1989 ZX10 Carbs

[Ninjawarrior]

I am posting this here as well as in the "Vintage" Section". I have some answeres / opinions / suggestions from the gys over there but wanted to try to solicit from the largest possible audience I could.

Ok I have been away from my bike for years but I have the bug to ride again. The bike has been standing for a few years..nice cool basement and I thought the carbs were dry but.............

First some details. The bike is an 89 ZX-10. 14K miles never crashed never raced just ridden a little hard now and then. It does have a 4 into 1 pipe and some sticky tires. When I put it in the basement it was running fine and as I said I thought the carbs were dry.

When I tried to start it it fires up but any attempt at pulling off the choke or twisting the throttle stalls the motor right out. I suspect that old gas has messed up the carbs but like I said I think I ran them dry before the bike went to sleep. . Any thoughts on this?

If this is related to the carbs / rotten gas what kinda surgery is gonna be needed? I am pretty familiar with mechanical repairs ( built car engines and redid a few British bikes) but I never got into the carbs on this bike...It always ran perfectly. Any opinions suggestions, what to look for, type of ideas appreciated.

Someone at the local dealer recommended some sorta magic juice that ya run into the carbs for a period of time then drain out. I wonder if this is buying trouble, might be I need to just bite the bullet and take the carbs off for a strip down and cleaning but the guy at the Dealer swares by the stuff. He was a customer not someone workin at the dealer so he had no interest in selling the stuff. I am not a big believer in "Motor Honey" "Mechanic In a Can" products but on the other hand I don't wanna pull the carbs apart if I don't have to.

[elr658]

There is only one cure. Remove the carburetors and clean the undoubtedly plugged pilot jets. Now, there those who will recommend Seafoam. Your case is BEYOND Seafoam. Although I use it in my morning coffee, it is NOT Mechanic in a Can.

[Ninjawarrior]

Originally Posted by elr658

There is only one cure. Remove the carburetors and clean the undoubtedly plugged pilot jets. Now, there those who will recommend Seafoam. Your case is BEYOND Seafoam. Although I use it in my morning coffee, it is NOT Mechanic in a Can.

Well I knew I could depend on a fellow Ct. resident. I grew up up the road from you in Litchfield!!!!!. Also... started school at the State Tech College I Waterbury before going further and fininshing up the BS. Now suffering in silence in Atlanta, missing the beautiful Fall weather every year.

You believe it is the primary jet. Now I am getting somewhere at least I have a experienced opinion on where the problem is. What kind of horror show is it to get that (those) out? I see something in the manual about sealer and ................well anything else you can PLEASE give me about HOW to do this is greatly appreciated. I just hate workin on carbs when I don't have a Clue as to what I am doing.


THanks again