It's a 2001 Kawaski VTwin, 17hp. It's run flawlessly 8 1/2 years cutting 4 acres ever week March to Nov. Now every so often it drops a cylinder. Let it idle for a minute or two and it comes back on line and may run an hour or all day fine. New plugs did no good. I don't have a convenient dealer or any service manuals. I'm fine working on Ford flatheads but Japanese little engines are new to me. Any suggestions and perhaps some idea of how to get to it?
Thanks

I see from the online parts breakdown it has two ign coils. I suspect one of them is breaking down. Does this sound reasonable?

Maybe someone could tell me what that Voltage Regulator does. It doesn't seem to be involved in the ignition, is it?

Since no one seems to know anything about tractor ignitions perhaps someone could offer a discourse on the meaning of life.

8/09
Guess I'll answer my own question. Took the top shroud off the engine and saw that one spark plug wire had been misrouted at the factory and was pinched flat between the shroud and a steel baffle. It took nine years to finally nearly break the copper wires inside the plug wire. New coil since the wires can't be replaced solved the problem.

Thanks for the update. I would have liked to help but I know nothing about the Kawasaki's. ( I have 2 of them though )The coil was about the only thing I could think to be the problem and you were already headed in that direction.

Mark:

[quote name='Mark Birdeau' date='Aug 12 2009, 06:34 PM' post='91399']
Thanks for the update. I would have liked to help but I know nothing about the Kawasaki's. ( I have 2 of them though )The coil was about the only thing I could think to be the problem and you were already headed in that direction.

Mark:
Thanks Mark. I was concerned that the coils would be like the ones on the Mercury outboards I used to race, under the flywheel which required a special puller to remove. I was pleasantly surprised when I removed the shroud and there they were in plain site.