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Bucking KZ200
- vicarius
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New bike owner.
Have a clean '78 KZ200 with 6000 miles.
Starts well then a mile down the road she starts bucking like she's loses power intermittently. If I pull off the throttle she dies and I find that the battery is almost to completely drained.
The electrical (signals, etc) seems to follow suit with the trouble.
After a while I can usually kick it started.
The battery is new and charged.
Fuel flow is great through petcock. No gunk in the filter.
Spark plug is new.
The points appear fine to my novice eye.
There is no vacuum happening with the fuel as I ran it with the cap open with the same result.
No kink in the hose.
I've followed a few forum threads re: similar problems but nothing quite resonates with my specific troubles
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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- sparkn
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1979 KZ650 SR
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- TeK9iNe
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- What did you do!?!
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As voltage drops too low, coils can no longer produce consistant spark, and it causes the bucking/cylinder missfire you describe.
MFolks should be along shortly with a huge write-up on the how to...
Best of luck. I'll keep an eye on this thread...
Motorcycle Shop Owner/Operator
79 Kawie Z1000 LTD
81 Kawie Z1000 CSR
83 Honda VT750C A
85 Kawie GPZ900 A2
86 Zukie GS1150 EG
93 Yamie XV1100 E
Lucky to have rolled many old bikes through my doors
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- vicarius
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sparkn wrote: Does it run fine when the battery is fully charged (up until it's dead again, of course)?
It does, yes.
The trouble really begins when I get up to highway speed.
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- vicarius
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TeK9iNe wrote: My first guess would be to run a diagnostic on the charging circuit (stator/alternator, rectifier, regulator, and associated wiring).
As voltage drops too low, coils can no longer produce consistant spark, and it causes the bucking/cylinder missfire you describe.
MFolks should be along shortly with a huge write-up on the how to...
Best of luck. I'll keep an eye on this thread...
Thanks for this. Will await MFolks.
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- Patton
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Perhaps the new battery isn't holding a charge.
With a fully charged battery, and no charging components whatever (i.e., running a total loss electrical system), the engine should perform normally for substantially longer than indicated in the reported history.
Would remove battery from bike;
Assure fluid levels are correct;
Charge battery fully;
Have battery load-tested.
Good Fortune!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- 650ed
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shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=manual+%28%22k...=p3286.c0.m270.l1313
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- Motor Head
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- FIX UP YOUR BIKE RIGHT AND CHEAP
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home.comcast.net/~loudgpz/KawKZ200Man.pdf
1982 KZ1000LTD K2 Vance & Hines 4-1 ACCEL COILS Added Vetter fairing & Bags. FOX Racing rear Shocks, Braced Swing-arm, Fork Brace, Progressive Fork Springs RT Gold Emulators, APE Valve Springs, 1166 Big Bore kit, RS34's, GPZ cams.
1980 KZ550LTD C1 Stock SOLD Miss it
1979 MAZDA RX7 in the works, 13B...
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- vicarius
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650ed wrote: Assuming the battery checks out ok, sounds like checking the electrical system is a good starting point. The Kawasaki factory service manuals give good instructions on how to check all the components plus a ton of other useful information. If you don't have one you may want to check out the ones listed in the link to find one that matches your bike's year and exact model. Don't waste you time and $ on a Haynes or Clymer manual. Ed
shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=manual+%28%22k...=p3286.c0.m270.l1313
Thanks for the link. I'll follow it now.
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- vicarius
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A general thanks for all of your input. I appreciate it.
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- vicarius
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I took back my new battery as the charge it held was weaker than my old one.
Went to start it, which has never normally been a problem. It ran for a second or two then died.
Tried it again. Same thing only this time it barked.
I say barked because I honestly thought it was my dog who was with me at the time.
Tried it again. It would turn but wouldn't fire.
Left it for awhile, tried again...same bark and died.
It hasn't started since.
I just pieced together a binder with a service manual (thanks to Motor Head) and parts glossary.
Was hoping to get some experience gradually...
Wasn't planning on troubleshooting in this depth off the bat.
Any thoughts? Perhaps this latest development is a audible clue leading to my original trouble?
My bike looks good sitting in the garage. I'll always have that, I guess.
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- Patton
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If not already done, would assure valve clearances being within specs, and then perform compression test.
Good Fortune!
Edit
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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