Performance worse after timing adjusted

My KZ900A4 was having intermittenet ignition probs losing 1& 4. We tested the wiring and coils with a meter and found no immediate problem. By swapping the coils the problem moved to 2&3 so we figured the coil was bad. The coils were replaced with 2 Dyna coils and 7mm wire. The ignition problem stopped but the bike still was not up to snuff-response was sluggish. The cam chain was adjusted-no change. We adjusted the timing(electronic ignition)and now it is worse. The engine chugs in the lower gears-where before it was a little sluggish. Then it would breakup-die and come back. Should we suspect the electronic ignition-pickup coils? Could the timing still be off? Or should we suspect a carburetion problem as well? The valve clearance has not been checked in quite a while. Could that be the culprit?

which mark did you use to set the timing

Have you checked the advance for non-binding?

strider wrote:

My KZ900A4...coils were replaced with 2 Dyna coils and 7mm wire. The ignition problem stopped but the bike still was not up to snuff-response was sluggish. The cam chain was adjusted-no change. We adjusted the timing(electronic ignition)and now it is worse. The engine chugs in the lower gears-where before it was a little sluggish. Then it would breakup-die and come back. Should we suspect the electronic ignition-pickup coils? Could the timing still be off? Or should we suspect a carburetion problem as well? The valve clearance has not been checked in quite a while. Could that be the culprit?

Was strobe light used to check ignition timing and also operation of advancer unit? Would also double-check connection where new wire feeding power to Dyna modules splices into OEM bike wiring (typically into wire feeding positive to both coils).

We used the F mark at idle and @ 2350-2500.

A strobe timing light was used. Should take a second look at the connection to the new coils.

strider wrote:

We used the F mark at idle and @ 2350-2500.

Not right.
RTFM.

My Clymers says to use the F mark for dynamic timing with a strobe at idle-900rpm and 2350.

Upon almost throwing up our hands at this we remembered we still had the point style ignition in the garage and threw that on just as a last try-wouldn't hurt. Lo and behold we threw it on -without checking the points' gap, timed it and away she went! She ran like she she hasn't run in months! I guess the main prob was the ignition coils on the (used)electronic ignition all along. I'm getting a new one from Z1 Enterprises and hopefully we'll be set for a while!

Points rock!

I'm glad you got her going.


"F" mark at idle and the two lines at 3900 rpm

Post edited by: mariozappa, at: 2007/07/27 15:36