1982 KZ550 C3 Healthy Ceank, but No Start

Hello all, new KZ550 owner here. I bought it not running for dirt cheap, as I thought it’d make a fun Winter project. That fun Winter project is quickly turning into a an aggravating Spring project. 

Firstly, I can’t even FIND the fuse box. As far as I’m aware, it’s supposed to be next to the battery, but I’ve looked everywhere, and I can’t find it. I’ll post pictures to this thread later on tonight.

Now, for what I’ve done:

I’ve done a compression test (left-to-right: 109,121,111,112) and initially I had a weak spark (tests showed CDI at fault—replaced with a used one that tested good), but after accidentally grounding my battery on the seat pan, I now have no spark.
Ignition coils and pick up coils test within the correct range, but I still have no spark…has anybody run into this problem? Any suggestions? I’m at my wits end.

First, be sure the kill switch is in the RUN position.

Second, since the battery has been shorted to the seat, I would do a load test on it to be sure it is still ok. 

Also be sure that the coils are getting full battery voltage.

Be sure that the spark plug wires are connected properly. One coil fires cylinders 1 and 4, while the other fires 2 and 3.

Insure hat the primary wires are connected to the proper coil.

Be sure that all fuses are ok. Check them for continuity with a multimeter!
Some (old) fuses can minic looking good on the first view but can fail internelly.

You need to work through the wiring diagram for your ignition system for the coils and CDI. Vehicle electronics (CDI etc) don't like a shorted battery (the newer and more complex the vehicle, the less they like it) If the wiring checks out ok you may have fried the replacement CDI

That’s good to know. I’ll do a load test of the battery, and see what I come up with. I’ll also double check continuity on the CDI itself, because finding another one isn’t hard, just finding one that still works.

Assuming the motorcycle is pretty much stock, the fuse box is probably on the LH side behind the side cover & hidden behind a black electro cover.  When the battery was shorted, the zener diode in the voltage regulator may have been fried.  As noted by TexasKZ, make sure the spark plugs & ignition coils are wired correctly:  the 1-4 coil should have the black wire from the igniter & the 2-3 coil should have the green wire and both should have a red or red-yellow.

s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/Mnls/Kz400500550...z400500550wires.html   >> I didn't see a C3 Ltd wiring diagram.

www.partzilla.com/catalog/kawasaki/motor...tro-bracket-82-83-c3 >> the fuse box might be mounted to 11034A.

1981 KZ550 Ltd   >> electro bracket & cover