KFX 700 IGNITION PROBLEMS

[Dune Dude]

I just bought the second battery for the Kaw. in 2 years.  On Fathers Day the wife let me borrow it for a last ride.  It stared stumbling hard like something was stuck in one of the carbs.  I turned it off to do an inspection (out in the sand) and it would not restart.  I had no lights or dash indicator lights.  We towed the behemoth back to camp and I loaded the beast into the trailer and headed home.  At home it started with the assistance of the battery charger.  I took the battery into our sponsor Batteries Plus to check the battery.  They tried to charge it over night and it only read 9.2 volts.  They claim something is wrong with the charging system on the bike.  I went to KHM to asked their advice and they though it was just a bad battery.  The plugs are black like it is running rich and I only have two rides on it this year since I put in new plugs.  When it was stumbling under heavy throttle black smoke comes out of the pipe. 

Does anyone have any advice??

To me it seems that the charging system does not have enough volts to charge the battery and fire the plugs causing a rich like condition.  Or the battery has been going out for a while causing the volts to drop to the plugs. 

Help me oh great quad spirit of the forum dimension!

[RTOYZ]

with the mention of the black spark plugs and the battery not fully charging, I wonder if a aftermarket cdi box(hotter spark) would help cure the problem?

Another great person to ask about this problem is Scott at Fast boyz toyz. Call him at 770-6777 and tell him the problems and see what he can come up with.

[Dune Dude]

Thanks for the help! 
I will give him a call.
Date Posted: July 05, 2006, 07:53:18 PMI did some checking today and found out that the twin cylinder 700 Kaws are famous for running rich.
I also, learned how to use my multi-meter that has sat dormate in my toolbox.  Finally, I don't have to use my tongue to check for voltage.  The new battery has 12.8 volts and when I check the bike running at idle I had 14.4 volts to the battery.  If only I had my repair manual to see if this reading is good or not.

For those of you keeping score at home, I also checked some random outlets in my shop using the AC mode and they checked in at 120.5 volts.  Why have I not used this device before??  What other magical tools await my discovery??

[duraraptor]

You are making great strides with your tool box DD.  Now that you have mastered the volt meter.  You own that box, your the man, keep it up.  Score DD 1   Tool box 0

[Dune Dude]

I found out at KHM that 14.4 volts through the charging system is in the range for the V-force.  I have the new battery ready to install and I will be running some overly priced Kawasaki carb cleaner through the fuel system.  I will also try running one step hotter plug to see if it will cure the problem with fouling the plugs.
When I was at the dealer the service man asked me if I run the quad wide open or if I just putt around with it?

I just smiled and replied,

Full Throttle, of course!!!!! 

(Don't tell the wife or I might lose my chance to ride it)
"What's that honey pie?"  "Yes, I'm just telling everyone about fixing your quad and how respectful and careful I am when you let me ride it."  "Love you too, sweetie."

[duraraptor]

LOL, you really need to get out more DD.  You crack me up

[Dune Dude]

It has been over a year and the ignition problem again reared its head on the massive KFX700.  While returning from the long trip from Spinreel to Horsfall the Kawi started to stumble and backfire.  I was smart enough to remember this time not to shut the engine off.  I just kept nursing it home.  I put the multi-meter on it and the battery showed 13.37 volts which seems high.  It would restart every time but only run with a bad stutter.  The next morning it fired right up and ran without hesitation until it got hot then the miss returned.  I checked the spark arrestor and all the wiring and everything checked out ok.  It was not until we lined up the quads for the photo that it would not start.  I have to hit the battery to make it jump enough juice to start.  This would make the third battery in 4 years that has gone bad.  And it has gone bad from the jarring it takes inside the bike.  I will have to see what the GNCC boys do to the KFX700 to protect the battery.  Or maybe I will have to go to a different bike that can take some abuse...