Slight Knock them goes away

Hi.. My name is Colby and I'm new to this forum. I just picked up an 81 kz650 for $300 and after a few hours of tinkering got it cranked. It had sat for a year without running. After the first crank it had what seemed like a bad knock/rattle coming from the bottom end. I thought this was strange since it only has 8200 original miles. After 2-3 minutes of idel it went away. Now the bike doesn't make the noise. Do you think this was simply that the oil had to recirculate and coat all the internals after sitting for a year? Is this common on the japanese 4 cylinders?

yes

Welcome aboard, Colby!
If not already done, would change oil and filter.

Post edited by: Patton, at: 2007/07/11 04:30

Any pics of the bike?
Nice find and welcome

Hi... thanks for the welcome. I will have some pics up in the next day or so. I am still cleaning off the sand and mud that had decided to take up residence on the old KZ.

I have it running now but it will only start if I spray a little starter fluid into the breather. One squirt and it spins over 2-3 times and vroom. After a few minutes of warming it will rev up and sounds fine. After it warms up I can kill it and it will start right back up without the starter fluid. However when it sits and cools off.... it won't crank without the start fluid.

I am thinking the carbs may need a clean out. I wonder if there is a fuel additive like a good injector/carb cleaner I can use to maybe avoid yanking the carbs.

I plan on replaceing the filter and oil this weekend.

SEAFOAM $6 a can

I 2nd the seafoam recommendation. Also make sure to change that oil before you start it up and run it too much, who knows what crap is in it after sitting around that long. I've seen some pretty nasty oil in some old bikes.

Good luck and welcome!

I 2nd the seafoam recommendation. Also make sure to change that oil before you start it up and run it too much, who knows what crap is in it after sitting around that long. I've seen some pretty nasty oil in some old bikes.

Good luck and welcome!