Help Replacing the Ignition Advance Springs

Hello Everyone,

New to the site and I really enjoy reading and learning. I need assistance finding replacement ignition advance springs for my 81 KZ1100 A. I believe the bike was missing one of them or it popped off without me noticing where it went. Either way - I'm out of luck :blush: . Do the local auto parts carry something that would interchange? Any information will help.

Check with www.z1enterprises.com for new springs. If you use springs from the local auto supply store, the advance/retard curve could be affected altering the performance of the engine.

Thanks!

No problem! I like helping keeping these older Kawasaki's on the road.

Unfortunately I did not locate the springs on that site! Any other suggestions are appreciated. The springs are displayed in the image below.

Several websites to explore:

www.oldkawman.com
www.dynoman.net
www.redlinecycle.com
www.kzzone.com
www.reproductiondecals.com
www.oldkaw.com
www.cycle-salvage.com
www.sudco.com
www.z-power.co.uk
www.zpower.com.au
www.debben.co.uk
www.vintagecyclepart.com
www.babbitsonline.com
www.partsnmore.com
www.johnnysvintagemotorcycle.com

If you need more websites let me know............

Being an old time engine builder I bet I can match it up with something I have in old shelved parts. If you have no luck let me know.. do they have PMs here? Make sure not to lose the one you have if we need to try to match it.

Thank you.

Well, the only place I could find them was Ebay, but hey, I can't complain, it'll be here before you know it. I did get smart and found the correct OE number 21148-120. The 120 is stamped right on my old part. I did see some on Ebay that had 122 and 115. Do you guys know what that number means? Either way, I'm a happy camper again. Resurrection of this KZ is eminent! Been dead since '04. Little by little, she's coming along. Thanks again for the help. Now it's on to another sissy bar and handlebars!

On my KZ750 twin, the springs were not even shown as a separate part. Kawi only specified the number of the advancer assembly. They actually calibrated the advance curve by using something to pry a couple of the coils apart (you could see it on the springs). I ended up buying some similar but longer springs at Orchard Supply and making my own but twisting and bending such a stiff spring was a real bugger.

WARNING:

On mine (it was pretty old) the problem was wear on the advancer posts and holders which gave the spring too much play. With springs in place, there has to be slight tension on the "weights" keeping them in. If yours (like mine) is a little loose, the advancer won't work right because you either can't get full advance at high RPM or you have to set the timing too far advanced at idle.. Loose weights "use up" some of the range of advance.