1983 KZ 550 Cafe issue

[Lewis_29tn]

Hello Guys,

I have built a cafe bike out of my KZ 55O about a year ago. About 3 months ago my bike has started acting up. The bike runs and idles, and when you lay on the throttle it revs to red line. However when you put it in gear and start moving it starts acting like it has fuel starvation and won't go past 3000-4000 RPM. It feels like it has a rev limiter on it. I have literally torn the whole bike apart trying to figure out the issue. I have another kz 550 and I have replaced all the electrical components, coils, fuses, ignition, etc; but it still runs like it has a rev limiter on it. I am at a loss and any help would be awesome!

 

[hillsy]

If it sounds like it's starving for fuel - it might be starving for fuel


Check the tank is venting properly and allowing fuel to flow. Check the fuel tap is clean. Check the fuel line hasn't kinked up somehow. If you are running a fuel filter, make sure it isn't blocked.

 

[Lewis_29tn]

it's a direct line to the carbs and I know it is getting plenty of gas. So I know fuel starvation isn't the problem it just runs similar to that :-\

 

[Lewis_29tn]

Also carbs were freshly rebuilt

 

[Tune-A-Fish]

So it ran, the carbs went through a rebuild and now ir runs like shit?

 

[Lewis_29tn]

Rebuilt the carbs before it started running bad then I rebuilt them again thinking something got through the fuel filter causing it to run bad; however that was not the case

 

[Lewis_29tn]

The only other thing I have not done was try a new battery

 

[hillsy]

The only other thing I have not done was try a new battery

Check what the voltage is at the battery terminals when it's running. You should have 13.5-14.5v DC at 3-5K rpm. If it's not charging the bike will eventually die.


Quick way to check if it's charging is to watch the headlight as you rev the bike - it should get brighter as the revs come up.

 

[Chicagomike]

Went through the same with my kz305. The carbs were the issue and it took completely disassembling them and soaking them in m.e.k. After I was sure they were really clean I balanced them as well. Good luck finding the problem.