Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

As everyone knows who went on the BBQ run, my bike is not very well

It's running like crap basically, so I'm going to check the obvious things like the plugs and the filter but I also wanted to run it through with a fuel-additive-cleaner type thang. Obviously a lot of these products don't do anything much but does anyone know of a good one that actually works?

Thanks

I've used two that have actually worked in the past.

1. Wynn's Total Fuel System Cleaner
Worked ok, stopped the bike pinging and backfiring. I haven't pulled the carbs apart to see how well it actually cleaned, however.

2. Nulon concentrated stuff - not sure of the exact name.
Worked well. When I bought the VF500F it had BADLY gunked up carbs. The original owner had merely turned out the mixture screws to try and compensate. One cylinder was getting next to no fuel. I ran a full tank of fuel with a full bottle of this stuff and had to wind the mixture screws back in 3 full turns (leaning it back out to a normal setting) to get the bike to run. It still wasn't perfect so I stripped the carbs to find a little bit of rubber in one of the jets, which obviously wouldn't have dissolved. Otherwise the carbs were clean as a whistle.

HTH

What were the symptoms you were getting on the ride (for those of us who weren't there )

Rough running, easy stalling.

I'm suspicious it's something to do with the air-filter as I had some problems with the filter-oil I used when I serviced it a couple of weeks back. I'm going to get a new K&N or similar and also change the plugs and use a fuel treatment.

If none of that works then it's going to the garage.

I was just asking 'cause you don't want to rule out electrical problems that can seem like they are fuel problems. One example is my old 9 which had a dodgy earth lead connection at the battery and would cough and splutter a bit before dying. A quick tighten up and all would be sweet again until next time.

The other example is my mates older 9 which would cough and splutter on longer rides and finally died last week, until he found the 6 pin connector that had gotten corrosion in the pins and melted the plastic block. Before that he had checked fuel lines, changed the fuel filter, checked plugs, cleaned air filter and all the 5 million other things that he thought might be causing it.

Just something to keep in mind anyway

Check this out.

http://www.ksrc-au.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2473

Aussie Ninja wrote:Check this out.

http://www.ksrc-au.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2473

Yep I saw that link, looks like good stuff. I'll have to try and find someone who stocks it in the city

Anyone know a good online place to get a K&N air-filter or similar or should I just get PeterStevens to order one in?

Thanks for the heads-up on the electrical side of things Mick. I can have a quick look but to be honest if a squirt of this fuel treatment and a new filter doesn't work I'll just chuck my toys out of the pram

Spent Sat afternoon installing a nice new K&N air-filter, set of plugs and then stuck some Motul fuel system cleaner in the tank. Went for a ride on Sunday to Reefton Spur and I'm happy to report that she's now much happier

Good stuff

NovaCoder wrote:Spent Sat afternoon installing a nice new K&N air-filter, set of plugs and then stuck some Motul fuel system cleaner in the tank. Went for a ride on Sunday to Reefton Spur and I'm happy to report that she's now much happier

So have the problem fixed? I have interesting story for you:

Bike was due for service but I was sooo lazy so about 2k overdue. Then engine started to sputter on very low rev. Very annoying in traffic lights etc. When doing the sparkplug changes, I bought carb cleaner (CRC) and spray the thing into carburettors while the engine is running high idle. I emptied 1/2 of the can and the carb is now very clean and runs very smoothly. Even better than when the firt time I bought it.

Yep it now runs great

Mid-range in particular feels much better, even a GSXR1000 rider told me good he thought it was out of the corners