1981LTD 550 , no key, how do I start

Hello,

There is a 1981 Kawasaki LTD 550 Motorcycle on ebay located about 60 miles from me. It looks good, but there isn't a key to start it. I really don't want to buy a bike that is local that I can test drive, I'm a bit worried that the bike could have some problems that wouldn't be know without driving the bike.


cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1981-Kawasaki-KZ...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Is there a quick way to by pass the key? Or should I just move on, sometimes people pay to much on ebay as well, and were coming into a good time to buy a bike for next years riding season.

Thanks

Brad

But that bike looks sooooo clean! It's one of the nicest I've seen in a long time!

At the ignition switch you would jump the white wire to the yellow wire and the brown wire. The yellow gives power to the ignition and start circuit. The brown controls the charging system and other stuff.

That bike has a switch on the clutch for the starter so you have to pull the lever to start.

Bike has just been washed and armor-alled.

Will seller add info that bike runs to his auction after you test it? If not, I would bring a compression guage and keep results to myself.

-Duck

Can't you run a jumper wire directly to the coils/igniter feed wire and just jump the solonoid to start it?

The alternator is always hooked to the rectifier which is always hooked to the battery. It is possible to jump power to the ignition and coils only, but when the motor starts up, full alternator output goes to the rectifier. Since the regulator gets no voltage detection, it sends full rectifier power to the battery. This will fry the battery and the ignition in a short time.

Power needs to be jumped to the brown wire to allow the regulator to work.

This brings up a good point, if the connection to the brown wire fails at the ignition switch, the electrical system can burn while the bike is still running.
In my opinion, this is a bad design on Kawasaki's part. Whenever I rewire a bike, I make it so the the ignition and regulator get power from the same source, so if a switch fails, the bike stalls instead of frying the electrical.

Post edited by: loudhvx, at: 2006/09/04 22:21

Take the ignition switch off your 650, pop his headlight off and plug yours in where the keyless one is and start the bike properly (if he lets you).

No sense in burning up the ignition by mickey mousing it when you can make wise time taking off two little screws on the light and plugging in a switch instead.

it only takes this part with the harness, dont need the key really:


Post edited by: ran429, at: 2006/09/05 01:37

Thanks guys,

I've emailed him to see if he'll let me plug my key switch into his.

Brad

I'm running away, owner of bike wou't let me look at the bike, or start it, he's out of town till after the auction. He did say good luck with the bidding, I'll keep a look out for any feedback on the bike, after the sale.

Auction is already over $700, to steep for me with a questionable seller tactics(ran great a month ago, but lost key).

Thanks for all the tips.

Good day

Brad

I'm running away, owner of bike wou't let me look at the bike, or start it, he's out of town till after the auction. He did say good luck with the bidding, I'll keep a look out for any feedback on the bike, after the sale.

Auction is already over $700, to steep for me with a questionable seller tactics(ran great a month ago, but lost key).

Thanks for all the tips.

Good day

Brad

sounds like a wise decision. If it was meant to be your bike, it will be someday (karma...carmax?):laugh: