Tica-Tica...Tica-Tica...putt putt Dead ZX6D

[ninjanewbie]

1990 ZX6D with 80K

Two weeks ago heading back from a 507/Elphant Lake Rd run (which was awesome....may have pushed the bike a little too hard) It started to make a tica-tica noise around 4k rpm....I could only do about 80km/hr, then 60, then 40, then dead....

My buddies said they seen black smoke out the exhaust, then I was dead....

So, I'm guessing valves/timming....or worse.....

Took the valve cover off this week and the timming and timming chain seem fine....

What next ?

[Brian P]

Do the timing marks coincide as shown in the small diagram?

What do the spark plugs look like? Are they secure (not unthreaded loose - do NOT overtighten them)

Since you are in there anyway ... are all of the valve clearances within specifications?

Is the exhaust header properly secured to the cylinder head? Leaks at this location can wreak all sorts of havoc.

How's the air filter?

Does the engine have good compression? If you don't have a compression gauge, you can feel it when rotating the crankshaft with a socket. It should go between tough and easy twice per revolution and each tough bit should feel about the same. This isn't a substitute for a proper compression measurement but if something is grossly out of whack, you'll feel it.

Drain the engine oil and look for evidence of metal particles in it. Take the oil filter out and cut it open, looking for the same. If you've spun a bottom end bearing, the oil will look like copper metallic paint ...

[kneedragger88]

Ticking and no run........bike with mileage........hard riding just previous..........smoke
Possible failing CCT allowing slack in the chain and in turn variable valve timing ending in contact. Check the compression accross the board.

[GSXMAER]

broken valve

[Gryphon]

Cam chain tensioner; Valve clearance.
I expect more than one of your valves is too tight!
And you may even have thrown a shim (though I believe these use shim-under-bucket - can anyone confirm?)
The valve clearance disappears as the engine wears.
With 80,000km you needed valve inspections at 20k, 40k and 60k...
Were these (and other service interval inspections) performed?
Bet you have some burned-up valve(s).

[ninjanewbie]

My buddy is bringing a compression guage in tomorrow, so I'll see what that reads....

The timming is dead on and the chain is tight, no slack, so if the comprssion is zippo...then I'll take the head off (I assume I need to do this to get at the valves ?)

Not sure about checking the clearances....this is new territory for me...I'll have to read up....

[toastman]

Could the charging system of quit and caused you to foul the plugs?

Compression test, and check the battery
Donald

1990 ZX6D with 80K

Two weeks ago heading back from a 507/Elphant Lake Rd run (which was awesome....may have pushed the bike a little too hard) It started to make a tica-tica noise around 4k rpm....I could only do about 80km/hr, then 60, then 40, then dead....

My buddies said they seen black smoke out the exhaust, then I was dead....

So, I'm guessing valves/timming....or worse.....

Took the valve cover off this week and the timming and timming chain seem fine....

What next ?

[slowbird]

While waiting for your buddy to come over with the compression tester....can you try turning the motor over by hand?

[Brian P]

... and drain the oil to see if it looks like copper metallic paint.

[PaoloC]

sounds like a blown engine to me.

[ninjanewbie]

I can crank it by hand, seems to turn ok. I gotta a 2ft johnson bar and need to pull just a bit....it's tight, then easy, tight, then easy.

Question....do I test the compression (with guage in) with the starter and putting the v-cover back on, or just by hand ?

[RonnieRev]

you have to crank the engine over with the starter to do a comp test

[slowbird]

Ninjanewb....Does it turn over with the starter?

[ninjanewbie]

So I got a compression guage, but she no fit....
Question...where can I find an adaptor to bring it down to, I think, it's 10mm ??

[ninjanewbie]

Finally got the head off....I'm thnking that there's a lot of carbon buildup...I assume some is normal, but this looks overkill ???

What in hell do I do next ??? I dont see anything missing, or obviously wrong...

[toastman]

a compression test needs to be done with the motor together, same with the leakdown test

[slowbird]

Yea....I think you got a bit carried away there.

But while the head is off....maybe take them somewhere (or to someone) to get the valves and stems looked at. Make sure the Cams and rockers are all in good shape. If all is good then clean off all the carbon and old gasket. Order some new head gaskets and put it back together.

[Brian P]

What diagnostics did you do before you took the engine apart?

Does it have compression and if so, what are the numbers?

What were the valve clearances measured at before you took the camshafts out?

Does it have oil pressure?

Was there any indication of copper flecks in the oil or in the oil filter?

What do the spark plugs look like?

Was the exhaust system properly sealed to the cylinder head?

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS diagnose as much as possible first, with minimum necessary disassembly, to avoid barking up the wrong tree!

For all we know, this could have been a carburetion issue and not an engine internal major mechanical failure.

[toastman]

+854786

What diagnostics did you do before you took the engine apart?

Does it have compression and if so, what are the numbers?

What were the valve clearances measured at before you took the camshafts out?

Does it have oil pressure?

Was there any indication of copper flecks in the oil or in the oil filter?

What do the spark plugs look like?

Was the exhaust system properly sealed to the cylinder head?

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS diagnose as much as possible first, with minimum necessary disassembly, to avoid barking up the wrong tree!

For all we know, this could have been a carburetion issue and not an engine internal major mechanical failure.

[fastar1]

Finally got the head off....I'm thnking that there's a lot of carbon buildup...I assume some is normal, but this looks overkill ???

What in hell do I do next ??? I dont see anything missing, or obviously wrong...

It looks to me like the intake valves were smacking the piston on cylinder 3.

No?