what year for first cdi?

So here's the story. My roomate met a guy that says he owns a motorcycle salvage place here in town. She was instant messaging with him the other day and I had her tell him about my electrical problems. I went over the list of things I have replaced and he said to check the cdi unit. I have a 78 kz1000 A2A. I told him that they didn't have a cdi in 78. He insisted that they did. I think I'm right but want to make sure before I make myself look like an ass. Did they have cdi on my bike?

donthekawguy wrote:

So here's the story. My roomate met a guy that says he owns a motorcycle salvage place here in town. She was instant messaging with him the other day and I had her tell him about my electrical problems. I went over the list of things I have replaced and he said to check the cdi unit. I have a 78 kz1000 A2A. I told him that they didn't have a cdi in 78. He insisted that they did. I think I'm right but want to make sure before I make myself look like an ass. Did they have cdi on my bike?

There was electronic ignition in '78, but not CDI.

Anyway, if you had a CDI ignition, what would you check? I think you're being sent on a wild goose chase again. It makes no sense to me, but what do I know?

Check buykawasaki.com to make sure but I could swear 78 KZ1000s had points. Kaw never used a CDI anyhows... the electronic ignition was not capacitative discharge type... it used an "igniter" but that thing gets called a CDI box all the time.

1978 KZ1000 was points. In 1979 they went to electronic ignition on the KZ1000A and E model. The KZ1000LTD finally switched over in 1980.

The engine in my bike is a 78 1000, it had points when i got it.
Kawasaki used CDI ignitions on their 2 strokes for years, but as wiredgeorge said lots of people call the electronic ignitions on the kz's cdi's..same thing but different..

1045

The data plate on my 79 mkII shows it as being built in 78. When I bought this bike it was registered as a 78. I thought it would be to much hassle to try and change it to what it's supposed to be, so it still is registered as a 78.. Anyway, the mkII has electronic ignition and, according to the motor vehicle registration people, it is a 1978.

This is strange because I don't think production of the MKII started until Feb 1979, but whatever the foulup was, the MKII is in fact intended to be a 1979 model. All the models Kawasaki intended as 1978 KZ1000 line was points. This includes the Z1R. Kawasaki did use CDI ignition at least as far back as 1972 on the H2 750, but no KZ1000 until the 1979 model.
Tony wrote:

The data plate on my 79 mkII shows it as being built in 78. When I bought this bike it was registered as a 78. I thought it would be to much hassle to try and change it to what it's supposed to be, so it still is registered as a 78.. Anyway, the mkII has electronic ignition and, according to the motor vehicle registration people, it is a 1978.

RonKZ650 wrote:

This is strange because I don't think production of the MKII started until Feb 1979, but whatever the foulup was, the MKII is in fact intended to be a 1979 model. All the models Kawasaki intended as 1978 KZ1000 line was points. This includes the Z1R. Kawasaki did use CDI ignition at least as far back as 1972 on the H2 750, but no KZ1000 until the 1979 model.
Tony wrote:

The data plate on my 79 mkII shows it as being built in 78. When I bought this bike it was registered as a 78. I thought it would be to much hassle to try and change it to what it's supposed to be, so it still is registered as a 78.. Anyway, the mkII has electronic ignition and, according to the motor vehicle registration people, it is a 1978.

I always knew my bike was special!
Heres a picture



Post edited by: tony, at: 2005/11/28 16:33

I knew I was right. Mine came with points. Now I can rub his nose in it! :laugh: On second thought I better be nice-he has a parts shop. :whistle:

1045 wrote:

The engine in my bike is a 78 1000, it had points when i got it.
Kawasaki used CDI ignitions on their 2 strokes for years, but as wiredgeorge said lots of people call the electronic ignitions on the kz's cdi's..same thing but different..

1045

You're right, if I recall, the two-strokes did use actual CDI ignitions. I think that's why people assume the KZ's did also. The electronic KZ's use transistorized Kettering ignitions.

CDI operates differently from Kettering.

Apparently I was looking at a fiche for 79 but it wasn't labeled with a year and I had looked under '78. Buykawasaki.com combines some of the years on the fiches, apparently.

So it doesn't have electronic ignition. What type of ignition problems are you having? Points are very simple, and they can be adjusted reasonably well with nothing more than a pack of matches and a #2 phillips (#3 to get points cover off, please!!) It helps to have a timing light and a dwell angle meter (both < $20 at your local pawn shop,) but you can get it pretty close with the basics.

I'm having charging issues. I have had this going on for awhile. I have changed almost every part out and still only get 12 volts at 3000 rpm. I just got some news coils from Jeff and have yet to finish the install. I put on a set of used acell's last year and think one was bad. I'm hoping the new dyna's will fix the problem. I still have a year and a half before the total tear down and build up so I'm in no hurry to fix it.