Clutch Switch for KZ550

I noticed that I have a bad clutch switch on my 1982 KZ550-C3 LTD. I understand that the purpose of this switch is to prevent starting the motor when the bike is in gear (safety mechanism). I'm wondering if I need this switch to even get the engine started.

I'm referring to part labeled 27010A in the diagram here:

www.powersportsplus.com/parts/search/Kaw...83+C3-C4)/parts.html

It's been difficult to find a replacement anywhere.

Thanks for your help.

That switch is a safety item as you said, but it won't prevent the bike from starting in gear. Instead it is intended to force the rider to pull in the clutch to engage the starter, whether the bike is in gear or not. This will prevent the bike from lurching forward and possibly jumping off the side stand if someone hits the starter button while the bike is in gear. Having seen a guy dump a shiny new Yamaha 750 (which back in the day did not have the lockout switch) when it jumped off the side stand I would recommend replacing the switch rather than bypassing it. Let me know if you cannot find one and I will try to track one down. Ed

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Thank you gentleman.

So the item you posted on ebay is for a brake switch. Both the switches do look alike so I'm guessing it will work as a clutch switch too? Just wanted to be sure since the actual part numbers for both the switches are different. 27043-002 for clutch switch vs 27010-1028 for brake switch.

Have you tried taking the switch apart very carefully, and cleaning the contacts inside. This sometimes will bring it back to life.

Nah, the cable is there but the switch itself is missing. All I have are two prongs sticking out of the end of the cable.

It looks like clutch switch is required for the circuit to be complete and to get the ignition going on my kz550; even in neutral. I had to short the connectors on the cable to get the starter going on my kz550.

Hi all. It’s been a while since I’ve been on here, sorry. I bought my KZ650 back in ‘85 and it never had one of those clutch starter lockout switches. I’m thinking about hooking one up, but does anyone know where the two connectors get plugged in at. I just installed a nos main harness and one connector, I think it was a black wire had me a little confused.

The original starter lockout switch is part of the cable that attaches to the clutch lever mount (see image below). When the clutch lever is pulled in it completes the circuit inside the gizmo at the end of the cable and allows the starter to run. If your bike has the original clutch lever mount it should have the part that the cable attaches to. There is a little hole in the mount through which the tang on the cable can be depressed to remove the cable from the mount (second picture). Ed

By Kawman: Hi all. It’s been a while since I’ve been on here, sorry. I bought my KZ650 back in ‘85 and it never had one of those clutch starter lockout switches. I’m thinking about hooking one up, but does anyone know where the two connectors get plugged in at. I just installed a nos main harness and one connector, I think it was a black wire had me a little confused.

Howdy. Below is a wiring diagram from the KZ650.Info site. The clutch switch has 2 black wires w 2 female bullet terminals, so you'll need to find two matching black wires on the main harness w 2 male bullet terminals >> probably near each other. There aren't very many solid black wires in the wiring diagram, so it should be easy to figure out. I don't know about the 78 650-B2, but the clutch switch pigtail on my 81 650-CSR is routed under the fuel tank (not to the headlight bucket). There are several rubber band clamps that keep the wiring in place along the backbone of the frame.

1978 KZ650-B2: diagrams.kz650.info/wiring/images/KZ650-B2,C2.jpg

Thanks all ! The guy I bought my bike from back in ‘85 must have by-passed that switch. I just wanted to make sure he had done it right. The starter has always worked, just wanted to make sure everything was correct. Wiring is not my fav and I don’t want anything to go wrong with the new main harness that I just put on. I think I’m going to try and find one of those lock-out switches just for the hell of it. BTW, I did the starter clutch replace along with some more re-chromed parts. That was fun, still not done either & very expensive too.