81 KZ550

Well as I said in my intro here is the project.

I have an 81 KZ550 it ran just fine for the 2 years I rode it (2 years 20k up in cold Canada). The engine began to knock a bit at the end and the performance wasn't there as well, but it worked untill the battery began to die. I replaced it but it died again.

I (brilliantly) boosted it from a car and fried something. Never checking what it was. I just got a new car and forgot about the bike. Now i need it as i rolled the car and it's well lets just leave it there.

So here it is. I have a bike (I think I lost the keys)the electrical is fried somewhere (I found it see pics).
The front rotor needs to be replaced and I'm assuming the back brake too. New tires. And fix the engine knocking.

I have 2 weeks to do this in. I'm up for it if the stars are aligned right and things go fairly smoothly.

Here she is:






Post edited by: jack2006, at: 2007/09/05 14:30

Post edited by: jack2006, at: 2007/09/05 14:31

your regulator/rectifier is toast

your cars reg/rec got in a fight with your bikes over what voltage should be run....basically your car pwned your bike

So, how do you jump a bike from a car without frying the regulator, then? If they're both 12v systems, what is it about the car's electrical system that toasts the bike's?

The car needs to be TURNED OFF when you jump the bike.

Post edited by: mariozappa, at: 2007/09/05 15:51

That explains a lot, then. When I was looking at my bike before I bought it, the battery was dead, so I kickstarted it for the test ride. All the lights, etc. worked.

Before I bought it, though, I wanted to make sure the starter worked, so the guy who was selling it used a set of motorcycle jumper cables and jumped it off. The starter worked, and I bought the bike. His truck was running when he jumped the bike.

Got it home to find out every bulb on the bike was blown out. As I worked the problem, I found the regulator was putting out 21v. I replaced all the bulbs and the regulator, and the problem was fixed.

Guess it was the jump that killed it.

Post edited by: seanof30306, at: 2007/09/05 16:34

Hmmmm yeah I'll test the voltage on the regulator and replace the fried wires...hope this will at least get it going. Then the cosmetics.

i've jumped at least 3 different bikes off different cars all while running with no ill effects? all 12v cars and 12v bikes?

whats the deal there then?

Maybe it was the old wiring that just couldn't handle it. I've been boosting bikes of running cars before (newer though) too and had no problems untill this one.

fyi, the 1980 kz550 is the A1, and the 1981 kz550 is the A2. i recall one of the canadian members saying that there was a 1980 1/2 model which included some of the 1981 improvements:

kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_ponygal...9&func=detail&id=280

Post edited by: duncan, at: 2007/09/05 20:53

Ok so thanks to rstnick who is a locksmith and made new keys for me, i'm into the electrical. Here is the top shot minus the seat and battery and the battery supports. I'm going to take the whole engine out clean it change the gaskets and i guess thats it...i don't know what else I should do once i have it out. Oh yeah and I'll jet it of course.

Having a locksmith for a friend could come in pretty handy.

especially if you're a burglar

iandz500 wrote:

i've jumped at least 3 different bikes off different cars all while running with no ill effects? all 12v cars and 12v bikes?

whats the deal there then?

There are different types of charging systems out there on bikes. Only some are susceptible to frying when jumped from a running car. And for the ones that are susceptible, there's no guarantee it will fry the bike. Certain conditions must be met for the bike to fry, but to be safe, make sure the car is off.