I have been looking thru these forums for two weeks now, mostly to get advice/ tricks/ tweeks for my bike, but also to scoop up some parts (I bought a bike in rough shape, but for 1200 bucks its a good bike to relearn on, and hopefully use for 5k miles), and get some riding advice as well (its been nearly 4 years since I've rode). Anyways now with the questions (both of which are due to lack of exp...

1) is it normal for the engine to be making a knocking type noise (last bike was an r6 with scorp exh so all I ever heard was the exh)?

2) I haven't actually rode the bike yet (all that is left is to replace the shifter, well then drive the bike to the shop to get the oil changed and brakes redone), but I have tried to shift it from a stand still and it only goes from n to 1st and back.

Just hope this bargin doesnt need a new engine and tranny, thanks for your help guys.

 

1) Knocking is bad - Ticking is okay. Kawasaki's have loud but bulletproof valvetrains.

2) I assume you know 2nd is above Neutral and not below 1st. Assuming that, it sounds like a bad adjustment, bent shifter arm or bent shift forks. Get the service manual and tear into the tranny, you will quickly see if there is an internal problem.

 

oh yeah its a 2003 636 or zx6r with 23000 miles

 

whats the diff between knocking and ticking, I am guessing ticking is lighter, if so its ticking.

I know that its 1 n 2 3 4 5 6, but cant blame you for assuming I am completely clueless, any ways the shifter bar is bent and is on its way, so I hope thats all it is, I dont have enough time to take the tranny apart, Ideploy to the gulf in a week...

so I should be able to shift all the way up to 6th right?

 

Knocking is more of a deeper louder sound and leads to a ton of engine vibration. The ticking sounds almost like an old movie reel camera rolling through the film. Sometimes a heavier oil like 20W-50 quiets it down.

Yeah, I can easily go through the gears when the bike is off and without the clutch. That is how I adjust the angle of the shifter arm.

Try rolling the bike forward and back a little while moving the shifter arm. Also if you can, lift the rear wheel on a stand or something and try it that way. How is your chain tension?

 

I can pull it up and show almost 1 new tooth (does that make sense, sorry if it doesn't), normally the chain rests on a pad on the swingarm (which I thought was odd, but then again it has been a while since I have owned a bike.

ok just went and moved the bike around, I can pull the shifter up nearly 3 inches (with force to get it past the norm) but it doesnt shift into 2nd, also when in gear with clutch lever pulled in the bike is very hard to roll (nearly the same as if it was in gear and the clutch lever was un touched).

and more on the chain, I can pull it up and nearly expose a tooth (more like half a tooth) but it barely moves when I pull in down...

thanks again for your help.

oh and I havent bought a rear stand yet and despite all the advantages of having all female roommates (like they know it was you when the toilet seat is left up, and you have to take out the trash all the time) they are not usefull for lifting the bike while I spin the wheel.

 

hahaha, funny right there.

I see 3" of lever travel, loose chain and say get a new chain and sprockets first off. The 3" of travel has me thinking though. 3" is alot!

 

bikes aren't always easy to roll when they're shut off, assuming you moved your machine with it being off. the clutch plates stick together causing friction (when the clutch is pulled in). some bikes act differently with varying tolerances between the friction and drive plates of the clutch..

oh. edit for being stupid.. that non-rolling sound like a mechanical binding of some sort. does it do it in neutral and in gear with the clutch pulled in?

as far as the trans.. again.. if a bike isn't running. chances are you're gonna have something weird with it. you have 12 gears in there.. a bike trans is a "constant-mesh" system.. they all spin at once.. no synchros.. so if you try to shift gears while the motor is not spinning, the engagement dogs on the sides of the gears will hit each other and keep a gear change from happening.

i hope this helps a lil bro!! good luck..

 

Here are a couple of pages from the manual about checking and adjusting the chain.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...SlackCheck.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...Adjustment.jpg
I highly doubt this is causing the problem, but it should be adjusted properly.

 

Thanks, I'll give that a try when the sun gets up.

And thank you too hendrix, glad to know that the gears are designed to do that. And of course I was trying to move it shut off, but I am going out for a little ride today when all the cars are parked at work or at school (not that is going to help much as most of my neighbor hood is comprised of blue hairs (retirees).