Brought home a ZX7- trouble shootin help!

[breakdirt916]

ohhhh, nvm...I thought pulling the plugs allowed it to spin freely

yep, still high...50-60 hour weeks, 2 hour round trip commutes, and working 6-17 days in a row...good f'n money picking up extra shifts in healthcare, but yes, I'm usually a little brain dead while forum browsing

[Garrett]

Pulled the exhaust;



Oh dear! What now?

[yzedf]

Pull the head off and see how bad the piston is. Or buy a used engine. Or just sell it to the next unsuspecting bastard.

[Garrett]

Lol I paid so little that I don't feel bad.
Can the head be pulled with the engine in the bike?

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

Lol I paid so little that I don't feel bad.
Can the head be pulled with the engine in the bike?

Yep. Pull the head. Check it out.

"It was running when I parked it"
Lol.

[Garrett]

I'm going to pick up the title right now. He's gonna get an ear full.

[yzedf]

What year?

[Garrett]

'96

[yzedf]

Carbs off, exhaust off, cams out and unbolt head. Pull head off and make sure cam chain doesn't fall down in.

[Garrett]

How does one deal with the cam chain?

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

Drain coolant from head first.

[yzedf]

Run a small wire through it and pull it up. Once head is off tie wire to something up high like frame or triple clamps.

Don't forget to drain coolant first.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

How does one deal with the cam chain?

Zip tie it up to a hose or wiring loom or something.

[breakdirt916]

Oh dear! What now?

we need to buy you a new camera!!

[jbmass]

Run a small wire through it and pull it up. Once head is off tie wire to something up high like frame or triple clamps.

Don't forget to drain coolant first.

....and the oil!

[stoinkythepig]

Pull the right side crankcase cover, there may be a cast-in guide in the engine block that prevents the cam chain from jumping teeth on the crankshaft, even if the chain is completely loose. I know my 9R has this feature. Makes it nice not to have to worry about the cam chain falling in and moving to a different spot on the crank and I can reset cam timing with Sharpie marks on the cam sprockets and chain.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

Pull the right side crankcase cover, there may be a cast-in guide in the engine block that prevents the cam chain from jumping teeth on the crankshaft, even if the chain is completely loose. I know my 9R has this feature. Makes it nice not to have to worry about the cam chain falling in and moving to a different spot on the crank and I can reset cam timing with Sharpie marks on the cam sprockets and chain.

He might have that casting. It's helps in some ways but can cause problems in others.

[Garrett]

Now the $64,000 question; do I replace just that valve? Assuming the piston is still good.
Also how the fawk does that happen?

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

The picture sucks. I'm guessing its a bent up valve.
There are a number of reasons, most of them involve a lot more than replacing the valve.

You MUST pull the head no matter what, and inspect the piston. When you take the valve cover off, you might see what things went south.

You could be into a camshaft, a head, piston, rod, rebore, who knows.

You can probably find a motor for $500 and throw it in. I know the 900 motor fits also.

[Garrett]

The valve isn't bent- the head broke off and went into the combustion chamber. The only part still visible with the exhaust off is the stem

I pulled the valve cover and everything looked fine.

This guy has had this engine for over a year now, I could low ball him and just swap it out.

http://providence.craigslist.org/mcy/3784276746.html