Need advice 81 KZ550 LTD

a

I started the bike to check the timing and it registered no where near the F mark it was beyond the T mark(counterclockwise). So shut off the bike, scratched my head, drank several beers, cursed at the bike then I pulled the plugs all were black and sooty. But the bike doesn't want to run if I back out the mixture screws.

So I inspected the the ignition again. The black wire on the coils was going to the 2/3 coil and the green was going to the 1/4 coil. This is backwards according to the wire diagram. I didn't think that the bike would run if this was the case but it did.........well somewhat. If it is true that the bike will run at 180 out then that would explain the massive power loss and inability to run over 5500 rpm.

After work I will get oil and a filter then I will test with the coil leads swapped.

BA KZ550 wrote:

I started the bike to check the timing
and it registered no where near the F mark it
was beyond the T mark(counterclockwise)...So I inspected the the ignition again. The black wire on the coils was going to the 2/3 coil and the green was going to the 1/4 coil. This is backwards according to the wire diagram. I didn't think that the bike would run if this was the case but it did.........well somewhat. If it is true that the bike will run at 180 out then that would explain the massive power loss and inability to run over 5500 rpm. After work I will get oil and a filter then I will test with the coil leads swapped.

Underneath the "points" cover plate,
there are two ignition modules,
one on the left-hand side which
triggers the coil firing #1/4 cylinders
(usually black color wire), and another module
on the right-hand side which triggers
the coil firing #2/3 cylinders
usually green color wire).

Good Luck!

If the bike runs with the wires swapped, then I suspect someone has messed with the ignition. More than likely they re-built the advancer backwards. Your symptom sounds like the ignition is not advancing. I would start looking there and not worry about the carbs til the ignition is right on.

Put in fresh oil and new filter tried to start with coil leads swapped and got some pretty awesome backfires. So I swapped them back and pulled the advancer. I looks right and the advancer moves free without any catching. Here it a photo of the advancer.
I have pulled it apart before and cleaned and lubed it but there is alot of rust pitting could this cause any issues?

What about the magnets under the transistors should they be matched both white lines on same side of plate ie north/south on left side and south/north on the right side? Right now it is set up opposite both white lines facing out top on right and bottom on left. It makes sense to me that the white lines should be on the same side creating a continueos magnetic field. Thus pulling the advancer.

Ok after some searching I found loudhvx's post about polarity so I confingured my magnets the same.
New results are loud backfires through the exhaust so on to trying to swap the coil leleads again.

kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&...35713&catid=4#135713

I just wanted to thank everyone who gave advice. After swapping the magnets to the correct locations and swapping the coil leads she runs like a champ. Took it for a ride and let me say that is the best $300 investment I've made. I've got maybe another 100 into it and it runs sooooooooo good. There's no better feeling than getting a basket case to run good. I would like to kick the PO in the nads for giving me such fits.

Again a big thanks to everyone and a special thanks to the search button and LOUDHVX as well.

Later
Jason