Intermittent spark

Hello. Why replace the Kawasaki variable advance ignition with a Dynatek? Is the original one faulty? Be aware that there are several models of centrifugal advance cams depending on the motorcycle. I'm currently working on a programmable advance system with original sensors and 4-pin HEI modules. The heart of the system is an Arduino Nano with a small 0.96-inch screen and an HTML interface. HEI modules have the advantage of being inexpensive.

 
 
 

Hi
Im having triuble with intermittent spark amd i am suspecting it is either the pickups or the ic igniter. If i can replase both these parts with a dynatrk it seems a done deal. My particular bike has electronic timing advance in the igniter but the gt550 came with mechanical advancers aswell and i was thinking it would be possible place a mechanical advancer in my bike.

Start by checking the ignition coils. Although they respond well to resistance measurements, sometimes they can be faulty. I had a problem with a coil on my GPZ900. It ran well above 2500 rpm and poorly below. Original CDI systems are generally very reliable. Sensors like the one I photographed can be replaced and aren't very expensive. I think all GT550s had centrifugal advance ignition. Be aware that the sensors are different. Mixing components isn't a good idea because the time it takes for the cam to pass the sensor is longer for electronic advance systems. You might have an advance curve that's not well-suited to the GT550. The CDIs were fitted from the ZX, which have completely different characteristics.

Telma I have merged your two threads (please try to keep to one thread per issue) you are getting advice for the same issue on two different threads which will become confusing for you to keep track of and frustrating for anyone trying to help you.
I would suggest you complete the advised test steps before changing anything. Throwing parts and money at a problem is not diagnosis !!!
As your bike is a much later model (this fact missed me initially) do you have a wiring diagram for your specific model ?
Does your bike have an ignition cut out switch on the side stand ?

Bloobaba wrote:

Start by checking the ignition coils. Although they respond well to resistance measurements, sometimes they can be faulty. I had a problem with a coil on my GPZ900. It ran well above 2500 rpm and poorly below. Original CDI systems are generally very reliable. Sensors like the one I photographed can be replaced and aren't very expensive. I think all GT550s had centrifugal advance ignition. Be aware that the sensors are different. Mixing components isn't a good idea because the time it takes for the cam to pass the sensor is longer for electronic advance systems. You might have an advance curve that's not well-suited to the GT550. The CDIs were fitted from the ZX, which have completely different characteristics.

I don't want to be pedantic but for clarity these bikes don't run "CDI" but more like "TCI" - True CDI has a constant ground to the coils and at the appropriate time a capacitor in the ignition module discharges a momentary pulse of between 250 and 600v (only measurable with an oscilloscope) into the coil primary. These systems generally run very low resistance coils (typically 0.3.-0.5ohms)

I have checked both primary and secondary windings, i have continuity on all mounting posts. I also have another set of coils that give me the same problem.

Everything is stock except HT leads, and stator, i had no resistance between two of the wires, the bike is charging when its running. 

Battery voltage is around 12.2 

Voltage yellow/black wire att ic connector is 0.00

 Battery negative to engine block also 0 

Battery negative to green trigger wire and black trigger wire is the same as battery voltage 

Batttery positive to to red/yellow wire at ic connector is 12v 

Battery positive to red/yellow wire to coils is 0.05  

This is all with everything being connected.

Sorry, thank you

previous owner removed side stand switch, i connected the wires so that the circuit is always closed.
 

SvansLös wrote:

I have checked both primary and secondary windings, i have continuity on all mounting posts. I also have another set of coils that give me the same problem.

Please clarify - are you saying that you have continuity between the primary or secondary windings and the mounting post ?
What is the resistance of the primary windings ?
What is the resistance of the secondary windings ?

I dont really understan what you want me to measure with the mounting posts sorry, 
primary resistance is 2.8 and 3.1 
secondary on both ~12k

SvansLös wrote:

I dont really understan what you want me to measure with the mounting posts sorry, - see below (don't worry your English is way better than my Swedish)
primary resistance is 2.8 and 3.1 - Good
secondary on both ~12k - Good

SvansLös wrote:

Everything is stock except HT leads, and stator, i had no resistance between two of the wires, the bike is charging when its running. 

Battery voltage is around 12.2 

Voltage yellow/black wire att ic connector is 0.00

 Battery negative to engine block also 0 

Battery negative to green trigger wire and black trigger wire is the same as battery voltage 




 

Batttery positive to to red/yellow wire at ic connector is 12v 

Battery positive to red/yellow wire to coils is 0.05  
 

This is all with everything being connected.

Batttery positive to to red/yellow wire at ic connector is 12v 

your igniter is not getting +12v

measure that connection again
key on 
kill switch to run
 black probe on battery positive
red probe on yellow/red wire
back probe both sides of the connector for the yellow/red wire
reading should be 0.0v not 12.0v
turn the key off