can stock coils be tested 1978 kz1000

iv got a 1978 kz1000
im getting no spark from coils can you test
this kind of coil if so how do i do it.
help please thanks ..

Since you have two coils, the best way is to swap them (assuming only one is bad).

I THINK BOTH ARE BAD IS THERE ANY WAY TO CHECK THEM
WITH A MULTIMETER.

make sure you have 12 volts to the positive side of the coil then you can ground the negative side and watch for spark. you can also unplug the wires from the coil and check for continuity between either terminal and ground there should be no connection

Yes you can test them with a multimeter. Your service manual tells you how, if you have one. I don't know the ohm readings for the 1000 coils, so you need to search for that in the archives. Go to the "Forum" tab up top, then click the "Archive". Look in the upper left corner of this archive page for the little search button, click it and enter your search words. By the way, you do not need to log in at the search page.

Post edited by: OKC_Kent, at: 2006/05/03 09:49

No spark from either coil usually means a problem other than the coils which are unlikely to both fail at the same time.

TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM and describe which type of ignition system is on this bike. Without knowing the ignition system, it sure is difficult to give any meaningful advice.

Step one is to measure power to the coils with the key on. Use a multimeter set in VDC scale. If you have no voltage, the coils won't fire. STEP ONE in troubleshooting....

Don't know where to go from there as I don't know what ignition system we are talking about.

I had two coils go bad within a few minutes of each other. It happens if both develop tiny cracks over time. Then riding in the rain for the first time in a long time can make them both go bad.

You can verify them to be bad with a meter, but a meter won't verify that they are good. You need to see a consistent 3/4 inch spark to be sure they are good, because there are many ways a coil can be marginally bad.

I took the coils off the bike
and checked them with a meter
the meter reads infinity when I put the leads across the
spark plug wires. i even took the elbows off
and checked them. still infinity .
my bike has a mertek 440k ign. system installed
and i get good power and signal to both coils also
have good grounds.
when I say across the spark plug wire.
Im saying that I put the - lead in one wire
and the + lead in the outher and get infinity.
does the mean the coils have shorted out?

Sounds like a bad coil or coils, but you'll want to check out the Martek since I know they can fail (from experience).

The green wire and the black wire should go from 12 volts to zero volts (when everything is hooked up normal and the bike is "on") as you slowly turn over the crankshaft. Everytime it goes to zero volts, that coil should get spark.

If the coils are over 25 years old, you'll want new ones anyway, so don't be afraid to get new 3-ohm coils. It won't be a waste of money.

YUP I HAVE TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE
ABOUT THAT MERTEK IGN. SYSTEM
THAY SAY IT WILL NOT BE WORKING FOR LOG.
IM GOING BACK WITH POINTS WHEN I FIND SOME
NEW COILS. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND SOME NEW
OEM COILS DOES ANY ONE KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND SOME

CLAYBURTON wrote:

I took the coils off the bike
and checked them with a meter
the meter reads infinity when I put the leads across the
spark plug wires. i even took the elbows off
and checked them. still infinity .
my bike has a mertek 440k ign. system installed
and i get good power and signal to both coils also
have good grounds.
when I say across the spark plug wire.
Im saying that I put the - lead in one wire
and the + lead in the outher and get infinity.
does the mean the coils have shorted out?

Make sure your meter is set to a range that will give you a reading on a good coil. Start on the 100k range. Coil should read about 5K. If you have meter on 1K range is will read 'infinite' on a good coil. Also, you wire could be open. If you post a photo of your coils we may be able to tell if the wires are replaceable. Sometimes they are, even if they are cemented in.

-Duck

Post edited by: Duck, at: 2006/05/04 10:50