Re: KZ650 Starting/Idle Problem


<kb1jec@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1182730897.774714.219090@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
My dad's Kawasaki KZ650 is being very difficult to start and will die
at random. I had replaced/adjusted the points about 500 miles ago,
and today when checking them they seem to have closed up a bit. I
can't re-adjust them until tomorrow, because I need to replace the
crappy points screws that have stripped on me. Tonight after it up
and died on the road (almost like out of gas), it needed to be cranked
and cranked, then it let out a loud backfire and black smoke, then it
started up again. This happened twice. Timing on one side seemed OK,
the other looked the same but the timing marks were 'wobbling' more
than the other (not sure what that means). I had to up the idle to
keep it running in the garage, and even then it sputtered and died
twice on me.


I used to have a 78 KZ 650. Timing it takes some skill. You will need
a dwell meter. And of course, when you put new points in replace the
condensors.

What you have to do is time these points "by eye" with a feeler guage.
Then when they are exactly where they are supposed to be, cinch
them down and check with a dwell meter. You will find when tightening
them that they will wander around. You have to do it several times
before you get the dwell right. Then when dwell is correct you can rotate
the backing plate to get the timing right. Of course, note that doing this
will throw the dwell off and you will have to stop and go through the
readjustment process with the points again.

The first time it took me all afternoon to get them right. But after
practice it only takes about 15 minutes.

If you think this is bad try timing an old Tecumseh Horizontal Shaft
lawnmower. You know, the one where the flywheel has to be installed,
completely covering the points, and the engine started to check timing.
Then if your wrong you have to use a flywheel puller to pull off the
flywheel and try again.

Note also that the timing mark is more "advisory" than anything else.
Set the timing to where the engine runs well in all speeds, this won't
be spot on to the timing mark.

Ted


.

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