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I keep burning up my cylinder 1/4 coil Update
- Russ Jackson
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1976 KZ 900 B1 29 smoothbores, Kerker, Lester Mags
2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 abs
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- bountyhunter
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1) Running a low resistance coil without it's external ballast resistor (if it is intended to use one).
2) System voltage running above 14V.
3) using a high voltage CD ignition with a coil not rated for the higher primary voltage that the CD will put on the coil.
1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- bountyhunter
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the coil had leaked a hard plastic substance out the end. Must have gotten pretty hot. Battery level was low also.
Check the system battery voltage with the engine at about 3000 RPM. Sounds like it could be too high with those symptoms.
1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- Old Man Rock
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I am thinking regulator is bad.
Same voltage being applied to both coils so can't see how this would only effect (damage) the 1/4 coils.
Granted, all electronics have associated tolerances of operations but since you've already gone through a coil or two, something else has to be doing the damage...
Since the coils are burning up, I'd start looking for a short to ground on the secondary side of the coils thus excessive current draws being pulled through the coil...
Juts out of curiosity, are you running EI or points/condenser?
OMR
1976 KZ900-A4
MTC 1075cc.
Camshafts: Kawi GPZ-1100 .375 lift
Head: P&P via Larry Cavanaugh
ZX636 suspension
MIKUNI, RS-34'S...
Kerker 4-1, 1.5" comp baffle.
Dyna-S E.I.
Earls 10 row Oil Cooler
Acewell 2802 Series Speedo/Tach
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Phoenix, Az
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- PLUMMEN
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Still recovering,some days are better than others.
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- trianglelaguna
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- New and improved - extra strength
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1976 KZ900
2003 ZX12R
2007 FZ1000
2004 ninja 250R for wife
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- bill_wilcox100
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I had the same problem when I first got my KZ650.
Long-story-short... the original coil was bad and the used replacement coil was on its way to the same bad.
Solution, changed to new coils... problem solved.
Never underestimate an obvious solution.
Best of success.
1977 KZ650-B1 (Stock)
Upgrades:
- Dyna S Electronic Ignition (DS2-2)
- Dyna 3 Ohm Coils (DC1-1)
- Coil Repowering Mod
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Montreal, Canada
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- Patton
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Good Luck!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- jimstan
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"leaked a hard plastic substance out the end"
thats insulation, coil is or will be Kaput (shorted)
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- Russ Jackson
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1976 KZ 900 B1 29 smoothbores, Kerker, Lester Mags
2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 abs
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- Patton
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...EMGO coil...stopped working...used one. Worked fine for 1500 miles...strange smell...coil had leaked a hard plastic substance out the end. Must have gotten pretty hot. Battery level was low also. Wondering why the 1/4 coil went bad twice and not the 2/3. I am thinking regulator is bad....
Sometimes a coil just gets old and dies. It might pass an ohm test with flying colors, then short out a few miles down the road.
Imo, low water in the battery or a failing battery won't cause it to put out more voltage and won't cause the charging system to charge at a higher rate. And poor battery won't cause the coil to over heat. If the regulator fails and allows over 15 volts to the battery, perhaps such high voltage might get beyond the battery to the coil and thereby harm the coil -- but am uncertain of this because the battery usually serves as an electrical "shock absorber" for the system which prevents this sort of thing from happening.
Am thinking the charging system may be tested even with a battery that won't hold a charge. Fill to specs, and assure clean tight terminal connections and where negative ground attaches to engine or frame.
Then start engine and measure voltage across battery terminals. Look for 12+ volts at idle and 14+ volts at 3000rpm. With these figures, charging system is likely okay. Typically less voltage with bad rectifier and more voltage with bad regulator.
If applicable, might consider new combo rec/reg from Z1E.
Good Luck!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- bountyhunter
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A battery losing water is the SYMPTOM, not the cause. The regulator is overcharging it which overheats it and boils the water out and eventually kills it. In that case, the battery is collateral damage and the regulator is the problem.It is a points system. I never leave the ignition on. I think the low water in the battery caused it to continue charging at a higher voltage causing the coil to over heat.
1979 KZ-750 Twin
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