new to me 1976 KZ 900, wires go where?

Hi Mikaw,
10.3 was at the coil terminal. 8.6 was at the female connector after connecting everything.(just the left side coil which had the ghost voltage) I did notice the wires for the other coil are in sad shape and may not be getting a good connection to the plug 2 ND 3. I just slid the probe inside the plastic connector for the left coil. I will hook up both of them and take more voltage readings. Its a bit cold out there now so I may not get to it till the morning once I heat up the garage again!! 

Yeah,
You have a bad voltage drop on those coil positive wires. Hook up the wires to the coils.

Meter DCV
Key on
Ignition on

Red probe on white wire at key switch connector.
Black probe each coil positive wire.
Voltage should be less than 0.5v
A steady 0.0V is ideal.

Turn key off

The Calvary has arrived

wrote:

The Calvary has arrived

Thanks for the chuckle, you're right though !  

good morning guys,
@F64, Mikaw
Ok I checked quick this morning, still heating things up out there.
Right now I have the new coil on the left side, haven't swapped out the coil on the right side yet. I took below readings.
Meter DCV
Key on
Ignition on
red probe on white wire at key switch ( so glad I haven't put the headlight bucket back together, lol)
Left coil positive(red/yellow) reads 1.47v
right coil positive reads 10.30v
key off

Your right coil positive wire appears broken.
You are seeing the ground from the other side of the coil. That's why you have 10.3 on the meter.
The left coil wire is not broken but has corrosion, high resistance... Not a good connection.

DC V
Key on
Ignition on

Black probe battery post negative
Red probe battery post positive
What is the voltage?

Red probe on white wire in headlight bucket.
Black probe on yellow/red at ignition kill switch.
Voltage hopefully is 0.0V
Anything higher than 0.5V and you have an issue between the white wire to the kill switch.

Move the red probe to each coil positive terminal.
You want a steady 0.0V on each.
If you are above 0.5V here then your issue is in this section of wire.
Depending on where you place your probe the reading can change.
If you put your probe on the female wire connector at the coil, you are measuring everything between the two probes.
By moving the probe a tiny bit to the post of the coil instead of the wire connector you measure the connection quality of that connector to the coil terminal also.
Meaning if you just want to measure that particular connection only, place one probe on the female wire connector at the coil and the other probe on the coil terminal. Key must be on and ignition on.
You want to see 0.0V or you have a bad connection  at that connector to that terminal.

Turn off bike

This is an easy way to check the ignition switch that people worry about. Key on ignition on. One probe on the white wire at the switch. Other probe on brown.  Anything above 0.5v is a possible issue.

Your switch is fine. We checked it earlier.

I suspect you need a battery. 
Steve

Hi Steve, the battery is new.
@F64, I am going to connect the new coil on the right side and check all connections then take new readings from your about instructions. 
Will let you know.
Thanks

Do you have points or Dyna? If the points are closed the circuit would be grounded giving no reading. A pic of that area would be helpful.
Steve

BTW Patton had a thread on the coil subject. Both coils need to be hooked up to complete the circuit. If one coil or HT wires are bad that coil will have a weak or no spark.
Steve

Thanks Steve, I still have points on the bike. When I test each side of the points and turning over the engine I get power and test light flashing when the points open and close.
I am going to add the right side new coil and new leads/ plug wires and get new readings in a bit and report back. Thanks for the help

I've had a points spring move sideways and short out that point. Bad condencers can cause misfiring as well. When you do get it started look for blue sparks on the points. A little is normal but a lot means they're toast. The Dyna S is the answer. I still have my points setup just in case so if the Dyna fails I can still ride until I get a new one. 
Steve