Kawasaki ZX-9R starting problem - RESOLVED !
Martin Schuessler
Here's the background of my woes:
Shut the bike off in first gear and leave it parked for a while.
Put bike in neutral, trip starter switch.
A dull "ratcheting" noise is heard. When the problem gets
really bad, sometimes there won't be any noise (the starter
must be drawing current as the lights dim somewhat). Once the
starter "catches" and the crankshaft turns over, everything
is OK.
The only way to get it started was by first putting the bike in gear,
and then back into neutral. It has gotten so bad that even this
doesn't always work; the only solution then is to have the
bike in first gear with the clutch lever pulled in to get the
bike to start. As far as I remember, this is 100% successful and
the crankshaft starts turning over right away.
The starting problem seems to be dependent on two things:
1) Warm (75+ deg) weather
2) Putting the bike in gear either when turning it
off or putting it in gear while it's parked.
Up until March or so, I could shut the bike off in gear
(using either engine cutoff switch or key), leave it parked,
and start it just fine by first dropping it into neutral.
The problem was also there last summer, but not as severe.
At that time, the bike had to have sat in gear for several
hours before the problem occured. I recently pulled into a
store and turned the bike off in gear and tried to restart
after less than 5 minutes - same problem.
Oil changes have had no effect. I have used Mobil 1 15W-50,
Castrol GTX 20W-50, and motorcycle-specific motor oil.
No abnormal engine performance has been noted. To make sure
I also rode a friend's bike (same year and model), and the
bikes perform the same.
The only factors influencing the starting behavior seem to
be the weather and the fact that the bike is in gear while
sitting there.
I tried to get help on the net several times, but no one
really had any idea. The most common suspect was the starter
clutch, so I wasn't eager to pay the repair bill on that one
just yet.
I finally got fed up and took it in a couple of weeks ago.
Later that day, I call them up and wait for the inevitable
"it's the starter clutch and they started pulling out the
engine. The parts are on order and we estimate about 15
hours of labor (@$55.90/hour)."
Instead, the guy tells me it was the clutch neutral switch.
$7 + 3/4 hour labor for $60 ! Choirs of angels sing, the
sun bursts through the clouds, birds are chirping, etc.
So I pick the bike up the next day and go to work. End of the
day - same story when I tried to start it. Beelzebub has a laugh,
lightning criss-crosses the sky, grandma gets run over
by a bunch of 14 year old who just hijacked a car, etc.
I drive back to the dealership, and corral one of the service
guys. Trying to recreate the problem is futile, and he looks
at me like I'm a raving lunatic who's imagining things.
Finally - I kill the bike by holding the brake in and releasing
the clutch level while in gear - the problem occurs when
I go to neutral to start the bike (weird, huh !).
Service guy says "it's the battery" and gets a charger.
Ludricous. Preposterous. Insane. Idiotic. I mean, the
battery always had enough juice to start it when I
played with the gears, right ?
Pop off seat, get ready to put on charger. Hit starter
button one more time to hear devilish, taunting ratcheting
noise. Put one charger, hit starter button, bike fires
right up.
What the f%$$#ck ?!?!?!?
Ludricous. Preposterous. Insane. Idiotic. Give service guy
a pained smile while trying not to look too stupid.
He gave me a new battery, and did an even swap with mine
since they misdiagnosed the problem the first time around.
Wow.
Choirs of angels sing, the sun bursts through the clouds,
birds are chirping, etc.
So far, I've had no problems. I continue to shut the bike off
and leave it in gear while I'm at work, and there's been no
problem so far. I haven't gotten to ride much lately due
to excessive business trips, so I'm still a little apprehensive
about it.
Anyway - the lesson is: batteries are weird creatures. No telling
how a bad battery can manifest itself. I think the "ratcheting"
noise might actually have been a relay (starter relay) clicking
on and off rapidly.
Martin Schuessler
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ridge/7979
..-.. ..-..
__ /-___-\ __ __ / \ __
(__\/_______\/__) (__\//-O O-\\/__)
| \_____/ | (/ _____ \)
( ___ ) \/(___)\/
( / \ ) |[ZX-9R]|
\ |.-.| / \ .---.(O)
\|| ||/ \|\\\||_|
`\| |/' |\\\|
| | |\\\|
`_' |\\\|
`---'
Chris
>how a bad battery can manifest itself. I think the "ratcheting"
>noise might actually have been a relay (starter relay) clicking
>on and off rapidly.
>
>
>Martin Schuessler
Martin, it also could've been a poor batt connection. Without a proper
connection, most low current items will still appear to be funtioning
correctly. But a high current drain item like your starter/solenoid will cause
the voltage to drop across the resistance of a poor connection. That could
result in less voltage and current available to your starter when it was
needed. I've had more than one experience of a battery connection becoming
loose on a new vehicle. Just something to look for.
Chris