Kz750-n1 (spectre) Engine firing problem

I have a 1982 Spectre 750 that I am having some issues with, a lot of which will be taken care of here within the next couple weeks. The main issue I am having is the fact that the #3 cyl (from left to right) won't fire. I have good (i think?) rings in the cylinder because I did a compression test and got as follows (again left to right) 88 psi 84psi 80psi 88psi. My next task in the bike is to do a valve adjustment because I know they are way out of wack, is there any special tools I will need outside of wrenches and feeler gauges? Once done with that I am going to put carb kits in to stop an unknown leak. annnd after all that planning to sync the carbs and hoping that may fix the problem. Any other idea's? Had the problem when I got the bike tried new spark plugs and that didn't work. Any ideas are helpful

That compression seem kinda low to me. Keep your fingers crossed that you have tight valves and adjusting them will raise your compression. Have you had the valve cover off a Kawasaki before? The valves don't adjust like 4 valve Suzuki or a car... they have shims that need adjusting... just sayin! Paul

I have a climber manuel on the way, I thought it was a shim under bucket system, I know that there is something special I need to do and am hoping it is in the book. As for the compression do you know what it came with about stock? It is below what it should be but I am happy that it is about equal (within 8psi)

Yes, it is shim under bucket.
Your Clymers should tell you how to check/adjust the clearances.
From the factory, 110-120 would be closer to normal.
Still, that is no reason for #3 to not fire. Have you checked the spark?
One quick test you can do is swap the #2 wire with the #3 wire. See if it follows the wire or stays on #3.

koolaid_kid wrote: Still, that is no reason for #3 to not fire. Have you checked the spark?
One quick test you can do is swap the #2 wire with the #3 wire. See if it follows the wire or stays on #3.

Have checked the spark seems a tad weak (using a spark tester) next step is to swap the wires like you said, not too much work to do, just have to wait for the temps to rise (minnesota sucks lol) I am down on compression which happens.. Not too pleased but not too worried about it. New rings next fall. The one other concerning thing is when i do ride it, the oil light will come on periodically, yet I have oil in the sight glass between the lines when it is cold, on the center stand.

Have you checked the connection to insure it is clean and tight?
Those sensors do go bad occasionally.

You happen to know where that sensor is located by chance?

Ummm, IIRC, it is behind the cylinder block, under the carbs. It will have a single wire connected to it.

koolaid_kid wrote: Ummm, IIRC, it is behind the cylinder block, under the carbs. It will have a single wire connected to it.

I looked and I didn't see it By the end of next week I will have the clymer manual for it and it may be in there

Your compression could be lowered because the bike is cold. The engine should be warmed up prior to the test.

nickleo373 wrote: Your compression could be lowered because the bike is cold. The engine should be warmed up prior to the test.

Good point, we did the compression check about 20 minutes after a bike warm up and a 4 mile ride at 35mph. after that it was bring it inside, start it and pull wires to see which cylinders were doing the most work, after that we removed the plugs and did the check, the engine was warm to the point where it was a "slow burn" when you tried to touch it for more than 30 seconds.