Engine cuts off, cold, in gear

[jpcarneal]

Hello and Cheers to the FZR forum,

Just got a 1990 FZR600 I'm rebuilding (pics on my avatar). Had a red and white FZ700 back in "the day" so wanted a winter rebuild project to recreate this paint schematic. FZR had scraped up but repairable fairings, good engine and tranny, but ran like hell, because the chain was stretched WAY too far.

Here's the question: is this a problem, or just "cold natured."

1) Start up bike. Let idle for a while.
2) With choke still on (about 1/4-1/2 way) out, put in gear.
3) Release clutch, even at 5-6000 rpm, engine dies like spark being cut off.
4) Will not start in gear. Will start in neutral.
5) Try 2-3 times more, same thing.
6) Once warm, (choke all off), will go OK.
7) #6 only works if warm.

I know these bikes are cold natured, but seems like spark is being cut off.

Just trying to see if this is an underlying problems before I get 200 mile away then...

Cheers,

Newbie

[_Will_]

I'm going to beat the rest of the site to it and ask you to put your location in your profile, it helps them diagnose issues since there were different models throughout the world.

secondly, you answered your own question there. Use the choke, it's there for cold starts. The gear thing is to keep you from lurching forward when the starter turns the motor. Mine does the same thing when it's cold outside just going dead, only when it's cold though. In warm weather it cranks up and is ready to rock.

welcome to the site, volumes of useful info and even a few useful people

[olie05]

secondly, you answered your own question there. Use the choke, it's there for cold starts. The gear thing is to keep you from lurching forward when the starter turns the motor.

He did not answer his own question, you just didn't read the post carefully enough. His engine is still running while in gear with the clutch pulled in. as soon as the clutch is released (and i'm assuming dragging down the engine with the friction point) the engine dies.

My bike does a similar thing although not to that extreme. I blame the carburetor jetting, There are no switches at that point that would cause the ignition to cut off. Look into your jetting. It might be time for a carb rebuild.

[_Will_]

Actually I saw the question as answered although I could have worded my response better, it runs fine when warm so let it get warm. He mentions a "winter project" so I'm assuming he's in a colder climate where it takes longer to warm up. Mine does the same thing as well when it drops in down in freezing Florida once in a while and dies just like that if I don't warm it up enough or leave the choke on leaving my neighborhood and turn it off. Doesn't happen when it's warm so I'd tend to think it's weather related. I'm sure RR or George will find their way in here but that's my two cents.

[jpcarneal]

Thanks guys for the quick response.

When in gear, as I slowly (and I mean slowly) release the clutch, it seems as if the engine gets a kill signal. No sense of "engagement" is noticed, i.e. the bike doesn't pull forward at all.

I'm still going through the machine, and the other forum mentioned about checking the kickstand switch (which is not engaged ever, so doesn't fit this logic path). So I'm thinking it's either the jetting (V&H pipe, not sure about history of carbs, etc) or somehow there might be some wiring (clutch engagement and choke results in kill signal).

FYI, winter project is something to keep me from watching too much boob tube. It'll be 70 F tomorrow here in Wilmington, NC. So I'll be exercising the FZR and Concours tomorrow. (I"ll update info later).

Cheers!

[yamaha_george]

Kick stand switch is part of the safety circuit like the neutral switch. Stops you trying to start the bike in gear or riding off with the side stand down.