[the canuck]

First off thanks Todd for the improvement in the suspension. Even that little bit of adjustment was enough for my back to notice it. The corners are a lot better and I do find myself going on the gas a little more as I am going through them. It kind of feels like I am re-learning to ride a bit.

But now it sounds like I have a 2-stroke engine. I know, I know you didn't do anything to the engine, but I was out riding today and all of a sudden my engine sounded like a lawnmower engine. There is definitely something going on with it. Worst case is pistons are done for. Best is that it is just a coil or spark plug wire. I will find out more when Tom gets back into town and we can go pick up the bike.

But seriously thanks for the improvements. I can only imagine how much better it could get with newer parts or rebuilding it. But for the time being I am focusing in on whats going on with the engine.

 

[KawTipping]

Did you drop power when it started sounding like a lawnmower??

 

[the canuck]

I don't remember that happening... just cruising down the highway about 80-85, when just like that, it became a lawnmower engine. From talking to some other people, the thought is that it is the sparkplug, or wires. But we will find out either tonight or tomorrow when I can get it back home.

 

[malik ross]

hmm...i think you need to leave the bike in milwaukee for awhile so either Todd, Joe or myself can take a look at it. spark plugs generally don't just fail and electrical gremlins so up a bit here and there before they just fail. generally speaking. how was the bike prepped for winter and how any miles has it been on the road since?

 

[Murf99]

Oh bollux - that's what happened to my screwdriver... I left it in your intake!!!

Seriously, I didn't do anything with the motor. I did give it a good shakedown on the highway, though.

My thoughts were:
1 - Generally strong motor - good for a carbed 600
2 - Jetted lean. Not misfire lean (see Kawasaki ZX7), but definately soft. Personally I do not think it would be lean enough to fry a piston.
3 - Peaky... it's an SRAD gixxer 6 - that's the way they come.

Something to try for yourself if you wish to diagnose... Grab a temp gun or wrap your hand in insulation or something. Run the bike up to temp. Check the temperature of the primary headers. If a cylinder is not firing, that particular pipe will be MUCH cooler than the others.

What are you guys (Malik, Joe, Tom< Jason) doing next Sunday?

Glad you like the setup Jason.

 

[KawTipping]

Todd brings up a good test...you can even do the whole lick your finger and touch the header tube too. Just don't hold it on there! If you didn't notice a lack of power, I highly doubt it is either a bad piston, or a spark issue. It is possible that you blew out an exhaust gasket somewhere between the head and the can. See if you can feel or see a leak.

As for next Sunday Todd, I have no plans as of yet.

 

[sexNstillettos]

Did you check the restrictor plate???
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that was a joke by the way...

 

[VTEC_EATER]

I doubt its a blown piston. We have a compression tester here and will be checking it out this week. Probably just a loose spark plug wire. It happens.

 

[incognito0160]

little experience here with holed pistons , you'll still be able to ride but a lack of power. In order to hole that old ass piston in my bike I had to be running at about 16* advanced on my timing and I was running still lean without proper jetting for pod air filters.

My guess is maybe the packing in the exhaust came out? Rusted out exhaust/hole in it? Just hope it's not the motor, cuz its not fun to tear it down during riding season.

 

[the canuck]

Alright so to update things..... Got the bike home, took the air box off, and noticed that #4's ignition coil was popped up. Ok so I am thinking thats a good sign. Start to pull the other ignition coils, #3 comes out with the spark plug attached to it. #2 and #1 no issues. #3 when I looked at the spark plug the tip looked bent down. Once I took #1 & #2 out, it was confirmed that it was bent down. Back to #4, and I can't get this thing to move. I mean it moves a little, but it is stuck in there. I ask my roommate to see if either I am just a pussy or it really is stuck. Its stuck.... don't worry. But it will move a little bit if you go slow. So slow it is. That is until it goes to quickly. The spark plug sheared off. Now the engine definitely needs to go somewhere to get it taken out. I figure time to take the fairings off and start to get it ready to pull the engine. Well my roommate notices that I have no coolant in the resevoir. Strange..... where did it go?

