I've got a 1981 KZ1000, it's got about 9800 original miles on it. I had been sitting for about 8 years before I started to ride it. I've been riding it in town to get back and forth from class (about 3 miles each way).

My #1 cylinder keeps fouling out at about 50-75 miles of riding. I changed to hotter plugs and still haven't seen much of an improvement. When I take the plugs out the #1 cylinder is always wet and jet black as if it hasn't been combusting for a while. All the other cylinders seem to be fine. Any suggestions?

 

Does it have screw on plug caps some times moisture gets in and the wire corrodes and gets loose if you have long enough wire on#1 cut it back about half inch and srew cap back on make sure its not loose at the coil to

 

I am thinking that you use the stock plugs and do a rebuild/cleaning on the carbs. Especially since it is only on one cylinder. But the "faulty" plug wire makes sense also.

 

Hrm yea I was hoping it wouldn't come down to that, it's got those coil packs so if I gotta change a wire then I gotta change 2 plus one of the coil. I haven't taken the time to rebuild the carbs yet, I was hoping not to have to pull them out again Do you think it could possibly be a carburetor adjustment? Possibly one carb is running too rich?

 

My speculation of a carb not sealing at the moment. But is usually cheaper to check than to replace coil and wire.