My dad has an 82 kz1000. He recently rebuilt the carbs on it hoping it would run better, but it runs worse now. Here are the symptoms: The plugs are black and sooty, To me that means running rich. The bike wont idle unless it is fully choked. Runs good while it is cold but as soon as it warms up it will rev to uncontrollably. Mind you this is still fully choked out. To get it to idle down you can push the choke in but it will die immediatly. Is It possible thepilot jet is too big that came with the rebuild kit? Also the air screws for the idle mixture seem to have no effect at all. This bike has me completly stumped. Hopefully someone can help us out and get this classic on the road agian!

Thank you
ian

 

First off,Did you sync the carbs ?
Thats the first place ide start.also are all 4 cyl running?If one of your plug caps are corroded or not making full contact it can cause a intermittent spark and throw the entire thing off.If 1 cyl is runing off and on you wont notice but 2 will make the difference be felt.
Check the plug caps,Wires and coils and then go for a carb sync.
Make sure when you start to connect all the vaccum lines,Have the air box hooked up and the Mixture screws all the way IN and then go 2 1/2 turns out to start.
That should fix most of it and then diagnose from there

 

I just got an 82 KZ1000, rebuilt the cards, and am haveing the same problem. I adjusted my floats a little because they where allowing the bowl to fill up to mutch and it helped a little. Now once it warms up it will idle, but it takes rideing it about a mile or two before it will idle. Its a good running bike as long as its not cold.

 

o ya my mixture screws are about 2 3/4 turns out. And adjusting my floats made my plugs not as black and sooty.