Help please!

CaferacerMO

CaferacerMO

Been Around the Block
Hey guys, I have a kawasaki kz200.
I dropped it off at the shop to have some work done on it to get it running right (im selling it tomorrow). It ran perfect for two blocks.. No troubles.. Then after that it begins to sputter and run like complete butt again.
I'm confused, if it was running perfect for two blocks then switches is it carb related?
I don't see how it could be points related because it starts first kick, idles perfect etc.
Thanks guys..
 
Probably fueling, but you're going to need to figure it out.

Getting enough gas from the tank to the carbs? If you let the bike sit for a bit, does it fire right back up?

How about if it cools down?
 
I'll let it get cold and see.
But even completely warm it runs like ass.
I guess the question is how it runs cold, so that's the next test. Pulled the plug and it was black and sooty.
Which would suggest richness maybe?
Cleaned the plug, threw it back in and it still ran the same.
 
Choke on?

Other causes of excessive soot can include poor compression, retarded timing, and the wrong plugs.
 
He did say something about the points going bad, that they were grinding or something. But if it starts first kick, and idles perfect, could it be that?
 
Looks very rich, but without a proper plug chop it's not possible to tell for sure.

Wait for the bike to cool down and try again. If it runs well when cold but gets progressively worse, it's usually fueling (but could also be valve clearances).
 
Alright guys..
Came back this morning whenever she was completely cold.
Two solid kicks and it fired right up.
Idled fine and good and everytbing, took off to ride, still popping and stuttering..
 
Set the points ( feeler gauge)and adjust check the timing ( timing light) ....check the pipes are they hot? Is one cold? Check the cold one ( if there is one ) for fuel in the bowl....no fuel? Adjust float height..... Ride that beast!.......this may not work for you but it did for me yesterday.....
 
If it ran good at some point and is not running well now, don't change the jetting.
Carbs may have ingested crud from the tank, or the valves/timing may be off.
 
No offense intended, Desmo and alzcbz, but those problems are not likely to correspond to the symptoms he's experiencing.

Talk to your mechanic. Ask him about the specific changes he made.
 
I appreciate all of the responses guys.

I talked to my mechanic and he said the plug being black and sooty could be from being a bit rich. (How to fix that im not sure)

He also said he had to readjust my points, but that they were grinding and are on their way out soon. What does this mean?
 
Why would your bike be rich? Did your mechanic make any changes to the fueling or intake systems? Did he give you a list of things he changed?

Points do wear out, yes. I've not heard, "grinding", as a term to describe this, but the points do have a follower that rest on the cam. A small lobe on the cam is what opens and closes the points. Eventually, the follower can wear down if it's not greased from time-to-time.
 
Do I need to address the points now then?

He did three things, adjust the points, fix my float height, and then clean my plug.
I just don't see how it could be points because it ran awesome for the first two blocks and then declined.
 
Float height would definitely be an issue.

When I asked the question, I meant to specify what he did earlier, not what he did just now.
 
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