Ignition Switch

The main power wire keeps breaking free from the ignition switch. I have re sodered the connection twice now, but the problem won't stop. Why is this happening. Is there a problem somewhere else? Could it be too much power being supplied?

Here's my McGuiver story: On the road going to work chugin along, thinking everythings ducky. My gas light goes on, then the bike quits on me. I thought I ran out of gas until I looked at the ignition switch (luckly the cover to the connections fell off the other day) wires and sure enough the main power wire was toast, flappin in the breeze. So what do I do, I'm gonna be late. Look in all my pockets desperately for tape - nothing - damn neat freak. I starting thinkin, how could I fix this? Then it occurs to me wedge it in place with something... but what?? Ah HA, my glove, use your glove as a brace for the loose wire. Vroom VRoom. I was back in action, one glove, on my way to work, lookin like Michael Jackson from thriller. And only 8 minutes late clocking in. Oh and on top of all that it was raining cats and dogs.

Buy a new ignition switch from z1enterprises.com - they are not expensive. Keep your old keys as you probably will want to use them to unlock things other than the ignition on the bike.

Dang...

is this my only option..
www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=374

I truly can't recall how the white wire fastens to the ignition switch. If it is soldered, your other option would be to try and find some good advice on how to solder it on permanently because however you are doing it doesn't seem to work. You didn't mention what guage and type solder you are using or how you prepped the work prior to soldering. I thought it would be easy to just replace the switch and the Emgo unit you posted is a viable option. You MIGHT find a good replacement used switch on eBay but you will still run into the same issue of having to carry two bike keys.

post a pic, squints?

Like I said, could there be anyother reason for the breaking of points? I dont want to get a new ignition system and then have it happen again.

The last time I did it, and (by the grace of god) an electrical engineer guy happened to swing by my apartment complex and he gave his input. He helped me soder the connections and in his opinion they were solid. ???? I dunno....this sucks

I think I read a post awhile back about the same thing, and some one said there could be resistance in the line from corrosion at a connection in the lines causing that particular wire to get hot and it would melt the solder causing the wire to become loose over and over.
Check you connections down the line.

Assuming you solder well and the solder wont hold, the problem is the switch contacts are bad, get extremely hot and work just like your soldering iron, and melt the solder till the wire falls off. Common thing. Time to replace the switch. If you get the exact right switch and are mechanically inclined, you can disassemble the switches and use the key/cylinder off your old switch on the new switches electrical section so you can use your old key. I was nicknamed "switchmeister" at work here back in the 1980s, making one good switch out of misc parts from 2 or 3 bad ones.

On my project 79 KZ1000E1 ST, I disassembled the ignition switch. Keep in mind that there are little BBs in there but it is possible to disassemble, clean, etc. I didn't recommend this because the only reason I did it was to keep all the keys the same... took me far too much effort when a new switch is only a click away but I did it. Ron's suggestion isn't really a bad one and one that I never considered. Buy a good switch and swap out the lock part. Good idea. Just watch those little BBs inside as they want to jump into a dark corner. Seems like there are spring loaded doo-hickeys as well... can remember as it was awhile back. I would put the switch on a well lit table with a towel under it to catch small parts.

Switchmeis...I mean Ron, I think what you said is whats happening. Those points are getting pretty hot and the solder is just breaking itself free. A friend of mine mentioned that could be the problem just the other day, so I can trust two persons opinions, right? If you say its a common thing I guess I'll go along with that.

Time to get a new switch, and I dont think I'll be switching trying to save the same key. I really don't mind having two keys. I can easily see myself throwing those bb's all over the place and swearing up and down at myself for even trying to perform such a task.

Thsnks boys

www.oldbikebarn.com/motorcycle_parts.php...ayPerPage=10&Start=0

I am having trouble finding a replacement. My bike is a model M 1982. Would the ignition switch for a J model work???? HELP ME!

holy crap - got the worst message from Steve at z1...

"Unfortunately we do not think that switch will fit your bike, and even more bad news nobody makes a switch for that bike and Kawasaki who was what we were waiting on to respond to you says that they are no longer available. EBay or asking on KZrider.com may be your best bet on finding one. Sorry we couldn't help"


HELP ME!!!!!!!

I'll be brutaly honest I'm racking my brain to think of a cause of this. A little while back I topped of my battery with a little tap water-not distilled- i had no choice. Bike worked fine, thought nothing of it until now. Could that be the reason for the breaking. Would regular water alter the power being supplied?

HELP ME!!!!!!