gsx probs

ok so i have a 1997 katana 600. and for some reason cylinder 3 and 4 keep shutting down. i cant figure it out. i pull the plug wire to 4 off and put it on and all 4 hit. i drive it down the road and both start to shut down 1 at a time. till it dont wanna idle anymore. i too kit to the local dealership and they fed me some bs about how its my carbs or my tb's and they want me to have them look at it for a low price of 80$. i am thinkin plug wires. but..... i dont see why they will work for a bit then just stop. any info?

What exactly does that "jet chip" do? Any chance it is caused by that possibly?

honestly .. i dunno.. im guessing reprogrammed or some shit to change timing and fuel intake. but it had that done along time ago. while this prob just started this season. in ran good like a month go. it started running rough so we replaced plugs then it got worse. and it feels like spark prob. im also curious how to replace the wires on these? can i take wires off alone, or will i have to replace coils too?

ok .. so i replaced my coils since it felt like a spark problem. it stil cuts out while driving. so i tracked down the wiring and found a common wire between the coils , and that wire just happons to control the 2 cylinders that are shutting down. i thought Great! seen a bad splice there, re-sealed the spliced wires up but it still cuts out. not as bad now, and when i take of gas tank it starts running good. when it starts running good sounds like it was starving before, but i cant see any kinked lines. any input would help thanks.

Any chance the fuel filter is clogged up some? Its pretty tiny on these bikes and if some dirt in there is restriciting flow, itll idle fine and ride for a bit then die after a bit of riding. When you replaced the spark plugs, how did they look? Did you read them for signs of rich or lean running condition? That might help narrow it down some too.

how do i go about changing the fuel filter on these bikes? im guessing its in the tank or attached to the bottom of it

I have an '01, so if its different than mine, Im not sure. But on mine, the filter is a little white filter in line under the tank. Probably have to at least remove the rear tank hold down bolts so you can lift it up about 6 inches to reach the filter.

no inline filter. i have 2 fuel lines that run from the selecter of the gas tank straight to the carbs.

Did you read those old plugs yet? If you still have them, give them a look and let us know what you see. If you dont or dont remember what they look like, pull the ones you have now and look them over. See if you cant get a good read off your present plugs. I ask if it lean or rich because either could cause the hesitation, though a continuously leaning condition under higher rpm riding would mroe likely cause the cutting out than too rich, but it wouldnt hurt to check.

ok i pulled the plugs. they look normal. they dont look likr to much fuel or not enough they dont smell odd. and it feels like anelectrical problem to me caquse its not that it cuts out at high RPM. it wont idle eaither. i start it it runs perfect. i drive it about 1/2 mile -mile down road and it starts cutting out. i get home and the header on cyl 4 is cold and 3 is mild (i can hold onto it and luke warm). i hold it to a 1k idle lift gas tank up to wher ei can see the plug wires/coils and such. and it starts running fine again. ok WTF.... rinse repeat same thing agin and again... i cant test the harness since as soon as i take tank up it starts running fine. i looked and the tank is not hitting any wires. i even re routed theharness to go under X-bars so there is no possiable way to pinch a wire. i found 1 splice wire that connects the 2 coils. it even controls cylinder 3 & 4. so i repatched it and still nothing. im open to any suggestions before i take it to the dealership and give them 100$ (just for a quick look over they say)...

It seems to me that something is at issue with the tank...even if not blatently visible. Try shaking/wiggling wires around with the tank up and see if you get anything. Maybe the tank is pushing on a tube that in effect pushes on a wire and causes a loose connection or short to start acting up then. The only other thing would be to check your fuel lines. Look at the routing as you raise and lower the tank...something has to be touching or interfering it would seem...otherwise it seems odd that the tank would have any effect. Someone else feel free to chime in here if maybe theyve had a similar problem.

You have a resistance issue that's being made apparent as a short in the secondary (spark) ignition, sounds like. When the motor is cold, the spark goes where it's supposed to, but as the coils and wires heat up (and resistance increases) there is someplace that's leaking spark that suddenly finds it easier to arc to a ground than go through the wire.

When you move the tank, it seems you are changing the proximity of the ground path, and it quits doing it.

Either that, or of there is a fuel line that is collapsed and folds instead of bending once it warms up, that'll do it too....had that happen on an old GS750. Run fine until it got good and hot, then the line would kink and fuel would get choked off...as soon as I'd lift the tank to try to see what was happening the hose would straighten and open up, and it'd start running fine..

well not really... cause it does it cold/hot no matter. it will idle fine hot i thought it was fuel also so i let it idle hot for 25-30 min and fine. but when i started driving it cuts out. take home take tank up and few sec. and its fine.

i had a problem on my 954 when it was brand new .

it would start and i would go for a ride and it would get to a certain rpm and stop. like get to 6k and no matter how much throttle, it wouldn't rev.

then the mark started to move, 9k 3k 1500. as it only had 300k's on it i took it back to the dealer. they claimed bad fuel. i didn't believe them but then i never had a problem again

this may not help but are you still running the same fuel?