1983 KZ1100 Spectre starter problems

Check the Earth cable before shelling out your money. A bad earth to the chassis gives the same symptom your describing

Hotrod624 wrote: Do you think I should get a rebuild kit for it? I just don't want to drop 140.00 on a starter at the moment. I've seen the rebuild kit for 30.00. I have already had the starter off, just nervous about taking it apart.

What components are included in the "rebuild kit?"

Lots of good info on kawasaki.com, including parts diagrams, part names, part numbers, models sharing same part, availability, etc. Here's a link for help with navigating the site and finding information.

www.kzrider.com/forum/13-bike-related/37...imitstart=0&start=20



Good Fortune!

I have seen the rebuild kits before (I do not remember the site) and they contained the wear parts. Brushes, bearings, bushings, seals, etc. As you would expect, the large parts such as the armature are not included.
Hotrod64, if you could post a link to the kit it would help.

I rebuilt my GPz starter a couple of years ago and it is not that difficult. You just have to be careful, take your time, and be patient. I would do it again in a heartbeat over purchasing another starter.

Here's the link to the starter rebuild kit www.d2moto.com/p-73677-1982-1983-kawasak...DS97oCFUtp7AodETwArg

Yup, that looks like it. Seals, o-rings, bushings, bearings, plate containing the brushes/springs, etc.
You will have some left over parts, as those kits are for multiple applications.
The aluminum plate on the top has the ceramic/plastic bit that sticks through the starter casing so the 12V power can bolt onto it.

Well I just got done cleaning the starter, haven't put it in yet. Crossing my fingers!

Well I hooked it up and for some reason the starter didn't even try and it started smoking.

Ok you've got the starter reassembled incorrectly. When an electrical component lets the magic smoke out it's typically junk. :S

Its not that hard to reassemble, so it must have been something small that I have over looked. Have any idea's what this could be?

geerbangr wrote: Ok you've got the starter reassembled incorrectly. When an electrical component lets the magic smoke out it's typically junk. :S

Not necessarily, especially the starter. You have a direct short to ground. On my GPz, the ceramic insulator had broken. That is the first place I would look.

I have found a known good starter for cheap so I should have it by Friday.

Ok so i have deduced that the problem is a bad ground. I have grounded the starter directly to the negative battery post and it acts almost like its suppose to, Still acts a little weak, but turns over so much better! So my question is where are the ground points on the bike? Its a shaft driven if that makes a difference.