Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Yep my GT550 pings a bit under load- I'm guessing that it is carbon build up on top of the pistons. Is there an easy way to get rid of this? I have swapped to premium ulp, and it isn't as bad but still there. TIA!

maybe try pouring 1/3 a bottle of some upper end cleanery type stuff into the tank just before refilling it?

New plugs maybe?

Cheers Mike. Will do. I think I have my bases covered as much as I can:
So far have disassembled and cleaned carbs, set floats and mixtures, balanced carbs, new plugs, checked valve clearances, made new airfilter, (foam had perished-made from proper air filter foam) changed oil and filter as well as diff oil and put in a new clutch, speedo drive, front wheel and LH switchblock. Been pretty busy for just over two weeks ownership, huh!
Also fixed leaking fueltank (plastic steel is magic) and am currently trying to fix lotsa little oil leaks. New front rotors ($$$$$$$$) and I'll be close to finished.
The clutch wasn't so much worn out (only slight wear) but contaminated and hard- I'm thinking she hasn't had too many oil changes- and must be carboned up- oil goes black very quickly- gonna let clutch settle for a few days then change oil again.

It could also be electrical, couldn't it? Also maybe the needle height could need a slight adjustment...maybe...???

My V8 used to ping before I started using premium in it. Before then I would retard the timing a bit "from the factory specs" Its an old motor and it happens to old motors. Lost a smigin of power but the pinging dissapeared. Dont know if you can adjust timing there?

It might be Felix- one of the leads was a bit faulty at the end- have to shorten the other three a little too. (Quick bodgy fix- cut 10mm out of the end of the ignition lead to solve faulty lead end) Needles have been raised already by the previous owner- for the 4 into 1 Tranzac system it has I guess.

Its fun removing carbon off the tops of the pistons. I found a small scaple worked ok. I'm going to cheat for the head and use the sandblaster.

Can't really adjust timing much unless I drill out the pickup plate. My model GT (86) has a CDI that takes care of the timing- fixed rotor. A friend of mine has a 83 model and it has a CDI, but the timing is advanced with springs and weights like an old car dizzy.

Is there any way to remove the carbon WITHOUT removing the head? Maybe mike's lube is the only way to go?

lucas works great in diesels and the sell a little bottle for about 7 bucks you can realy notice a diference when you stick some of this in a diesel and it says it is a upper cylinder and decarbon type additive.

What it does for a bike i dont know but i think it said petrol and diesel on the bottle.

With bikes i have always been a fan of pull it to bits in the kitchen if its blocked or broken carbys and stuff but with the 636 i have been using a bit of fuel docter as its a detergent type injector cleaner.

Good luck.

I'd get the electrics sorted first, even if it meant going as far as brand new leads, plugs and coils...

Interestingly, my old BMW 520i was only ever cured of it's pinging when I started using BP Ultimate - 98RON that it was designed for...

bonester wrote:Is there any way to remove the carbon WITHOUT removing the head? Maybe mike's lube is the only way to go?

Water injection will do it, PM and we will discuss how2. Before anyone says it yes I am a crack pot but before you cast the first stone have you actually done a water injection system?

not heard of much now.

I know dad used to know of/work on water injection systems when he was working for...er...BMC?...shows how long that idea has been around.

Hmm...a water injected XJ...how does one go about it, kind sir?

Please tell publicly Johnno!

I have a mental picture of someone with a zx6 and a hip mounted pump water bottle, gettin the revs up, unhookin the bottle and leaning over the fairing and putting a few squirts into the intake.


hehehehehehe