KZR's Bikes of the Month for 2024

Lot of electrical / power issues lately?

  • z1kzonly
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02 Jul 2022 06:02 #869762 by z1kzonly
Seen a lot of issues with voltage, switch's, 12 V lately.
I've been around a long time.
I remember the Wired George coil mod.
I just recently cleaned up a kill switch / throttle tube for Z1's / KZ's for a simple eBay item for any type of hot rod, dirt, sand, drag race machine. Just junk laying around.
Most guys might not even know what the inside of a on/off kill switch looks like?
From the battery the yellow / yellow re stripe wires go to this switch! and these 2 tiny dots of copper transfer your power!
These little items get corroded and there is a source of voltage drop.
they clean up nice! I'm sure a lot of you spray them up with contact cleaner and blow out without dis-assembly to help.
At least this is how I see it? Just an opinion?

Livin in "CheektaVegas, NY
Went thru 25 of these in 40 yrs.
I SOLD OUT! THE KAW BARN IS EMPTY.
More room for The Old Girl, Harley 75 FLH Electra Glide,
Old faithful! Points ign. Bendix Orig. carb.
Starts everytime!

The following user(s) said Thank You: TexasKZ, Dragbike_Mike, Wookie58

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02 Jul 2022 06:14 #869764 by TexasKZ
Replied by TexasKZ on topic Lot of electrical / power issues lately?
Thanks for posting those pics and explanation. The points of those two tiny copper dimples is all that stands between happy riding and pushing a dead bike. Very little dirt or corrosion is needed to bring all that wonderful electricity to a halt.

1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

www.kzrider.com/11-projects/620336-anoth...uild-thread?start=24

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  • slmjim+Z1BEBE
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03 Jul 2022 04:56 #869792 by slmjim+Z1BEBE
Replied by slmjim+Z1BEBE on topic Lot of electrical / power issues lately?
Those pointy kill switch contacts are very similar to the ignition switch contacts that often cause voltage drop in the coil primary circuit.

We delved into a Z1 ignition switch a few years ago chasing an intermittent electrical gremlin.  What we learned is in the post below.

www.kzrider.com/forum/4-electrical/60681...-and-troubleshooting

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

A biker looks at your engine and chrome.
A Rider looks at your odometer and tags.

1973 ('72 builds) Z1 x2
1974 Z1-A x2
1975 Z1-B x2
1993 CB 750 Nighthawk x2
2009 ST1300A

www.kawasaki-z-classik.com
An enthusiast's forum focused exclusively
on all things Z1, Z2 and KZ900.

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04 Jul 2022 01:13 #869832 by Wookie58
Replied by Wookie58 on topic Lot of electrical / power issues lately?
If you can find a slightly heavier spring this would also help if you are refurbing, one of the reasons small contacts like these burn up is a lack of spring tension due to ageing which makes the contacts "arc" (think about a loose battery terminal)

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  • Scirocco
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04 Jul 2022 01:56 #869833 by Scirocco
Replied by Scirocco on topic Lot of electrical / power issues lately?
Less current load = less arc = WG mod
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