TOPIC:

I recently acquired a cafe style '77 KZ650. It ran like a champ for about a week, and then it died on me while cruisin around town. It just kind of sputtered and wouldn't start up, i got it towed home, andthe next day, it fired right up again. I progressively saw a decrease in time the bike would stay on for before dying. about a week ago, i decided to hop on it and ride out to the gas station, it sputtered out and now won't start. I was planning on taking it in to ashop, but i need to get it running as i don't have a truck to take it in.

Can anyone help me with this problem of mine.

Could be a failing battery. Would charge overnight, then do specific gravity check and also have it load tested.

Good Luck!

Fuel filter,air filter, sparkplug gap correct and check valve clearances along with fuel petcock operation,(the fuel valve on the gas tank).

if all check O.K. then possible dirty/corroded electrical connections. Do not forget the handle bar switches . All bullet style and square/rectangular connections must be clean and tight including both battery terminals and the chassis ground(the negative or black terminal).

If the terminals are dirty/corroded some 400-600 grit sandpaper and some electrical contact spray will make the bike's operation smoother.

Remove the petcock and check for junk piled up around the draw tube screen(s), if there's a bunch of gunk there clean out the tank.

I ran through the fuel line and it is in good shape, the filter, petcock and air filters are solid. I cleaned out the carbs last week and they looked good, clean needles and bowls, pretty new gaskets.

My buddy who has done some work on engines says it seems like an electrical problem, he says it seems like my ignition is iffy. The previous owner of the bike had a dyna-s ignition system put in, with the accel wires and coils. I opened the plate cover of the points and the points looked a little rusty...could this be my problem.

Also, my buddy says he doesn't think the problem is from the valve clearances because of how quickly the condition of the bike degenerated. In about a month, it went from starting and running smooth, to sputtering out quicker and quicker every time.

Finally, my buddy spoke of the stator and generator, saying that they were out of the question because the bike's battery has held charge ever since i got it, and it is still strong.

Did the previous owner take out the Dyna ignition and put the points back in...I'm confused?

Ride it until it dies, then pull over and remove a spark plug. Keep the plug attached to the wire, lay it on the head, and crank the engine. Kick it over if you can't get the electric start to work. Can you see a spark at all or hear the spark snap?

OKC_Kent wrote:

Did the previous owner take out the Dyna ignition and put the points back in...I'm confused?

Same here.

the bike still has the dyna-s ignition system, it looks like itstill has points though. i hear they are those breakerless points, the ones you set only onece.

Here's an image..

As for starting it up and testing for spark, now it won't even fire up..

Ted, I'm not sure I saw you answer/implement Mfolks' and Patton's questions/suggestions?

1) Have you checked the battery:
- What is the voltage across the Battery (+) and (-) terminals?
- What is the voltage across the Coils input lug and Battery (-)?
- What were the readings of each Battery Cell Hydrometer test? Cell #1 ,#2 ,#3 ,#4 ,#5 ,#6 .

2) Have you checked/cleaned all contacts? What did you observe?

3) Have you checked for spark at the plugs?. What did you observe?

Best of success.

PS
Can you add your year, model and location to your signature to get the best responses and its considered very friendly too.

I'll do as you say and write back bill, i don't quite understand the second item under number one. neither do i understand number 2 (do you mean like contact point on the battery terminal?)

anyways...the dyna-s ignition on the timing plate had some rusty parts so i figured i would upload the picture and ask if it could be the problem..

For the record, i have a
cafe style '77 KZ650 C1 and
i am in caldwell, Idaho..

Looks like you are pointing to the mounting screws on the pickups. A little rust should not be a problem there. Have you pulled the plugs and checked the electrode for fouling? The deteriorating performance is what leads me to it. Most electronics goes bang and gone and not a slow death. Measure your voltage across the battery terminals and check them for corrosion too.