1st and 4th...no spark

  • 80KZ1000
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1st and 4th...no spark

11 May 2006 13:50
#46651
I think its the 1st and 4th..Sitting on the bike its the outter left and outter right.

Anyways, I tried switching some wires around..the inner two wires can make all the plugs start and the outter two can't. Is this just as simple as buying a new set of wires?

Also do I have to take the tank off to do this?

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  • steell
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Re: 1st and 4th...no spark

11 May 2006 14:01
#46656
It's as simple as finding out what is wrong before buying parts :)
And yes you have to take the tank off.

Plenty of threads on here with descriptions of ignition troubleshooting, all you need is a multimeter.

1 & 4 is on one coil, and 2 & 3 is on the other coil.
KD9JUR

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  • 80KZ1000
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Re: 1st and 4th...no spark

11 May 2006 14:36
#46663
are the cylinders 1 2 3 4 from left to right?

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  • 80KZ1000
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Re: 1st and 4th...no spark

11 May 2006 14:55
#46666
OK so heres another question..

is it likely that both coils have the same problem with only giving half the juice? That seems unlikely to me.

I don't have a multimeter either..which is a huge pain I know.

Where are the coils? up by the headlight cluster?

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  • RonKZ650
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Re: 1st and 4th...no spark

11 May 2006 18:59
#46702
Better get a manual and read up a little to learn. The coils are under the tank and are where your 4 spark plug wires originate. The engine, when rotated, triggers the coils to spark the plugs. One coil sparks cyls 1,4, the other 2,3. So you either have got a bad pickup on the end of the crankshaft not triggering the coil for 1-4 to fire (doubtful), a bad coil (doubtful), a bad ignition amplifier box or wire off the coil itself.
80KZ1000 wrote:
OK so heres another question..

is it likely that both coils have the same problem with only giving half the juice? That seems unlikely to me.

I don't have a multimeter either..which is a huge pain I know.

Where are the coils? up by the headlight cluster?
321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.

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  • rodneyo
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Re: 1st and 4th...no spark

12 May 2006 08:10
#46792
check your pickup coil, my 80 model 1000 did the same thing.

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  • Dave Sloan
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Re: 1st and 4th...no spark

12 May 2006 15:55
#46882
there are only 2 coils and both plugs that are connected to the coil will spark at the same time even though only one cylinder is in a condition to fire, its called wasted spark I believe. CAn you swap over hte wires from one coil to another and see if the coil works , that way you will be able to see if the coil is dud or the problem is elsewhere in the sytem
Z650B2 - Injected

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  • apeman
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Re: 1st and 4th...no spark

12 May 2006 17:46
#46897
I agree with rodneyo that it is likely your pick-up coil. See my earlier thread with the exact same problem:

kzrider.com/component/option,com_joomlab...id,4/id,33390/#33390

You will need to get a manual to help you find your way around the bike unless you have been doing this for a while. Good luck!
Petaluma and Truckee, CA -- member since Jan. 23, 2003;
PREVIOUS KZs: 1980 KZ750H with 108,000 miles; 1980 KZ750E with 28,000 miles; and KZ750H street/cafe project, all sold a few years back.

This is what I do for fun, not for work. It is art, with a little engineering thrown in.

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