TOPIC:

Points you said you replaced last yaear. When did you adjust them last? The maintenance on points is pretty frequently which is why so many guys goe with a Dyna. I would readjust and re-time just to rule it out.

When the engine is in its sputtering mode is the problem constant enough that you would be able to pull a spark plug wire off a plug to see if the problems gets worse or remains the same? If so, you might be able to identify which cylinder(s) are having the problem. If it turns out that a pair of cylinders which are both powered from a single coil are the ones misfiring you could swap coils to see if the problem stays on the same two cylinders or follows the coil. If the problem follows the coil I would suspect the coil is the problem. If the problem remains on the same two cylinders I would suspect wiring to the coil or the points controlling the coil. In that case, it could even be that a connection at the points is intermittently grounding out against the backplate or that one of the little insulators is in the wrong place or missing. Ed

I had a problem with coils arcing to the frame on mine years ago. Run it with the gas tank off if possible-spray a mist of water from a spray bottle on the coils and see if it starts arcing. (Carefully of course-don't want to start a fire or get zapped!)

Duly noted Kawaholic, thanx! Not disputing/debating your suggestion AT ALL, it makes perfect sense to rule them out, but just outta curiosity, what is their recommended service interval? I've only put (maybe) a thousand miles on these since they went on! Is it possible the NOS capacitors could be failing after spending a couple decades in a parts bin?

Assuming the points were adjusted properly and the capacitors were good you shouldn't need to fiddle with the points for at least 5,000 miles.

It is possible that the capacitors were bad the day they were made, so one thing you could try is installing your old capacitors if you still have them. Ed

By chance do you have pod style air filters? If so, have you washed your bike or has it been rained on? I had a similar running issue with my ZK650 B1…turns out it was a little bit of water in the carb bowls. Try opening drain screws on the bottom of your carbs to see if in fact you have a few drop of water. The water will settle on the very bottom. Good luck!!!

Thanx for the feedback, all! No pods, stock airbox & filter...Points were installed by my buddy and I, adjusted as well as we could get it (enough to run pretty well) profesionally, timed/adjusted by a mechanic I do trust...No timing light, so I am kinda skeered to touch them and mess up timing...I beleive that i do still have the original timing plate assbly...will try swapping out caps...Thanx again all ride safe!

Ed...that sounds like an excellent plan! Hard copy printed...thanx!

Also if it does miss long enough, if you a infrared thermometer you could read the temp of each pipe coming out of the head. If you don't have one, you could use a bottle of water and see which one sizzles and which ones don't or don't sizzle as much as the others. Then as suggested swap the coils around and see if the problem follows or not. Good luck

...Have you inspected the plugs? They will tell you themselves what cylinder is, or isn't firing properly. If two are firing properly and two are not, check and see if the two that aren't are coming from the same coil. If so, it could be a bad coil.

...But, it could also be a bad condenser. Ed hit this one, too. But, he called them capacitors. I call them condensers. Six of one, half dozen of the other. A bad condenser will give you the same kind of problem, until it craps out completely. Then you're running on just 2, unless the other one does the same. Then you're toast. Happened to me last year on the 650. Two cylinder were intermittently cutting in and out for two days. I thought it was some bad gas at first, until the two crapped out completely and all at once.

...Ed is also right about the point being good for 5,000 miles. That's IF you use point lube on that little felt piece that comes on the points. It doesn't hurt to put a little point lube on the backside of the rubbing block, either. Without lube, that block wears down very fast and your points begin to close, causing your motor to run like crap. And by the looks of your point pic, that distributor shaft is as dry as a bone in the desert! Take a little carb cleaner on a rag and clean that cam surface off and make sure you lube those points. Not lubing them will also make that distributor/cam shaft wear down as well after a while.

...There also a possibility that your tank accumulated some moisture in it over the winter. You might want to check the bowls and tank for water.

Thanx krazy! All good "points" (hee) you are also correct in that they are called "condensers" I have noticed that ed often very kindly uses they same terminology as the poster to whom he is responding(even when they are not entirely accurate, ha!) I will have to own THAT one! Plugs were pretty uniformly fouled...looked rich as heck to me. Good eye on the points lube, I will pick some up right away! I may have to try swapping in my old "condensers" as long as I don't have to break that dern plate loose......I fought the timing forever until I took it out to caton's bike shop and finally had it set correctly...I'm a newb, I freely admit it...but I am getting better, thanks to this board! I just poured 1/2 can of seafoam in...she seemed to like it last year...lotsa good feedback...thanx, all!

KraZyRIDER - THANKS!

Condensors is correct!! I wrote capacitors while I had something else on my mind. My fault entirely. I need to go back and proof read my postings, especially when I'm distracted.

One note, the Kawasaki Service Manual does use the term capacitor when referring to the condensors, so technically Grumpy Ole Artist isn't incorrect, but I normally call them condensors as that is the term most folks, including me, use when referring to points and condensors.

Thanks again! Ed