Topic: 87 ninja 600 questions

[BomberMann650]

Anyone here ever work on an 87 kawi ninja zx600r?
There is a neglected puppy needs a shift shaft job done.  (Almost) free to good home.
Looking on the parts diagrams, i can't tell if the shaft goes entirely through the lower case.  Some photos of the part on ebay look awful short.  Others look appropriately long.  I would be fine with pulling clutch cover and extracting a broken shifter shaft.  But if its inside the lower case I ain't doin it.

[MoMo]

I just rebuilt the starter clutch on a 91 Ninja 600. If an 87  is the same the shaft does not go through but you could be able to service it by removing the oil  pan and maybe the clutch cover.  Nut on the clutch took a hefty impact gun to remove.

What is wrong with the shaft?...Larry

[BomberMann650]

Thats kinda what I was afraid of.  I hope going the oil pan route would work.

Owner said the "shift sleeve" broke and "needs welded".  I asked him if the break was in or outside the case.  He said "inside" 

Course, one has to wonder just how that part gets broken in the first place!

[MoMo]

Hard to imagine a shift shaft breaking-as I've never seen that happen in the 40+ years I've been involved with bikes.  Good luck BM...Larry

[BomberMann650]

Yeah I'm hoping this is a case of mistaken part identity by the owner.

[BomberMann650]

Looked at the bike today.  Frame looks good.  Forks are fine, brakes are ok.
Its 80% disassembled, little care was taken when removing the wiring harness from certain sensors, but its just wiring. 
Interesting anomaly was the damage to the #1 carby2airbox boot.  Almost like it had caught fire.  Carb itself seems unhindered. 
Didn't get to see the motor as it was locked in the shop and the key was on someone else's chain.  BUT there was a spare shift shaft in the parts pile.  Yes, it was short.  The mechanism is spring loaded so i should be able to open the oil pan and get the swap done quickly *fingers cross i didnt just jinx myself.
The metzeler tires are rock hard as anticipated haha.

[MoMo]

It'll be a fun bike to ride if you get it up and going.  I just sold my 89 zx600 Ninja today and may or may not sell the 91 once I get the body work done.  I really enjoy riding a 600 Ninja-fast enough, smooth, quick handling, stable, light weight. Kawi built a good model !!

[BomberMann650]

It'll be a fun bike to ride if you get it up and going.  I just sold my 89 zx600 Ninja today and may or may not sell the 91 once I get the body work done.  I really enjoy riding a 600 Ninja-fast enough, smooth, quick handling, stable, light weight. Kawi built a good model !!

I grew quite fond of the design on my friends 250 ninja.  One ride on a modern zx6r was wild.  Not that I expect that level of performance from the older gen ninja.  I'll be nice to have a second bike.  Putting hard miles on my cb550 has revealed some age related woes.

[BomberMann650]

Boy am I happy about ebay scrappers - got a good look at the cylinder head - Tappets!!!! Yay

[MoMo]

Hate to say this on this forum but you'll find the Ninja more enjoyable to ride than your 550.  You won't get the attention that a cool old bike gets but there should be less problems...

[BomberMann650]

The 550 is a loveably simple platform to build on.  I'll keep mine as long as it rolls.  Can't customize a ninja nearly as much!

[BomberMann650]

Went back to the sellers place today and decided not to buy the project for a few reasons.

It wasn't the shift shaft that broke, it was the hole in the lower case that blew out, previous owner somehow grenaded the transmission.  taking that piece of the case with it.
Then upon further inpection of the parts pile, i realized two frame rails were missing, -along with the body plastics for the rear cowl, which was doggedly chopped anyway.
There were other support pieces missing, some were literally bent and snapped off during a brutally careless disassembly.

So i tell the guy I hate to be the bearer of bad news, unwilling to make a deal with that many broken and missing parts.

After I leave, the seller sends me a nasty message.  Real stand up guy.

[MoMo]

He's a real stand up guy with a lot of class.  You sure made the right decision....Larry