Running again after 9 years! Just! Advice for a layman please!

[bobajob]

Not much of a poster but here goes!!! I have been threatening to try and start the bike up for the last few years, it has sat idle since 2010 and finally got round to it today. Life just got in the way! Anyway -Fresh fuel and oil and away she went after about half a dozen kicks. Unreal and very happy to say the least, but does run a bit bike iffy on tick over -probably carbs gummed up somewhat! So would very much appreciate some advice on a couple of things. Firstly, I have no great desire or sufficient competence to pull the carbs off and start tearing them apart - and as it isn't running that bad so does anyone recommend any fuel additives that might help(or any other advice) , ie seafoam that might just help clear the carbs throat? Also has a bit of an oil leak that I haven't quite pinned down where yet but possibly could be the sump gasket! Z power has a genuine one at £26 but I can see pattern ones from Germany for £10 inc post which seems good value. But is it -are the pattern ones just as good? Anyway - I did consider selling at one time but so glad I didn't and sure I will have lots of questions over the next few months and all I can say is roll on spring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tried adding a photo, no idea if it worked
Mike

[Garry.L]

Before you start ripping the sump off check the left hand alternator case where the wiring enters, VERY common place for leaks which will run down onto the bottom of the engine.

The usual problem with bikes that have been laid up is blocked pilot circuits/jets. You could try an 'Italian Tune Up' to see if it settles but the carbs may require some manual intervention.

[zed1015]

Same as already mentioned above.
If it starts easy enough and runs on all four give it a bit of time on the road..
A few hands full of throttle and some miles with fresh fuel running through the carbs usually clears minor gumming.

[chrisNI]

Bike looks great. Good luck with getting it going

[bobajob]

Thanks for the replies! An Italian job it is then, although I admit I had to look up what one is!

[Julian_Boolean]

An Italian Tune Up consists of giving the bike a good thrashing, it gets fuel flowing through the jets and cleans carbon out of the engine, if I were you'd I'd do a couple of hundred miles on the bike and see if the running improves, but the worst it's going to be is gummed up pilot jtes or emulsion tubes in the carbs.

I've found Athena pattern gaskets to work and fit, I wouldn't use one for the head gasket but everywhere else they're just a piece of thick paper designed to fill the minor imperfections in the mating surfaces, I don't think it needs to be genuine Kawasaki paper.

[Paulb]

Nice looking bike
Good to see another Z will be back on the road soon