PLEASE HELP!!!! Bike only running on 2 cylinders

tmetcalfe09 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 01 Nov 2016 Karma :

I'm really not a mechanic so please go easy on me!
I own a kawasaki gt550 and the other day as I was riding home, the bike all of the sudden started to run on only two cylinders.
The coils on my bike run to cylinders 1/4 and 2/3, It is cylinders 2/3 that stopped firing.
I wasn't getting a spark from either plugs 2/3, but when i swapped the wiring of the coils over, I got a spark, so there's no problem with the coils.
I then tested the wires that lead from the cdi unit to the coils, and all wires are fine.
Therefore I figured the only thing it could be is the cdi unit.
I ordered a new one and plugged it in and it started, all exhaust pipes got hot and I sighed with relief!
During the time it took me to attach the cdi unit to the bike, it has returned to only firing on 2 cylinders again!!!!!!!

If there is any advice you can give me, if someone has experienced something like this before? I would really appreciate it!!

Thank you, Tim

Suntan Sid · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 May 2009 Karma :

Have you checked the earth connections, in particular the earths from the coils, you may have moved/realigned something when you swapped coils.

Don't know that particular bike, so I may be spouting rubbish!
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pepperami · Super Spammer Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Karma :

I said this before on here and I`m sure you will know it.
Coils can break down under load after prolonged use.
I had an old Suzuki GT 250 that would start up from cold fine and after about 5 miles would cut out on the right hand cylinder.
I went through that bike with a fine tooth comb and checked for air leaks , bad earths, duff points, the lot and couldn`t find anything.

Then I changed the coils and hey-presto problem gone.

Your bike is a GT550 and they`re getting a bit long in the tooth now, it could be that your coils have decided they have had enough.

Are you sure that you have not got a bad earth, air leak, plug cap breaking down, HT leads breaking down?
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Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

Check the pickups, and the wiring to them.
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tmetcalfe09 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 01 Nov 2016 Karma :

Ok, so the bike is only running on one cylinder now.

I have taken the casing off on the RIGHT hand side where the timing pickups are.

Using a multimeter I scratched the surface of the pickup, then placed the other end against the 4 terminals inside the junction box which is located under gt550 fairing.

I got no continuity off any of the wires that lead from the terminals to the pickups.

I then punctured the wire that runs in to the pickups, and got continuity off all four wires.

Am I doing something wrong? Or does this then mean I've solved it and my pickups are shot?

Thank you, Tim

tmetcalfe09 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 01 Nov 2016 Karma :

I don't think there's suppose to be continuity from the pickup to the terminal is there?

I've just watched a couple of youtube videos and have instead used the multimeter against two of the terminals inside the junction box and got a reading of 0.54 ohms for both.

Does this then mean the pickups are fine?

bikenut · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Nov 2011 Karma :

Post a picture of the pick ups at the crank, and also at the terminal block to the ignitor, the large black box on the r/h/side under the plastic side cover.

Is the crank "swipper" magnetic, or are the steel centre parts of the pick up that the swipper passes very close to magnetic??

2 picks up independent of each other from memory, one for 1 and 4, the other for 2 and 3 cylinders.

From memory but will check later, the pick ups have a coil inside each of them. Suss out the wires that go to each and do a resistance/continuity check on each and compare.

Using your dmm at ac volts, any output from the individual pick ups when cranking?? even a small amount.

How is the battery as this system is battery dependent, needs a good battery for it to work.

It has 2 independent systems built into the black box igniter.

Both should have good earths and power, you sure the kill switch is all ok??

Get a wiring diagram, there will probably be one on here which will help you no end.
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tmetcalfe09 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 01 Nov 2016 Karma :

tmetcalfe09 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 01 Nov 2016 Karma :

Nor running at all now. Has gone from running on all 4 cylinders, to 2, to 1, to none. So confused

bikenut · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Nov 2011 Karma :

fing crap bt wifi fing crap!!

did i say bt wifi is fing crap!!

so i know how you feel, 5th attempt at posting.....fing crap bt!!

so rule in or out ignition problem, get 4 red neon plug caps that fit between your plug cap and plugs, they flash if ht passes thru them, they are cheap and a good visual quick ht check
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bikenut · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Nov 2011 Karma :

if your reading this and work for bt, your wifi is fing crap!!

be methodical....

so ignition ok or not?? post a picture of your ignition sensors on r/h/side of engine.

if ht good, then fuel problem, drain each carb in turn after checking tank contents, lots of fuel in tank ??, and turning fuel off.

fuel in each carbs?? the first one drained had more fuel than the rest, with the last 3 about the same amount??

I assume your fuel tap has a prime position with good fuel flow??

vacuum tap, vac pipe good with no leaks ??

suck carb end of vac pipe, fuel now flows from tank and tap ok?? pull off fuel feed pipe to carbs for this test
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