Bad Coil?

Hello KZ'rs,
So I've had my 78 KZ1000 back running again for two years and recently put the air box back in and got it jetted correctly and was having lot's of fun. The bike was running great. Well today after riding a while the bike lost some power and started not running well. So tonight I started troubleshooting and found that # 2 & 3 plugs were not getting spark. I put the meter on the coils and found 11.3 volts at each coil with the key turned on. So power is getting to the coils. With power getting to the coils I am thinking that #2 & 3 coil is bad. But with the coils being new (3 ohm Green coils), I am having a hard time believing it went bad. My electronic ignition is new also. Maybe the electronic ignition went bad? What other checks should I do prior to buying a new coil? All the wires look good, connections look good, etc. I have the wired George coil mod on the bike. What more can I check to eliminate either the coil or ignition which I think are the last two components left that cuould be bad.
Your help and inputs is appreciated.
Jim

Switch the leads and H/T wires and see if the problem follows them.
Steve

Steve,
I'l try to do that test this week when I can find some time to get out to the garage. I'm assuming this test will let me know if the coil is bad or not.
Jim

Well that test did not work out well. I swapped the wires , turned the ignition on and cranked it for a couple of turns and then started smelling some burning. I looked down and saw smoke from the ignition. See pic,..it fried. So I know I will minimally need a new ignition. I'll order one from Z1 install it and see if that was the original problem or not. if not then I think it has to be the coil. I'll call this the smoke test method of troubleshooting.

Jim :evil:

One more example of why I'll stick with my points. Ed

Well that really sucks........ I've had exc luck but had one side burn out after my first one of 21 years. Second one is running strong after 3 years now. Hopefully someone with more know how on wiring than I will go through this with you so you don't damage the new one and you still need to check out the coils too on top of that...... good luck will be following this as wiring is my weakest area.

I ran my old Dyna III system for maybe at least 25-30 years with out a single niggle or adjustment! LOL... then just out of the blue, on one early evening ride this Spring, my bike started acting up and fouling two cylinder's plugs.
Tried a few things with new plugs, carb cleaning, changing up fuel mixtures, timing, swapping coils and wires....all that rot.....and nothing really worked very well until I yanked the the plate pickups off case/crank shaft and installed my 39 year old points plate with original Kaw points on it.... then right out from in my front of my house..... it ran like scared deer shot in the ass with a pellet gun.
Even though I have an all new ignition system with Dyna coils and new Dyna S plate... I'm still running the old points plate and with one snubbing capacitor at half the uF it is supposed to be....
I'm going to do like Steve, .... when ready to swap the points out with the new Dyna S plate.... I'll always carry the points plate under my seat!!

I've only been running these coils for two years so I'm not sure why one went bad. The ignition,... I must have fried while "troubleshooting".

I did some checks on the coils and found the following.
Secondary (to spark plugs),....about 20k ohms on both
Primary (from ignition) I am getting 2.6 ohms on one and on the other one (not providing spark to #2 & #3 plugs, I'm getting .3 ohms. So that leads me to believe the coil was originally bad after all.

I think this makes sense but let me know if something does not sound right? I'm going to have to order both the ignition and coils

Jim

You bought the coils? What rating were they?
Bruce, don't forget the cam. :whistle:
Steve

The ones currently on the bike are the 3 ohm green dyna coils. I plan to order them tomorrow. Just wanted to give it some time to hear if my troubleshooting was bad from the forum experts.
Jim

Not sure if that shows the coil to be bad or not......please wait for a few in the know before you order.