Hi guys, I've been posting everywhere trying to get some help here.

I bought a 2000 Ninja ZX-6R from my dad. It has 950 miles on it.. it basically was barely ridden (obviously,) and no precautions were taken when storing it over the winters in WI where it came from.

When I received the bike, it would not idle without the choke. I drained the tank (which amazingly was spotless on the inside), and refilled it with Shell 91, replaced the fuel filter, plugs, etc, and removed the carbs. I sprayed them out with carb cleaner, etc.

When I reassembled it, it cranked right up with the choke full on, then started sputtering like it was missing. I pulled the plugs again, they look ok. I found out at some point that 2 of the headers weren't getting hot. So again I replaced the plugs, cleaned the coil on plug, etc. I fired it back up, and it still was running like it was missing, however all the headers are getting equally hot now. It almost sounds like the firing order is screwed up, but its not. I'm assuming this is still a carb issue. If I took the choke off, it would sputter and knock a few times, then die. All the COP's are good, plugs are gapped properly, I have spark on all cylinders.

I'm thinking I need to really get in there and clean up these carbs. I removed them tonight, and planned on disassembling them. However, it looks like the main jet has a brass plug covering it. How do you remove these plugs? Then, do you just pull the jet back out and clean it with carb cleaner and compressed air? What other jets (if any) do I need to remove and clean? Are there other parts in there that need to be diassembled and cleaned too? I have a factory service manual and all the microfiche.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

Remove ALL the jets and needles, clean them out thoroughly with carb cleaner and compressed air like you said. The brass plugs should just unscrew. They either have a slotted head for a screwdriver, or a hex head for a socket. Very easy to do. You do want to sync up the carbs after you reinstall them. If you don't have a synchronizer, MotionPro makes very good ones. I hear CarbTune is also very good. Try to buy the mercury type instead of the needle gauges.

I had the same problem as you did, and cleaning the carbs out from the inside is the only way fix it.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Welcome to the forums.

 

Ok, now I removed that panel with the 3 screws, and found what I'm guessing are the jets underneath. Do I need to mark down what positions they are in? I read something about on one of them you screw it the rest of the way in first, so you have a reference as to where it needs to sit.

 

Sounds a little different than my setup, but you shouldn't have to mark the location of the jets. (I didn't, no problems here.) Oh... hold on, are you talking about the screws on top of the carb body? If so, count the exact amount of turns until you bottom them out. That is your reference. Don't go too tight! you don't want to strip the threads on them.

Can you post any pics of what part you're on?

 

+1 Those are just needle valves that dent easily.