at Hpool bike service is great ( but small ) .

Maybe the running rich was a cause of the fatal blow up ?

this could be possible,. it was one of the thing i though wouldn't do any harm but it may of slowly causing problems,. so if i get the carbs set up from the start then i know it is right.

[David]

Sept 11, 2015 9:19:02 GMT ZX6-Chris said:

i know my carbs were previously running rich (overfuelling) slightly, so im hoping i will be able to load a carb sync vaccum from someone so i can adjust accordingly.

My understanding is that carb. balancing, (checking the vacuum), is done to ensure smooth running, particularly at idle speed.

If the air/fuel mixture is suspect, exhaust waste gas analysis would be required to determine whether or not the carbs. are set up correctly.

Modifications from standard, e.g. aftermarket air filters or exhaust systems will require the WG to be checked.

Carb. Balancing after having made WG analysis checks/adjustments.



Zx10 being set-up using WG analysis.