Katana Owners Club U.K.

So many hours spent on my Kat...bought a Tiger to ride

totally refurbished Kat over winter...MOT done, but running like a dog.
My question is about coils, original on bike with original coloured wiring. Are the positive/ negative coil spades significant in terms of how it's connected. Got the right wiring to 1/4 and 2/3 coils but cannot find any info about which wire to pos/ neg coil connectors.

Do 1/4 etc fire at same time or are HT leads to each pot also significant.

Spent so much time on this I am now totally confused.

Sorry if this sounds such a basic question

Any help or info very welcome

Thanks

Jerry

Thanks Mick...that's one issue sorted. I did think that as long as 1/4 were wired correctly then HT leads were not important...good to have it confirmed. All plugs sparking but sometimes look weak. Was fine last November before I started latest work

check the voltage at the coils... on the orange/white wire. the closer it is to 13.8 or whatever the battery is the better. old wiring pretty much guarantees it'll be less but could always add a relay and feed them a full 13.8 off the battery and a switched live to strengthen the spark....

Yep... Looked at those and might be something I invest in. Thought at start of these issues it might be carbs as I had to separate them to renew fuel passage connecting seals which had perished. Symptoms originally were... running well, then dying a bit, then picking up etc. a mate said it was a fuel issue. Cleaned carbs, checked all jets, pilots set at various times from between 2 turns out to 2 1/2...float set at correct height. When I stripped the bike down I had the frame powdered coated...so only stuff I have had to mess with that will be causing this is carbs and electrics.
Managed to get it to MOT but there and back it felt Like it wasn't firing on all cylinders and was backfiring and juddering..wasn't changing symptons when increasing power. This led me to think it was carbs. Checked most of what I can other than a proper balance...did a bench balance and looks fine. Plugs changed and new...but often wet when taken out after each problem I get.
Starting to run out of ideas. Don't feel I want to...but near point where I just get someone to fix it.
TT in a few weeks and really don't want to go on the Tiger (although head says that would be the sensible choice)


That's 3 months of frustration pouring out...sorry

Thanks Steve...not checked yet so will do

All threads were protected...negative battery terminal to engine or frame. Just checking everything Mick!!!..l As first time I had taken engine out of frame. Have reconnected to engine

Ok...thanks. Wii check coil voltage over weekend. Cheers

Much as I hate to say. But carbs is looking a culprit , float bowls,emulsion tubes . Even debris in tank.


Is it new fuel or is it the stuff from before strip down,, old fuel gives the symptoms you describe.

Does it start ok? If so start it up turn tick over screw up to 2000 rpm , this will over ride. Out balance carbs, does it pop and fart? Take off a plug lead at a time see if the bike stalls it shouldn't with just 1 lead off.

Yes it does pop and fart...bloody rude if you ask me

As you say Fossie, symptons point to carbs...the reason I started looking at coils was that I have emptied tank and all looked clean, new petrol. checked all fuel, vacuum and overflow pipes and fuel tap seems ok. All jets out, carb cleaner sprayed through all internal ways, jets checked and re-seated, floats out and height checked when put back. No leaks in diaphragm, new bowl gasket.

The only other possibility...pilot jets have spring, washer and o ring. Local bike shop did not have right size o rings so got an 'all size' box from Halfords. The ones I used from that sit snugly on end of jet, look same size as originals. Turn jet upside down and because of snug fit, spring and washer don't fall off...they stay in place. Pilot jets seem to fully sit and then I turn out and through various settings have had then between 2 and 2 1/2 turns.

When running at last check...initially seem ok...1/4 exhaust down pipes are very hot, 2/3 less so. But that has changed during these issues over the weeks and at one point all 4 got hot.

Going to re-check carbs and the coil checks Mick and Steve suggested...put all back together and see........................