When I changed the coolant that morning, I drained it all, and filled the resevoir first to the "F" line. Then I went to the radiator and filled that. With the cover off, I started the bike and let it warm up. I noticed bubbles coming out, so that is a good thing. I probably let it run for a good 5 min, knowing that it takes time. During that time I rev'd it a few times, just to help spin the water pump a bit or thats what I was thinking. More bubbles, some coolant spilt out. But after about 5 min, there were no more bubbles. So I figured everything was good to go. Topped off the radiator, put the cap on, and then the fairings I had taken off.

Drained the oil tonight. Looked like there were a couple shavings from when I emptied it from underneath. Took the oil filter off. Everything looks ok. Oil was pretty dark though. Don't know if that means anything.

I don't remember the bike running hot on the highway. So I don't know whats up with the coolant. I am off to go get a gas tank so I can take my tank off the bike, and then will empty the coolant.

I didn't start the bike right away to see what pipes were hot and what weren't. I figured I would look at the spark plugs first to see if they tell me anything. Before I leave for the night, my roommate went to put the plugs in so that nothing would get in the engine by chance. He is having a very hard time by hand to get the #3 plug in. To the point he can't even get it past the first thread. So we didnt' mess with that anymore. Others #1 & #2 went in easy. #4..... couldn't get it out.

 

[the canuck]

Next sunday... don't really have plans..... you going to let me take the R1 out?

 

[the canuck]

With a spark plug stuck in the engine, are there any places around Milwaukee that might be able to help me out? With out costing me a crap load of money?

 

[Rogue6]

Can you take a picture of what it looks like now? I am trying to picture how sheared off it is, but I just can't. A picture would get the ideas flowing.

 

[the canuck]

I will try to take a picture of all 3 1/2 spark plugs that I have and post them up.

 

[KawTipping]

Try and take the motor out yourself...it will save you a ton of $$. Then pop the head off and take it in. At the minimum you need some heli-coil work on those spark plug threads. Though it is not worth much now, are all 4 plugs the same brand and part number? And if so, is it what is supposed to be in the bike? It is strange to have an electrode bent down (unless some tool fu**ed something up when they put them in). Maybe this is why the bike was so cheap??

 

[Murf99]

I talked with Kevin and Jason at Badger Motorsports. Thier prices are very reasonable for motor work.

Or - check Ebay or the NESBA boards for another motor.

 

[the canuck]

Here are the pictures.... they are in the correct order as to when I pulled them out and how they were in the engine, with #1 on the left and the sheared off #4 on the right. #2 had a bunch of oil around it when I pulled it.

 

[the canuck]

........ It is strange to have an electrode bent down (unless some tool fu**ed something up when they put them in). Maybe this is why the bike was so cheap??

I hope you aren't reffering to me as the "tool" as I put the plugs in.

 

[Murf99]

I put the plugs in.

Did you use anti-seize compound?

 

[malik ross]

the sins of the seller....

if you don't have a service manual for your bike yet you should pick one up. i can download one for you in pdf. format. you just have to print it out.

you can pull the head without taking the motor out but you might as well take it out. it makes it a lot easier to work on and depending upon what else you might find the motor may need to come out anyway. taking the entire motor out is only going to extend your repair time by a few hours.

once you have the head off you can take a look at the other threads to see if they need to be repaired. you can also get a better look at what is left of that sparkplug still in there and decide if you want to send it in to get removed of if you can do it yourself. if you aren't positive you can do it yourself leave it alone. the more it gets mucked with the harder and more expensive it will be to repair by a professional.

as i said when you bought the bike parts for this bike are dime a dozen. GSXRs are like roaches. they're everywhere.

get started now so you aren't trying to get the bike ready when its really nice out. an hour each night after work should put you in good shape to hav ethe motor and head pulled by the weekend. let me kow if you need the service manual and i'll email you the link and password.