My epic journey home (my bike is a piece of shit)

[JATZ]

I think you need to just get rid of it, sounds like the things about stuffed.

I'll give ya 5 bucks for it, and you pay the shipping

[FJRider]

I'm still sure its a fuel problem, more specifically with contaminants or a dodgy fuel filter. Time to pull some things apart tomorrow.

There is usually a small filter fitted above the fuel tap. Can be checked by removing said tap from the tank. Give the tank a good flush out/clean at the time, washed pea gravel does a good job of cleaning inside tanks... if you empty them out and miss one it will rattle. Remove fuel gauge float first if it has one. Old inline fuel filters do need changed regulary. Check plugs... scrape clean with flattened wire in all the recesses, and check gaps. If you know how, check jets. If you dont, find someone who does.
Does one COIL do both plugs...??? possible electrical probs too.

[Magua]

Maybe you've got a dodgy lead to the sparkplug.

[Paul in NZ]

I've arrived home well over an hour later than I should have and I'm going to thoroughly kick the shit out of my bike tomorrow when I have the energy..

Well that should sort it then.....

Perhaps you could have sorted the bike before riding it? That usually requires a lot less energy...

[xwhatsit]

Hang on, I thought this bike had known problems before you bought it. In particular, being down on compression in one cylinder. Or am I getting confused with another bike? SMC members have a habit of buying Ninjas that are/will be fucked.

It doesn't sound like fuel being dirty or anything, you say this happens regularly.

Next time you're at Steve's, he's got my compression tester in the third draw down, pull it out and use it. Is the `pinging' just pinking/detonation?

[Phurrball]

[Words^5] and starting to be very very unimpressed. [Moar snippy]

Edit: Holy shit is this post long.

Award for year's greatest euphemism?

Well done for nursing the beast home Mr S.

[Squiggles]

they towed it this morning

That'd be surprising, someone put rego on it only a couple of months back

[Slyer]

Well we'n the bike have been through a lot today.
Started her up this morning, went first time and perfectly.
This cylinder problem is clearly related to temperature/time of day.

Anyway, time to fix my fuel problems.
Removed the tank and drained all the fuel, pulled the fuel tap assembly off and had a peek inside.
Holy crap.
The reserve tap was so full of gunk and bits of rusted metal flakes its amazing any fuel went through it at all. So I after a good amount of cleaning scrubbing and flushing out I put it all back together. Remind me not to use the reserve tap...
I put a litre in the fuel tank and shake it around, clang clang clang. Hmmmm.
I managed to get the few "extras" out of the tank and then headed off to cycletreads for a new fuel filter and some fuel line.
Pic #1 is now and Pic #2 is the fuel filter from before.
The old fuel filter setup from the previous owner also had a lot of hose between the tank and the filter, about 5 times as much, it sort of looped around.

Added a litre of fuel and took off to the nearby shell station. No problems.
Fueled up a went riding for an hour. No problems.

So I'm a happy chappy again, bike is running well and I have money to buy fuel and food now.

Who wants to take a guess at what was in the fuel tank clunking around? Squiggles?

Pic #3 is the highly acclaimed kawasaki backpack, very aerodynamic.

[Gubb]

Right, well now it's time for ANGRY MUSIC
I WANT TO BREAK SHIT

[Slyer]

Now, the real decision is should I take the bike down to taranaki on wednesday or the car? Hmmmmm.

[Squiggles]

You've got AA plus? Doesnt matter either way if you do :P I reckon she'll be right

[Slyer]

I've set the odometer at last fuelup, I'll go for a largish tour before then and see how long I can get on a tank. It had been quite useless lately but will have to see with the changes.
Will take an extra fuel tank with me.

Fixit day tomorrow? Andrew is keen to have a look at it all, and forks need to be done.

[Squiggles]

Fixit day tomorrow? Andrew is keen to have a look at it all, and forks need to be done.

Can do the forks tomorrow yah

[motorbyclist]

when the weather clears i have a skid pad to complete

[xwhatsit]

Oh good. Hope it's sorted. So that low compression Ninja was a different bike?