Engine going weak when riding

wiredgeorge wrote:

What type of air filters are installed on this bike?

Stock airbox type

Alright, I am trying to adjust the timing but don't know where to start. In my haynes manual it says there is a plate that you can adjust slightly back and forward to adjust but I don't see one on my bike. What do I need to do to adjust the timing and how do I know whether it should be retarded or sped up?

EasyRider1 wrote:

Alright, I am trying to adjust the timing but don't know where to start. In my haynes manual it says there is a plate that you can adjust slightly back and forward to adjust but I don't see one on my bike. What do I need to do to adjust the timing and how do I know whether it should be retarded or sped up?

You don't see the plate because there isn't one, the pick up bolts directly to the case

Chances are that the pick up doesn't need moved anyway, check it with a timing light and you'll probably find the timing is spot on.

Have you verified that the advancer is free (not stuck)?
You can just grab the rotor with your fingers and turn it to the end of it's travel then see if it snaps back when released.

It seems to "snap" back pretty normally. Why do you think it doesn't need adjustment? I put on different pipes and then put the originals back on and all of a sudden it lags. It's even starting to lag when I first hit the gas as well (especially when it's not totally warmed up).

did you rejet when you changed the pipes

Since you are running the stock airbox system I want you to check something and it will take only about 2 minutes. Open the seat of your bike and grab the rear of the airbox and pull up on it. If it moves up you have the air filter installed incorrectly. There is a slot for the lack of a better term that the air filter has to fit into on the bottom of the airbox before the 2 screws on the top are attached. It makes a big difference in how the system functions, so much so that Kawasaki put out a TSB back when these bikes were new to this effect.

EasyRider1 wrote:

It seems to "snap" back pretty normally. Why do you think it doesn't need adjustment? I put on different pipes and then put the originals back on and all of a sudden it lags. It's even starting to lag when I first hit the gas as well (especially when it's not totally warmed up).

Because the ignition triggers off the end of the crankshaft, and it's a factory electronic ignition. I have converted two KZ750 twins to electronic ignition using the 440 parts, and I have never needed to adjust it.

There are no parts to wear that would throw the timing off, and you have done nowhere near the mods required to cause you to mess with the stock timing.

It's a single piece crankshaft, so you couldn't even twist it, it would break before it twisted.

The Gringo, you were right. It was the airbox. I thought I'd post an update in case someone else is experiencing this.

I'm glad to hear you got your problem sorted out. It really is amazing what a difference that one little thing can make. I blame it all on the EPA regs back then. Kaw was forced to make those bikes way too sensitive in order to get them to pass.