Bike is getting tougher to start

[Bociba]

My first post.....

I have a 93 ZX7 that I purchased about 1 year ago. Toward the end of the summer it seemed that is was getting harder and harder to start when cold. warm starting does not seem to be a problem. Today I drained the battery trying to start it. If I pull the choke on forget it - it won't start - seems to flood. If I back it off (the choke) it may start for only a moment or two. Seems like I have to continue restarting until some point it will take to some limited choke.

Yes, it has been sitting for a few months and has only been ran maybe once a month since the fall of 2006. Gas doesn't smell like varnish and doesn't appear to be any rust in tank.

It was tuned up last in mid 2006.

I know my battery has weakened over the past winter but seems to be just too hard to start. I don't crank on the starter for more than say 10 seconds at a time.

Any ideas are appreciated.

Bociba

[Freakinout]

I'd say you should do a few things.

1st:
New spark plugs. Bikes love these!

2nd:
Empty the tank and put fresh gas, it helps

3rd:
Get a battery tender (trickle/float charger), and fill up the water levels on your battery. Keep the tender on whenever you can. I usually put mine on if I'm not gonna be riding it for more than 2 days.

You might need to take the carbs apart and clean them as well. Pilot jets get clogged easily.

[CerialPhreak]

If you're in a pinch to start it, you can always unplug the headlight and such so theres less things draining the battery, then after it warms up, kill it, plug them back in, and start her up again. Definatly not a solution, but if you're caught in a parking lot or something.

[JasonFMHS]

I don't think its the Bat. Have you had the carbs cleaned anytime recently... my buddies was all nasty when he rebuilt and cleaned his...the bike ran like new... or atleast.... 10x better than it was.

[JasonFMHS]

I don't think its the Bat. Have you had the carbs cleaned anytime recently... my buddies was all nasty when he rebuilt and cleaned his...the bike ran like new... or atleast.... 10x better than it was.

[Svetlana]

like freakinout recommends, I would say spark plugs (b/c my own bike had similar issues recently and was promptly cured w/ new ones).
Also draining the carbs might not hurt (something else I did w/ my own ride to help the issue).

[Bociba]

Well, the sone cleaned out the tank and put in new gas. The bike fired up and he decided to dive to work on it (about 7 miles). He got about 1/2 way and it dies on him. He was only able to keep it running by pulling on the choke about 1/2 way. He said that he could run at 70 mph but could not give it any gas because it would want to die.

Finally got it home by the same choke method later that day.

Pulled the fuel filter off.. there was a little bit of stuff in it. Not sure if it ever has been changed (bike has 23k on it). Went down to Kragen to get a universal filter (ones at the Kawa dealer are $16 + tax). Got one for $4 + tax.

Unscientific check of original filter.. you can blow through it without much difficulty. The new filter - you can blow through it easier.

More to come. Thanks for all the advice. Going to the carbs next and the plugs as well.

[Bociba]

Well, the son cleaned out the tank and put in new gas. The bike fired up and he decided to dive to work on it (about 7 miles). He got about 1/2 way and it dies on him. He was only able to keep it running by pulling on the choke about 1/2 way. He said that he could run at 70 mph but could not give it any gas because it would want to die.

Finally got it home by the same choke method later that day.

Pulled the fuel filter off.. there was a little bit of stuff in it. Not sure if it ever has been changed (bike has 23k on it). Went down to Kragen to get a universal filter (ones at the Kawa dealer are $16 + tax). Got one for $4 + tax.

Unscientific check of original filter.. you can blow through it without much difficulty. The new filter - you can blow through it easier.

More to come. Thanks for all the advice. Going to the carbs next and the plugs as well.