kz650 won't start

So.... I recently bought a 1978 kz650 SR. It ran so so when I drove it home, but it started pretty easily, plenty of power, and shifted through the gears nicely.

Just so you know, I'm a bit of a hack shade tree mechanic. Mostly trial and error and occasionally breaking things as I go. I immediately started wrenching on it once I got it into the garage. New cafe fairing, checked air cleaner, recovered the seat, new rear brake pads, oiled the chain, and ordered some new tires for it.

I put new spark plugs in it and it ran better. Then I got curious and took off the points cover to find a Martek 440 electronic ignition. Getting more curious, I unbolted the Martek to see what was underneath it, to find the points plate (I think that's what it's called). Having taken care of my curiousity, I put it back together only to find that now the bike won't start. :woohoo:

Any thoughts on what may be wrong??? Could I have messed up the timing or something? I checked the fuses and they're good.

Sounds like you threw your timing out of whack. Now you have to start from scratch to get it to fire, but if done right it will run better than so so. Do you have a manual?

I was hoping for a quick fix to get things back to what they were when it ran. I don't think I have spark now. I pulled a plug and put it on the block, no spark while turning it over. I have a Clymer manual but am not really sure where to start with getting the timing back to where it will run. I'll read through it again. Thanks.

Well if you do have an electronic ignition it should be relatively easy to re-time (even for us shade tree mechanics) If you have a simple test light and a wrench. These are the directions for my dyna s ignition which in all concept should be close to the same technique. Hope it helps. just highlight this site and give it a quick read under timing on page four at the bottom. www.mpsracing.com/instructions/Dynatek/D32-1_32-2.pdf

Thanks for your help guys. I managed to get it back on the road. It just took a bit of tinkering to get it running and then I tuned it by ear. Looks like the old Martek 440 will keep her going a little while longer.