Martek drain on battery?

I have a problem of weak spark, engine will not idle under 1100 rpm. The carbs and everything else have already been taken care of which now leads me to my scenario. When the engine is switched on I am only getting 10.12v at the coils with 12.35v at the battery. In my search of tracing out the problem, I checked all the connections even cleaned up the connectors on the on/off switch. Everything is consistently getting only 10.12v....

When I undo the splice connector and remove the red wire to the martek440k and retest the coils instantly have the same voltage as the battery?!

Do these marteks go bad and become drains on the battery?

Would a dyna s ignition solve my problem?

If the voltage drops when you start using current that says your battery may be an issue. The potential will most likely read correct with no load on it weather it's good or bad. Although if its going bad the volts will drop once a load is applied. Even just running a headlight. Could be a lot of other things but battery's are easy to have tested and usually for free.

The battery is good and I'm sorry for the confusion it is with the switch just on and not the engine running.

If at all possible could someone with a dyna s ignition tell me what their voltage is at the coils and the battery with the key switched on, but not running. That would help me narrow it down to the martek considering I've read some posts on them failing but just not in this particular fashion.

Thanks,
Walt

I recommend you first check out your charging system; you should find instructions in the Kawasaki Service Manual. If you are only seeing 12.35v at the battery with the engine running something in the charging system is not working properly. I suppose it's possible the battery itself is at fault, but you should be seeing considerable more voltage at the battery with the engine running. Ed

650ed,

I do get considerably higher voltage when the bike is running. It has a brand new stator, battery, rectifier/regulator combo. I have purchased a manual and reviewed what to do for a weak spark. I am trying to avoid doing the "Wire Mod" and rectify the problem. Before the bike is even started but with the key switched on it is showing those low volts at the coils and it is over a 2 volt loss between the coil and the battery. With the cdi unplugged from the splice connector that problem goes away.

Thanks,
Walt

When I got my new Dyna coils and ign 3 years ago I was getting 12.17 and 12.19 from my two with the key on and not running....W/ fully charged new battery.

I can't remember if I had the pick ups hooked or not though and its tore apart right now........ I see your problem goes away with them un hooked so hopefully more will chime in.

Don't all electronic ignitions draw power when the key is turned?

"I have a problem of weak spark, engine will not idle under 1100 rpm"... have you fixed this?

Line,

I may be an ass but I'm assuming it isn't idling properly because of the weak spark. As previously stated I've taken care of a lot on this bike I feel this is just the last spot of my problem. Carbs professionally done, new charging system, and maybe you're right that they all do draw some power, I just am unsure that it should be drawing over 2 volts. Apparently these martek cdi's were real popular before dyna came along. Which leads be to believe that it may just be junk.

Thanks,
Walt

Lmdgr34 wrote: 650ed,

I do get considerably higher voltage when the bike is running. It has a brand new stator, battery, rectifier/regulator combo. I have purchased a manual and reviewed what to do for a weak spark. I am trying to avoid doing the "Wire Mod" and rectify the problem. Before the bike is even started but with the key switched on it is showing those low volts at the coils and it is over a 2 volt loss between the coil and the battery. With the cdi unplugged from the splice connector that problem goes away.

Thanks,
Walt

The Igniter is not needed with Dyna ignition & coils & should be un plugged & removed
Pete

From what I've read, they do take a lot of power. The Dyna S does too but not as much. I have a relay for my coils (4ohm) and if my battery isn't fully charged, it will show low voltage like now. It's been a long hot summer and I need to check the water. This just started happening after this trip. Might be low water in the cells. I'll check what the Dyna S pulls later if someone doesn't beat me to it.
Steve

OK for sanity sake I plugged it all back together. Started it back up and had it idling around 1k. The volts on the battery read 12.18 and the volts on the coils were 11.45 and 11.43. Normal?

HELP! LOL

No. I still believe you need to take a look in your manual and see what the voltage at the battery should be with the bike idling. 12.18 v is abnormally low for a bike with the engine running even at idle speed. Trust me on this - the manual will provide the information you need. Ed