Katana 1000 ignition

[Rattle]

Im looking for your thoughts on wether to replace my std ingnition with a dyna s .If I use the bike regularly its fine, if I start it occasionally its a pig to start only working on two cylinders then after a while all four,flattening the battery on several occasions .Ive had the carb off and cleaned them a while back and its not a job I want to repeat ,as I ran out of swear words getting them back on. Maybe a new set off leads and battery would help ,but Ive seen the difference modern ignition made to a rd350 amasing .So is there a significant advantage on buying a dyna s and if so, is it worth buying there coils as well

[Kryten]

Hi Rattle

You do know that you can recycle swear words and , indeed, blend them into all sorts of interesting combinations

I have been doing just that this week-end with a certain "See Through" computer product.

Anyway I would think that there could be a number of issues with the ignition system, the first thing I would look at would be the earths on the system as they do corrode and cause high resistances in the circuits. Check the coil mountings, battery earth, and earths on the CDI and Reg/Rec.

The next could be battery condition if the deep discharge/cranking voltage drops off too much, the CDI will suffer from a low supply volts and may not function correctly until the battery/charging circuit catches up.

I suspect that as the CDI and coils could be getting on for 30 years old by now so replacement would not be out of the question. There are lots of folk running Dyna ignition and coils, so they have a good reputation. I understand that they will run stock coils provided the input is rated at 3 ohms.

Running Dyna coils, you will need to modify the loom as they use screw connectors rather than spade connectors, also you will need to make up mounting adaptors. Make sure that they are not too close to the frame as they will short to earth in wet conditions.

Hope this helps

[johnr]

first thing we need to know is, if it starts on 2 and then the other 2 chime in, which 2 are we talking about? the coils each power 2 cylinders, one coil does 1+4 the other does 2+3, so if your bike is styarting on one of them pairs then chiming in on the other 2, it looks like an ignition problem. however, if your bike is starting on, say cylinders 1+2 and then 3+4 are coming in later, then the problem may well not be ignition related at all. the stock ignition is pretty sturdy to be honest, but the coils will be past their best by now whatever ignition you are using, id be looking for new coils or a set of green dyna coils before sacking the suzuki ignition. id also check that the mechanical adv ret on the end of the crank behind the pickups hasnt seized up.

[Rattle]

Thanks ill go and start it and find out what cylinders its running on.My battery is three years old and knackered .Ill check on the coil earth etc.
As for Krytens problems a friend of mine who works with computers at a high level backs up his computer and reinstalls the operating system on a regular basis to ensure its doing what its supposed to do, there s trust for you.Have you ever thought of installing one of the free linux based operating systems

[bobster]

Now......Is it always the same 2 cylinders that are slow to wake up?
Do you park it on the centre stand?

It could possibly be down to valve stem seal failure , with oil dribbling down the valve stems and fouling the plugs. Depending on which stroke the engine stops on and if the valves are open or shut. Does it smoke on start up if left for a while?

Did you clean the choke tubes in the float bowls............when u cleaned the carbs? If theyre blocked with crud the choke wont work on that cylinder on start up.

[Rattle]

Its not starting at the moment ,as its not been started for more than a month.Always parked on side stand as no mainstand,and yes it smokes on start up then stops and uses oil but nothing that i cant live with.As for the carbs cant remmember but I have cleaned everything with the carb cleaner poked every tube and hole and cleaned it as thoroughly as possible ,gonna try starting it again that should please the neighbours

[Rattle]

Well it started whish it hadn,t fumes are now seaping through the house ha ha.It started easily only run rough for a min ,misfiring then cleared but smoking .No 1 cylinder was the coolest exhaust pipe by far. So bobsters idea about valve stem oil seals letting oil by could well be my problem.I new about the seals as the bike had been parked on the side stand for five years when I bought the bike and has always smoked on startup.Ill check and clean the earths as well as the adv/retard ,ill check the manual to find out how to test the coils that should keep me busy.Thanks for the help

[bobster]

Because its parked on the side stand all the oil will drain towards cylinder 1 and 2 ! And if the valves are open the oil will dribble down the valve stems, passed the stem seal and foul the plug/s.

Whip out the plugs before you try and start it and see if theyre covered in oil. If so clean them with some carb cleaner and a stainless steel wire brush.........and refit them!

Make sure the battery is fully charged and possibly even use some jumper leads connected to the starter solenoid + connector and a good earth to you get the emgine spinning over faster!

Why do I know this................because mine sometimes does this and smokes like a Beagle on a 40 a day habbit!

Basically its down to old and hardened stem seals.

[Rattle]

I like the beagle comment I thought mine was an Rd 400 with all the smoke and misfiring .Maybe I should start it up and take it out more ,now were s my sou`wester and wellies

[johnr]

if its been stood for 5 years, before you start thinking about valve stem seals, have you had the carbs stripped and ultrasonically cleaned?