Coil or CDI box?? HELP!!

[adriancowley]

Dear All,

I live in Sweden, we still got snow & ice & COLD bike weather.

I've returned to bikes after a ten year absense. Purchased a icon from my youth..zxr400L1.
Great; a quick service; coolant flush, fluid change, re-gap plugs brake chech and I'm laughing.......or so I thought,

Now, having got bike home, it now wont start.

Clean & re.gap plugs as well as stripped down carbs, cleaned & rebuilt. Clean air filter, charge battery.
Vroom-Vroom, all well. I go down to the basement & start her everyday, all's well.

Today, however, she refuses to start. When she does only on 2 cylinders.

Chech volts at coil on RH side , zero. Volts on coil on LH side 9v.

Does this mean that there is a break in the red wire to the coil that shows no volts??

Where do I go from here ?? How do I chech that the CDI box is ok ??

Please, help, I can't think where to check next.

Thanks,

//Adrian.C

[CaNsA]

welcome dude.

But dont expect any help (from me at least) until you post some pics of your ride

[adriancowley]

welcome dude.

But dont expect any help (from me at least) until you post some pics of your ride

Pics are up-loaded to gallery...........now can you help?

//Adrian.C

[CaNsA]

What cylinders are firing?

I would suspect a coil issue.

[RedexRobB]

Have you taken the plugs out again since? The fact its starting on only a couple of cylinders could be that you have flooded it. OR, you have flattened the battery starting it but not riding it. There are many threads here demonstarating that a battery on a ZXR thats not got a very good charge, will give you starting issues, even with the engine turning over nicely.

Could well be that the battery hasnt got enough juice to start but turning the engine over has flooded it slightly?

[adriancowley]

Thnk for replies.

The bike won't start at all now, so I dont know what cylinders it was starting on.
Would have to guess, 1 & 4 as this was the side I had power on when I checked the coil power (9volts).

Tried a little earlier on today again, and still no joy, but as you mention battery level is low, now only 7.69 volts.

So I've put the battery on charge, and I'll try again tommorrow.

Any tips on checking the CDI box tho?? or coils??

//Adrian.C

[RedexRobB]

Id guess thats your problem then. Might be worth giving the plugs the once over and check they arent flooded.

[adriancowley]

Hello Again,

Bike still won't start.

Will warming the plugs in the oven, then refitting help with starting?? Anybody tried this?

Is there anybody in the Göteborg area of Sweden with a ZXR400 ??
Do you have a spare CDI box to lend or Sell??

Can you check the CDI box for function by checking power/ resistance etc from the plug outlet??

Any ideas??

//Adrian.C

[CaNsA]

Not checked the coils then?

[adriancowley]

Hi Cansa,

Yes, I did check resistance at the coils.

Primary circuit LH 3,3 (2,3-3,5)
RH 3,2 (2,3-3,5)

Secondary circuit LH 14,18 (12-18)
RH 13,88 (12-18)

As you can see they are inside tollerance given in the manual.

However, when checking the CDI box, (I only have a regular multi-meter, and not the recomended kawasaki unit) I did get some issues.
All my readings were a little different to that of the chart in the manual.
With neg of multimeter at terminal A, I couldn´t get any reading at terminals E & F.

The battery is on charge again, as it doesn't seem to be taking charge so well, still only 7-8 volts after a days charging. (admittably, i've tried starting in between.)
Redexrob said could be the battery. Hopefully the battery will get to full charge tommorrow evening, and we'll try agin.

If it's no go, then I'm guessing the CDI box is the issue.

Still think it's bloody strange how it's been starting fine, then just like that, only on two; and now...not at all. Oh the joys of bike maintannce.

And the wife keep's telling me....."i told you so" doesn't help either!

Can't wait to see what happens tommorrow........

//Adrian.C

[RedexRobB]

According to the manual u should see 12.6v or more at the battery terminals. Personally i doubt its the cdi but if u can borrow one to check then its another item possibly eliminated.

Might be worth getting a new battery n plugs if u have no joy.

[adriancowley]

Id guess thats your problem then. Might be worth giving the plugs the once over and check they arent flooded.

Hi RedexRobB,

....the man from Delmonte...he says....YES !!

Can't believe it. I left the plugs out overnight, whilst battery was on charge. I got home from work yesterday evening, and tried again.

This time i checked for sparks at plugs............FIRE! ( I was excited like a little sckool kid )

Cleaned, re-gapped, & pre-heated plugs in the oven for 20 mins, connected battery, and......

Vroom.......Vrooooommmmmm.....Vrooommmmmmm !!!!

So, it ended up that it WAS a combo of FLAT BATTERY & CARB FLOODING.

Many thanks for you advice, I'd never of guessed it.

//Adrian.C

[RedexRobB]

Very pleased to hear u sorted it. Its nice when a plan comes together!

Pleased to be of help, its what we are here for!