Not so much new as a return after a looong time...

Hey all,

Like it says, this is sort of a return to KZrider among other things, (Canada, living like a normal person)...

I'm happy to be back and crawling through the forums again,its been years, and there are some major format changes. I'm sure there are all kinds of new people out there, and I'm also sure I'll be picking your brains again soon.

I just *happened* to notice a listing for a '78 KZ650 locally with 7000 original kms on it, and hope to drop in and see it soon. The 440LTD I was riding for a while last time I was here, is sadly, in the same garage I left it in years ago before embarking on a several year adventure to chase work and adventure in a few continents.

That said, summer is just around the corner, and I'm now living somewhere with a much longer riding season. (Anyone else out there in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada?) And hoping to make the best of it.

Anyhow, hello again to all! Renewed thanks to all those who have helped in the past, and I'm looking forward to getting back in the saddle.

Jon

i too was one of the unwashed masses that traveled the world in search of employment or in my case oil. been around a bit myself, welcome.

Welcome home Jon!

Welcome back Jon...done the traveling thing too...left the continent for a while, sold my bike...had a blast and while I may not be done moving, they won't be as dramatic as before (and I keep the scooters).

Welcome back, Jon.

Good luck on the 650. They're fun bikes.

Well.

I finally did get out to have a look, and it does look pretty good. 7600km on the clock, in overall good shape, with little likely work to get it on the road and running.
Still sitting on original rubber! Needs new front brake seals and the rubber, nothing else i could see with a decent inspection.

However, and this is where I'm hoping for any expert response; it wasn't running on all cylinders, so I couldnt ride it. (Of course, the seller said it ran great when he put it away....) Now, I know this COULD be a major problem, but given the low km's and such, and the general good storage, i figure a thorough cleaning of ignition parts and a check of the coils etc with a multimeter should pin down the problem. Can anyone suggest anything more sinister lurking? I'm a decent hand at mechanical work, but no genius with electrical. Is there anything particular about the KZ 650 system I should know about? It seemed pretty standard to me...

I didn't think to bring a camera, so no pics. oops. :S

So, if the guy is going to be reasonable about price, I'll have a new KZ to work on. If not the search continues, I suppose, and try to get a few last km's out of the old 440LTD before it needs a major overhaul.

However, and this is where I'm hoping for any expert response; it wasn't running on all cylinders, so I couldnt ride it. (Of course, the seller said it ran great when he put it away....) Now, I know this COULD be a major problem, but given the low km's and such, and the general good storage, i figure a thorough cleaning of ignition parts and a check of the coils etc with a multimeter should pin down the problem. Can anyone suggest anything more sinister lurking?

I'm no expert, but...
If it were indeed running well when parked, I'd say its just the carbs... clean'em, fresh gas and new plugs.

Good luck with it!

Cleaning the carbs is almost certainly a must. If they were drained before storage running some Seafoam through can clean out whatever gum and varnish may have been left. Also, make sure there is no crud in the tank!

If it was only running on two cylinders as in 2 & 3 or 1 & 4, then look for a bad connection from the points to the coils. If the power from the switch to the coils is low there is a series of connections to check from the key switch to the kill switch. As well, the points and or condensors for one set or the other can be suspect.

The stock plug caps are often overlooked. They should have a resistance reading of approximately 5000 ohms. If they are open, that will cause spark problems as well.

Always good to see people come back!

Welcome back Jon

Welcome back Jon.
Hope the 650 turns out to be a good deal for you.
7600 kms sounds like it's just barely broken in.
There are 60+ Ontario members in the Ontario thread, and a link to the KZR Ontario Chapter in my signature.
Hopefully some meets of the KZs happening this year.
Hope to see you at some.
Rob

PS. Saw that you've found the ON thread.
I've added yor name to the list.

Thanks all for the Welcomes.

Also, for the advice on the potential problems and diagnostics. I've been trolling the threads, and have a pretty good list of things to do if (fingers still crossed) I can pick the bike up.

From what you've mentioned and what I've picked up from other threads combined with how the bike seemed to run when I saw it, I figure it's within my skills to get it up and running pretty quick. Dealing with a 1 bedroom apartment instead of my old place with a garage will be a challenge, but you make do....

Find out in a couple of days if the seller is gonna take my offer or not...

Jonny