Help..78 kz650 wont start

I just bought a 78 kz650. Previous owner said he had put new plugs and battery. When i went to check it out, the guy had the battery charging and then started it up. It ran great when I test drove it. Then i brought it home on a truck and tried to start it but it would only turn over. both electronic ignition and kickstarter wouldn't start it. I charged the battery for 6 hrs.still no start. Fluid levels in batteryare fine. Please help me out if u can, i'm a newbie when it comes to motorcycles.

When you try to start it remember - key on; tranny in neutral; pull in clutch if using electric starter; NO THROTTLE; CHOKE ON FULL. Ed

First set fuel petcock to Prime to fill the carbs for a few minutes.
Then:
key on; kill switch ON; tranny in neutral; pull in clutch if using electric starter; NO THROTTLE; CHOKE ON FULL.

If still not starting, then pull each plug out, checking for any gas on plug. If there's gas, that's good, if not, then you need to check out why there's no gas. Carb issues?

Reattach each plug to their spark plug caps and lay the plugs on the engine, metal to metal.
Tuorn on the bike and use the starter to turn over the engine.
Do you have spark on all 4 plugs? If yes, then great. If not, then you have electrical issues.

Start there, and report back.

ok, i dont have spark. i checked like u said and didn't see anything. i read that it could be the points and condenser, is that correct?

Silly question but is the kill switch on the handlebar control in the "on" position? I've done that before and felt so stupid afterwords.

make sure you;re fuel line is set to on, engine kill switch disabled, & DON'T hold clutch when kickstarting. when i first got my bike i kept doing that and didn;t know what was up. My electric start isnt working right now, so dunno about holding the clutch for that.

TIP: Try spraying starter fluid in in/at the carb filters back of the engine. SOMETIMES that is all my 77 kz650 needs to turn over.

hope that helps, congrats on the new bike. KZ's rule!

yeah, ive followed all of the corrrect starting procedures but still no start. it does turn over though. kickstarter wont start it either. And it is getting fuel at the petcock & float bowl. no spark, (as far as i can tell) I tested for spark as directed, didn't see any spark.

KZ650 site... They have a later model OEM manual for the KZ650 series...

KZ650 Site...


Should be close enough to what you have for discussion...

1) As depicted in the image, do you have measured Battery voltage (~+12Vdc) coming out the the right hand handle bar switch to the coils...?

2) Insure engine is truly at ground potential to battery (-) ground.

3) Verify points/condensor or EI is operating to specifications.

Not sure of the accuracy of this diagram but....
1978 KZ650-B2

so i got a set of feeler gauges and a factory manual, adjusted the point gap accordingly, bike started right up! Awesome!

Good to hear!

You should go through all the items in the periodic maintenance chart, and get some new tires if their older than 5 years old.