Okay, so, I’ve been wrenching on this 04 Kawasaki ZX6R. Let me tell you, it’s been a journey!
First off, I got this bike as a project. Didn’t run, looked rough, but I saw potential. The price was right, so I hauled it home and got to work.
The very first thing I did was a once-over. Checked the fluids, which were nasty. Oil looked like mud, coolant was who-knows-what. So I drained all that gunk out.
Next up, the fuel system. I pulled the tank, drained the old gas, which smelled like varnish, and cleaned it out real good. The fuel pump was clogged, so I disassembled it and gave the filter a good cleaning. I also pulled the injectors and cleaned them up, too.
Then came the electrical system. The battery was toast, so I replaced it. Checked all the connections, found a couple of loose wires, and tightened everything up. Tested lights, indicators – all that jazz.
- Drained the old fluids (oil, coolant).
- Cleaned the fuel tank and fuel pump.
- Cleaned the fuel injectors.
- Replaced the battery.
- Inspected and repaired the wiring.
With the basics sorted, I moved on to the engine. Pulled the spark plugs, they were fouled up. Cleaned them, checked the gap, and put them back in. Compression test came back okay, so that was a relief.
I also adjusted the valves, they were a little out of spec. Checked the timing, which was spot on. Put everything back together, filled it up with fresh fluids, and crossed my fingers.
Moment of truth. I hit the starter, and she fired up! Ran a little rough at first, but after a few minutes, she smoothed out. Took her for a short ride around the block, and man, she pulled strong!
Still have a few things to do, like replacing the tires and sorting out the fairings, but she’s running, and that’s the main thing. It’s been a lot of work, but totally worth it. Seeing this old ZX6R come back to life, that’s a pretty awesome feeling.
What I have done so far:
Basically just basic maintenance, nothing too crazy. Just getting her to run reliably. But seeing her run again is awesome! There are still tons of work to do, but I will keep working on her.
It’s not just about fixing a bike, it’s about the process, the learning, the satisfaction of bringing something back from the dead. That’s what makes it all worthwhile.
