ZX-12R detonation

ross79 · Post by **ross79** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 5:42 pm

I have a 2000 ZX-12R (pretty stock with slip on pipe, modded air filters and clean air removed).
It always slightly pings in the low to midrange. I installed a powercommander thinking it's a fueling issue but it still hasn't solved the problem.
I heard from someone that kawasaki released some timing fix module a while back, but I can't find any info on this. Any ideas?

zx12B2 · Post by **zx12B2** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 6:15 pm

my yoshi ems has timing adjustment as well as fuel.
muzzy's make an advancer which fits on the stator pickup. you could slightly retard the timing with this.
98 ron premium burns slower than 95 so it should be less prone to detonation.
does your bike run lean or hotter than normal?

ross79 · Post by **ross79** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 8:02 pm

Bike temp is fine only gets a bit hot in heavy traffic but still within normal temperature range even on 30+ degree days.
I've tried 98 ron (BP Ultimate) but that didn't help either.

zx12B2 · Post by **zx12B2** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 8:43 pm

zx12B2 wrote:my yoshi ems has timing adjustment as well as fuel.
muzzy's make an advancer which fits on the right hand end of crank. you could slightly retard the timing with this.
98 ron premium burns slower than 95 so it should be less prone to detonation.
does your bike run lean or hotter than normal?

Gosling1 · Post by **Gosling1** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 8:57 pm

what sort of fuel do you normally use mate ??

zx12B2 · Post by **zx12B2** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 9:07 pm

i don't know how to check your stock timing, maybe your stock factory crank advance unit is faulty?

ross79 · Post by **ross79** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 9:23 pm

I only use premium, occasionally i'll put BP ultimate in it whenever fuel prices drop enough.
I wish the sensors were easier to find. I have no problems with cars, but on bikes everything is a lot harder to find.

Gosling1 · Post by **Gosling1** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 9:35 pm

OK, if you are using at least 95 RON, that should remove the fuel as a potential problem source.

Have you had the local dealer take a look, and do a test-ride to suss out the pinging themselves ? This might be worth doing, its always good to get a second opinion.

I understand that the later-model 12's had a modified timing curve in the lower gears, to make accidental wheelstands less likely....but not sure if this would fix your problem, or even if the modified ignition was a 'module' as such, that you could retrofit....

take a look at http://www.zx-12r.org

and just do a search on the 12 threads for pinging, you will find *shitloads* of opinions/tests/ideas etc to fix this up.

Strika · Post by **Strika** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 8:39 am

The timing is out for sure. This is 100% a timing issue not a fuel issue. This problem is common in efi cars too. Could be a couple of reasons some of which have been mentioned already. but here are my thoughts.

1. Factory timing retard to ensure the front doesn't loft so easy. (if they actually did this, some man didn't)

2. Faulty ignition module

3. Cam wheels slightly out from the factory (it happens more than you think, when preping race bike engines, more often than not they are out by as much as a degree

)

4. Crank sensor slightly misaligned or faulty.

Best get the boys out with a degree wheel and chack the timing.

Jonno · Post by **Jonno** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:30 am

I have read of a faulty inition module to be a common problem in the early models .

ross79 · Post by **ross79** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 12:34 pm

Jonno wrote:I have read of a faulty inition module to be a common problem in the early models .

I knew I wasn't imagining things. I have a few weeks holidays coming up soon, so I'll be pulling the fairings off and measuring voltages on pretty much anything I can find related to ignition/timing to see if they're within spec to what's mentioned in the workshop manual. Then I'll have to talk to someone that's worked on 12s to see how much it costs to get the cams checked out. Thanx for all the responses. If anyone knows anymore information about the ignition module issue let me know.
So far I haven't found anything useful on http://www.zx-12r.org.