KZR's Bikes of the Month for 2024

Engine stalls, all electrical turns off

  • StreetCruiser
  • Topic Author
  • Offline
  • User
More
11 Sep 2023 17:39 #889278 by StreetCruiser
Engine stalls, all electrical turns off was created by StreetCruiser
My son bought a 1984 KZ550LTD as a first motorcycle to learn to ride. Not gonna lie, it has seen better days, but it was running and it was cheap. It was good for a time, but now it's behaving strange. After it's been running for a while and it's good and warm, it stalls suddenly. There's a loss of power, fuel and oil lights come on, engine stops. At this point all electrical stops working. No lights, no ignition, nothing. Battery is measuring 12.65V. After a brief wait, the lights just come back and everything works again. The engine starts up and it can run for a little while before it stalls again and electrical is off.  It seems to me that something is getting hot and disconnecting until it cools down sufficiently to reconnect, but what? Is there a computer on this thing? The oil light doesn't come on before you start the engine, but comes on before it stalls? The fuel light also comes on before it stalls but it has plenty of fuel. Aren't these just simple circuits that can only work if the sensing switch closes? I really need some help here. What is there other than a main fuse that can cut off all electrical power? I've never heard of a self-healing fuse. 

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Street Fighter LTD
  • Offline
  • Moderator
  • TURBO, Its Better to be Blown than Injected
More
12 Sep 2023 05:47 #889291 by Street Fighter LTD
Replied by Street Fighter LTD on topic Engine stalls, all electrical turns off
Welcome to KZRider 
You should post in the new Members forum a intro and include some pictures of your bike
Dave


Original owner 78 1000 LTD
Mr Turbo Race Kit, MTC 1075 Turbo pistons by PitStop Performance , Falicon Ultra Lite Super Crank, APE everything. Les Holt @ PDM's Billet Goodies . Frame by Chuck Kurzawa @ Logghe Chassis . Deep sump 5qt oil pan. RIP Bill Hahn

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
12 Sep 2023 07:33 - 12 Sep 2023 10:35 #889297 by martin_csr
Replied by martin_csr on topic Engine stalls, all electrical turns off
Do you have the Kawasaki service manual? I'm assuming the motorcycle is a 1984 KZ550-F2 Spectre. Listed as an Ltd-Shaft in the diagrams.

The 550-F2 has a fuel level switch in the fuel tank and an oil level switch in the oil pan, and there should be a self-checker that turns on those warning lights whenever the ignition switch is turned ON; the warning lights should stay on for a certain amount of time predetermined by the checker, then turn off unless the fuel/oil levels are low.  I would compare what the warning lights are doing to what the manual says.
note: the oil level switch could be glitchy or getting stuck. of course make sure the oil level is correct.

Make sure the battery connections are good and the battery cables are good.  check the grounds, especially the main ground usually bolted to the engine near the neg. (-) battery terminal.  I would check the fuses, especially the main fuse. maybe a filament has separated and loses contact? I would go ahead & install new.  Also, check the main fuse box wiring connections. Another possibility is the ignition switch, possibly a broken solder connection inside the switch.

Also, valve clearance check. The engine might be quitting because of tight clearances that get tighter when the engine warms up.

 
Last edit: 12 Sep 2023 10:35 by martin_csr.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Powered by Kunena Forum

If you like KZR Please consider making a donation. Thank you.

KZRider is free, but not without cost.

Please consider chipping in a few bucks to help cover the cost of running the KZR servers.