TOPIC:

I recently bought an old KZ1100. It wasn't running. I got it running. However, it hangs onto the rpm's . . . badly. I've already cleaned the carbs and set the valves. Today I tested the coils. They both measure well outside of specs. How do I measure the voltage going to the coil? I'm getting high readings and thinking I must be doing something wrong.

Ok. I figured it out. I have a reading of 10.9 volts. The battery reads 12.5 volts. I need to clean up the electrical connections. If anyone has any tips, please let me know. Thanks.

Deoxit D5 and some small brass brushes and some pipe cleaners.

Here's an illustration with examples of components, connectons, switches, etc. to check for loss of voltage.

Would begin at the battery positive post and proceed step by step to the ignition coil primary winding terminal.




Good Fortune!

As far as the RPM's hanging, It's most likely a vacuum leak, probably carb boots, you can check them by turning down the idle just low enough to barely keep the bike running & spray the carb boots with some carb cleaner & see if your RPM's change, up or down
It's hard to see hairline cracks in them
also after you cleaned the carbs did you install a new in line fuel filter to make sure any rust or sediment in your tank did not clog up your carbs again
Pete

Thanks for the help guys. The symptoms definitely resemble those of a vacuum leak. However, I used half of a can of carb cleaner and I used a small propane torch and I couldn't detect any leaks. The coils measured 40 ohms at the secondary. Both coils. They're supposed to be fifteen, according to the manual. Do you think this could cause the rev's to hang? I'll tell you, outwardly the bike looks great. However, everything I check is messed up in some way. I'll refrain from making comments about the previous owner.

I did install an inline fuel filter, as there's a little bit of rust in the tank.

Also, I ran the fuel screws all the way in and the bike kept running. I live in Colorado. However, the bike is running too poorly for it to be simply a jetting issue, I believe. It has stock jetting and a K and N filter in the airbox. I've ordered a new paper filter.

kgarton wrote: Ok. I figured it out. I have a reading of 10.9 volts. The battery reads 12.5 volts. I need to clean up the electrical connections. If anyone has any tips, please let me know. Thanks.

10.9V isn't that bad. There is going to be voltage drop along the lines across the switches and connections. I think that should be enough to run well.