KZ650. Never failed me. Till Now. Need Ideas: Coil, Carb most likely

In the 2 years i had this bike, its run like a champ. 1977 Blue KZ650B

Previous owner put dynatek coil and timing thingy in it. 
I broke my cardinal rule this summer and let it sit indoors for 2 months.

When I started it last week I could hear it wasnt running at full power. Sure enough, pipe 1 was cold. Mind you, the carbs were rebuilt a year ago with Keyster parts.

So, I changed the #1 spark plug and it ran better. Note, the #1 firing order spark plug was a bit wet with oil.

Today I went to start the bike, started right up and then it ran TERRIBLY. I went round the block and was backfiring so loud I brought back home. now pipes #1 AND #2  (from the clutch side going to the brake side) were warm, not hot like #3 and #4 pipes. And when I give it gas, it dies, but if I turn the idle up it doesnt, but still struggles, but runs.

While the bike was running I pulled the spark plug boot/wire off the #1 plug and it CONTINUALLY shocked the hell out of me until I finally got it back on the spark plug. Is this normal?
Does this sound like a coil issue?
 

When it's running badly spray some starter fluid in the carburetors to see if it runs better.

wrote:

While the bike was running I pulled the spark plug boot/wire off the #1 plug and it CONTINUALLY shocked the hell out of me until I finally got it back on the spark plug. Is this normal?


 

Yep.

Ive been researching since Ive posted. It seems that wires are NOT supposed to shock you when you pull them off the spark plug, and if they do, they are probably cracked and leaking. Im going to replace them.

wrote:

wrote:

While the bike was running I pulled the spark plug boot/wire off the #1 plug and it CONTINUALLY shocked the hell out of me until I finally got it back on the spark plug. Is this normal?



 

Yep.
 

Ive been researching since Ive posted. It seems that wires are NOT supposed to shock you when you pull them off the spark plug, and if they do, they are probably cracked and leaking. Im going to replace them.

A fueling issue is more likely than spark, considering the bike ran fine before you parked it for two months.

wrote:

A fueling issue is more likely than spark, considering the bike ran fine before you parked it for two months.

 

Maybe it sat too long, but the spark plug wires are shot for sure. I just established that wires should not shock you when you pull them off the spark plug. I did notice they were resting on the engine and maybe the melted when I parked it back in July.

All bets are off if you pull the plug wires when it's running.
You will get lit up.
Plug wires that are in good shape will still shock you if you pull them off when the bike is running.

wrote:

All bets are off if you pull the plug wires when it's running.
Plug wires that are in good shape will still shock you if you pull them off when the bike is running.

 

Sorry but that is incorrect. Only a damaged wire that is arcing will shock you. it took me a while to remember. Once, a while back, I was testing a bike to see if the cylinders were firing, I pulled the spark plug wire off each cylinder to see how it ran. I didnt get a shock. Today when I pulled off the wire from my bike,  I got shocked like crazy no matter how I held it. Its a clear case of arcing and the wires are bad and grounding to the chassis. Spark plug wires should NOT shock like that AT ALL. Ive researched it quite a bit today and the consensus is bad wire. Im changing the wires

You're absolutely right.
My bad.

I'll provide everyone an update when i change the wires. btw, i know whats going on. I mean in re the forum. Thats all I'll say. Its fine.

You really shoud not pull plug wires with the engine running. Secondary voltage can get high enough to break down insulation in plug wires and coils. Secondary voltage is limited by the spark plug gap. The larger the gap, the higher the voltage must build before it can jump the gap.
When I want to remove spark from a cylinder, I put a spare plug in the plug cap and ground the base.