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KZ200 - kickstart only - won’t start

  • andrewlafkas
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16 Apr 2022 09:17 - 16 Apr 2022 09:42 #865564 by andrewlafkas
KZ200 - kickstart only - won’t start was created by andrewlafkas
Hey All

I own a 78 kz200. 17K kms.
I removed the starter over the winter turning it into more of a leaner café style ride with a kick start only (kicking myself now, pun intended).
The bike ran well before but needed a carb clean/ rebuild, new exhaust and a few minor things. Long story short, carb has been rebuilt. Fresh oil. Fresh gas. Fresh plug.
I have gas, air and a solid spark but the bike will not start. No sputter, nothing. 

Where do I start? What am I missing? 

Thank you in advance. 
Last edit: 16 Apr 2022 09:42 by Street Fighter LTD.

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16 Apr 2022 12:20 #865570 by Nessism
Replied by Nessism on topic KZ200 - kickstart only - won’t start
Has anything changed in the intake system?  Such as getting rid of the airbox?  If so, is the carb properly jetted for a pod air filter?  And of course, is the floatbowl full of gas?

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16 Apr 2022 13:03 #865575 by andrewlafkas
Replied by andrewlafkas on topic KZ200 - kickstart only - won’t start
Thanks for your response.

Everything else is bone stock.
Stock air box.
Float bowl is full, yes. 
Carb was set to factory setting.
Tried some starter fluid this morning and that didn’t work. 
 

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16 Apr 2022 14:38 #865576 by TexasKZ
Replied by TexasKZ on topic KZ200 - kickstart only - won’t start
Did you change any of the brass parts? If so, did you use genuine factory parts, or aftermarket? Did you check the fuel level in the carb? 

1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

www.kzrider.com/11-projects/620336-anoth...uild-thread?start=24

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16 Apr 2022 15:58 #865580 by Wookie58
Replied by Wookie58 on topic KZ200 - kickstart only - won’t start
I have gas, air and a solid spark but the bike will not start. No sputter, nothing

Just out of interest, if you have everything else - have you checked compression & timing ?

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  • andrewlafkas
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16 Apr 2022 19:45 #865591 by andrewlafkas
Replied by andrewlafkas on topic KZ200 - kickstart only - won’t start
Thanks for your response.
I haven’t but I will now.
I just assumed both would be fine if the bike was running prior to. The two mechanical changes were only removing the starter and rebuilding the carb (which could have been done wrong, I suppose) Everything else was purely cosmetic and maintenance. (Brakes, shocks, forks etc) 
 

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16 Apr 2022 19:47 #865592 by andrewlafkas
Replied by andrewlafkas on topic KZ200 - kickstart only - won’t start
In regards to the carb rebuilt kit I used the keyster carb kit. Your thoughts? 

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16 Apr 2022 21:16 - 16 Apr 2022 21:17 #865596 by TexasKZ
Replied by TexasKZ on topic KZ200 - kickstart only - won’t start
Keyster has a good reputation. The brass parts in these carbs do not generally need to be replaced.

I did not ask if the floatbowl was full. There is a specific fuel height that is required. If the fuel level is too high, the carb may flood. If it is way too low, the jets may not be able to pick up fuel. There is a fairly narrow sweet spot.

1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

www.kzrider.com/11-projects/620336-anoth...uild-thread?start=24
Last edit: 16 Apr 2022 21:17 by TexasKZ.

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  • ThatGPzGuy
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17 Apr 2022 05:54 #865603 by ThatGPzGuy
Replied by ThatGPzGuy on topic KZ200 - kickstart only - won’t start
If nothing happened with starter fluid, I would suspect the issue is not fuel related. Are the plugs wet? 

Jim
North GA
2016 Yamaha FJR1300ES
1982 GPz750 R1
1974 Kawasaki H1
1976 Kawasaki KZ400
1979 Yamaha XS650 cafe'
2001 KZ1000P
2001 Yamaha YZ426
1981 Honda XR200 stroked in an '89 CR125 chassis
1965 Mustang
1967 Triumph GT6
1976 Bronco
"If you didn't build it, it's not really yours"

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  • Street Fighter LTD
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17 Apr 2022 06:31 #865605 by Street Fighter LTD
Replied by Street Fighter LTD on topic KZ200 - kickstart only - won’t start
Do you have a long hill or some friends to push you to see if it will start  or sputter or backfire ?

 


Original owner 78 1000 LTD
Mr Turbo Race Kit, MTC 1075 Turbo pistons by PitStop Performance , Falicon Ultra Lite Super Crank, APE everything. Les Holt @ PDM's Billet Goodies . Frame by Chuck Kurzawa @ Logghe Chassis . Deep sump 5qt oil pan. RIP Bill Hahn

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17 Apr 2022 07:49 #865608 by JR
With some carbs its easy to put the floats in upside down when reassembling.

1980 kz750E1, Delkevic exhaust

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  • andrewlafkas
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17 Apr 2022 08:31 #865609 by andrewlafkas
Replied by andrewlafkas on topic KZ200 - kickstart only - won’t start
Copy that. I will check the float bowl level. 

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