Just bought my first bike and rode it home Saturday, but it won't start today.... : Kawasaki ZX Forums: Kawasaki Ninja Forum

95zx6 · 03-03-2008, 08:41 AM

I bought a 1995 zx6 with 47k. Its in pretty good shape and I picked it up Saturday, the guy had it warming up and running because he says he hadn't ridden it since last summer.

So today I came into work, I keep it at the office, and went to start it, the starter at first was trying to start it but it would not. Then eventually the starter stopped turning over. I waited a little bit and tried again, the starter attempted again and did not work. It is full on gas, but I don't know where else to go with it. Could it be just the battery? Is that something I can change easily?

How do I check the oil level on this bike also? I just want to get it running. And I take it this bike is air cooled so I shouldn't keep it running for extended periods of time without being ridden?

TIA!

rodneyc · 03-03-2008, 08:58 AM

same thing happenned to me.

when someone has it running when you get there... thats probably a sign that its a tough bike to start for some reason.

as for not starting, its could definitely be the battery. if it had a bad battery, you can drain it trying to start it repeatedly. I did that once... it didnt have enough juice to start, but just enough to turn the lights on. but you can jump it using a car charger (jsut make sure its the same voltage as your battery... probably 12V.)

I have heard you can jump it from a car, but never tried.. any one else try this?

Have you ever started it on your own? He may have used a jump to get it started before you showed up.

95zx6 · 03-03-2008, 09:29 AM

well I know the guy I bought it from, he said it hadn't been started since last season and did jump it to get going initially, but then it did turn off and start a few times with me while i was checking it out. He said batteries are really cheap so I am gonna go swap that out and see if it solved the problem....could it be anything else if it doesnt start with replacing the battery?

95zx6 · 03-03-2008, 10:20 AM

How do I remove the battery, I disconnected the contacts, but is there another bolt holding it in or something?

rodneyc · 03-03-2008, 10:38 AM

sorry... not sure about your bike. mine has an elastic strap over the top. You should be able to see something if it is there.

anyone else know?

i suggest buying or downloading a manual.

rodneyc · 03-03-2008, 10:39 AM

other than the battery, not sure what it could be. Alternator maybe?

but im not no mechanic... just a newbie too.

Saint_Matthew · 03-03-2008, 02:46 PM

On mine, you have to take the air-box cover off to get the battery out. I usually have the same starting problem. I hook up cables to my car, let it run for 5 minutes, try to start, and usually repeat 5 or 6 times. The choke is very touchy.

95zx6 · 03-03-2008, 02:56 PM

I have a battery being filled for me, its 80 bucks, apparently its a kind they have to charge up with acid locally, does that sound right?

Hopefully it starts right up upon putting the new battery in.

The guy at the cycle shop, Cycle Stop in Norristown, also said that its a bad idea to hook your bike to your car...that it might mess up something with the electrical stuff...anyone else know about that stuff?

DuckyZX10R · 03-03-2008, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 95zx6

I have a battery being filled for me, its 80 bucks, apparently its a kind they have to charge up with acid locally, does that sound right?

Hopefully it starts right up upon putting the new battery in.

The guy at the cycle shop, Cycle Stop in Norristown, also said that its a bad idea to hook your bike to your car...that it might mess up something with the electrical stuff...anyone else know about that stuff?

About 1 year ago when I was waking up my '02 ZX6R from winter hibernation, it was having starting problems as well. I took the battery out before that winter and stored it indoors but I didn't trickle charge it before installing it back on the bike. So I just jumped it using a GMC Yukon

It started right away. I just replaced the battery after that and its been fine ever since. Looking back, it probably wasn't the best or ideal way to remedy the situation but I guess I got lucky and didn't fry the bike's electrical system.

Saint_Matthew · 03-03-2008, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 95zx6

I have a battery being filled for me, its 80 bucks, apparently its a kind they have to charge up with acid locally, does that sound right?

Hopefully it starts right up upon putting the new battery in.

The guy at the cycle shop, Cycle Stop in Norristown, also said that its a bad idea to hook your bike to your car...that it might mess up something with the electrical stuff...anyone else know about that stuff?

Oh Damn, you go to the Cycle Stop? I'm about 2 miles away on Ridge.

I didn't say using my blazer to jump my bike was ever a really good idea, but it's the only thing that works. Battery charger doesn't cut it. I can't wait 2 hours between tries to start it. And I don't think anyone sells sealed batteries for these bikes. Just the crappy "fill yourself" ones. You can buy electrolyte from any parts store or cycle shop though.

Anyway, I'll be taking my bike to the Cycle Stop in about 2 weeks, because starting it is a pain. I think it just needs a proper carb tuning.

Kawi_T · 03-03-2008, 06:48 PM

Don't you guys push start your bikes? I've very rarely jumped a bike but have push started many. Its very easy, especially with a smaller bike like a 600.

Jarrod · 03-03-2008, 07:04 PM

ok, if you buy a batt. from a shop, yes they have to pour the acid and then charge the battery.....if they do not charge it properly, the battery will die and be junk. you can check your stator yourself easily if you have a multimeter, i suggest that. other than that, you have a bad battery, or a regulator/rectifier, which you can also check with a multimeter yourself

Jarrod · 03-03-2008, 07:07 PM

and yes jumping from a car is not good, if you have to do it, leave the car off, don't start it, and if you drain your car trying to start your bike, you have other issues to deal with first haha

95zx6 · 03-03-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarrod

ok, if you buy a batt. from a shop, yes they have to pour the acid and then charge the battery.....if they do not charge it properly, the battery will die and be junk. you can check your stator yourself easily if you have a multimeter, i suggest that. other than that, you have a bad battery, or a regulator/rectifier, which you can also check with a multimeter yourself

i do have a multimeter, photo to where this is? and what should my read out say, should i be attempting to start the bike while reading the multimeter, i jsut really hope its only the battery, the guy who owned it before me says he never really had any problems with it.

rodneyc · 03-03-2008, 09:25 PM

how do you push start a bike?

rodneyc · 03-03-2008, 09:31 PM

nvrmd... saw the post.

Jarrod · 03-03-2008, 10:24 PM

k bro, look on the left side of your bike, on the motor cover, try to locate 3 yellow wires going up, those if not a diff. color, don't know kawi that well, are your stator wires (charging system). find where there is a connector, unplug that, you will need to have the bike running for this test. so....jump it, push it, do whatcha gotta do to make it run......there will be 3 prongs on that connector, with it unplugged, bike running, you should read 15-100vac(VOLTS ALTERNATING CURRENT), If you have that, plug connecter back in, back probe said connecter on the other side, you should have 9-20 VAC, if you have that, your stator is good.....lead to lead.........if you do this test and get back to me and still have problems, your only other possible problems are with your regulator\rectifier, or battery

95zx6 · 03-04-2008, 05:59 AM

I will give this a go today if the new battery doesnt solve the problem, thanks man

95zx6 · 03-04-2008, 08:00 AM

so how do you get this **** battery out?!?

Jarrod · 03-04-2008, 08:10 AM

ummm.......wish i could help ya on that one dude, but your on your own..... good luck