1980 KZ750E No Spark

I have just bought a brand new ... project bike. First thing is first. This bike has been sitting in a friends back yard for five years. For the years it has just been sitting it is in pretty great shape

Anyways the problem. I tested the spark plugs and there is no spark. I replaced the coils and had the same problem. The engine turns over, but lacks the spark. Right now I am replacing all the gaskets in the engine(no real reason other than when I opened it up my #1 cylinder was gummed up and I had the gasket kit)

I was just hopeing that someone could give me a comment on where to start tackling the spark problem. I am very new with bikes, but have some experience with car engines.

Are your points working or does it have electronic ignition?

I would start by checking the wire going to the coil with the key ON and Kill switch On. Make sure your MAIN fuse is good,and all other connections are makong good contact. Should get 10-12volts at the coil wire. I also take a screwdriver and touch accross the points and see if I get a spark.

The older glass tubed fuses should be checked with either a multimeter set on OHMS(with the fuse removed from the clips)or a self powered test light.

They can fail internally but look good, so check them if there is no voltage to the ignition coils.

After the main things like the checking fuses and plug caps, dont forget the kill switch on the right handlebar switchgear as these are notorious. I would suggest getting a multi meter and checking back through the wiring from the coils to the ignitor to the electronic ignition under the right hand engine cover. Never know what you will find. I've had squashed bugs under kill switch and battery acid (no overflow tube) burn out wiring connectors.
Good luck.

Thank you guys for responding. I didn't think to look at the kill switch. It is electronic ignition. I think I am going to end up replacing the fuses in general. And see how it goes

I am ordering new fuses and caps, but I never thought of looking at the kill switch in detail. Thanks a ton!

yeah I guess ye old inspection wasn't doing the trick. one of them was burned out... thanks we shall see if it does the trick

To allow the engine to run, the kill switch should be in middle position (usually in alignment with the handlebar), which is the RUN position. If the kill switch is in either other position (left or right of center position) it is then in KILL position (aka NON-RUN or OFF position), which disallows voltage to the coils.

To assure voltage is reaching the coils for purposes of testing for spark at the plugs or test running the engine, a hot wire may be connected between the positive battery terminal to a primary terminal on each coil. Typically, each coil will have a red/yellow wire feeding battery positive voltage to one of the two primary terminals on the coil.

If there's no plug spark after assuring positive voltage to the coil, would then look to signal wire from ignition (the other wire to the coil's other primary terminal). The signal wire is supposed to repeatedly ground and unground the coil primary winding.,

While grounded, the coil primary charges. When ungrounded, the coils fires through the secondary loop, which circulates high intensity voltage through the spark plug wires and the coil's secondary winding.

Even with good coils receiving full battery voltage and good signals to primary windings terminals, there may be a problem somewhere in the secondary loop disallowing plug spark. Such as faulty plug wire, bad connection between wire and cap, defective cap, defective plug, bad connection between coil and plug wire, etc.

Good Luck!

If testing with the hot wire from battery positive to ignition coils, remember to disconnect it after testing.

Leaving it permanently connected while the engine isn't running will likely damage the coils. Akin to just leaving tne ignition switch in ON position while the bike is parked.

Good Luck!

If a wiring diagram is needed, here's a link to where one may be down-loaded.

First, click here >> Then down-load the wiring diagram

Good Luck!