i bought the bike and it was a starter, but always on 3 cylinders.
my limited knowledge lead me to join the forum and during my
research here on these bikes and elsewhere, i consistently read, about the weaknesses:
1... coils
2... chain tensioner
3... 4 litre small oil sump
4... water pump
unfortunately i live in an area of the world where these bikes are not known and if they where, no one will ever touch them anyway, because
they're just too old and in my case with this bike, as they say, very complex....complex when you compare it with a cb750 or a gs1000 for instance. two models which most mechanics here consider too old to work on, regardless of their simplicity.
i knew i had to do the water pump because the oil in the sump was cream and i'm hoping it's this rather than a head gasket or something.....
re assured by a very old kz1300 guru who is 2000 klms away, i complete this with his aid.
i then decide alone, to do the aw82 coil conversion, (without his aid) making sure first primary and secondary of all second hand coils were
good....ballast resistor was removed.
by accident and luckily, i find a larger 6 litre oil sump and add that to the equation. the bike started and ran, you guessed it ... on 3 cylinders.
i was told to do the carbies next.
so i found a mechanic quite away from me, who swore blind he could fix the bike....he said to me, at some point whilst starting the bike, that he got zapped from touching the frame and will look into it.
he disassembled the carbies and refitted with a brand new complete kit and diaphragms. he balanced them and he also re kitted the front forks.
i am not sure how far the mechanic went with the carbs, but i am assuming he has done what has to be done....as a bike mechanic should.
a bit naive yes, but i have no choice than to think otherwise.
new ngk bp5es plugs and wire leads were also added....
i am now told that denso W20EP-U arethe best plugs for this bike.
after 3 weeks the mechanic tells me all good, come and pick up.
$2000 later, the bike comes back to me starting and running beautifully.
im smiling................
i took it around the block (about 1 klm) and she ran on all 6 cylinders.
smooth as a silk and quick with all that power.....
beautiful.... i am celebrating.
four days later i go to start the bike....back on 3 cylinders.
6 , 4 and 2 only, running. i take out the plugs, they are all oily black....
i clean them and re position them. one extra cylinder just, but only just, warms up header 5. at this point, i'm totally frustrated and pissed of.
i speak with certain people who suggest to buy brand new coils and get rid of the aw82's. the old kz1300 guru says piss off the old coils and buy some dynas. (process of elimination)....an expensive one at that!!!
i exclaim...!!!
so, i'm now at this point now, where this bike is still in the back of my mind. do i take the bike back and get it looked at again possibly under warranty or perhaps another bill of $2000, or do i spend $400 and get some dynas and eliminate another possibility...???
I 'm a single dad and so fairly busy and preoccupied raising a very young daughter.
not that i 'm doingit tough or anything nor need any pity,
but the bike is not necessarily my main focus....as you can appreciate.
i 'm thankful for all the concern and advice i have got from this forum and i would like to eventually get the bike running on all cylinders .... preferably during this lifetime, but i aint slashing my wrists because of my bad luck.
i figure the correct thing to do is take the bike back to the mechanic, who i know will tell me in three weeks time, that he found another problem with it and bill me again, for another problem he has now discovered.....thank you very much.
its 9pm and winter over here at the moment, my back isn't the best and im nearly over it all, so going inside to watch some tv for a change.....providing the fuse box doesn't blow, that is.
.....................gotta laugh.