God i hate this bike

Wait, this is your first bike?? Sell it. Quick. These things are an addiction.

Like others have said my first bike was a total basket case that took me awhile to get running properly. I learned alot along the way including a small grasp on electrical.

Electrical has a learning curve to it but it's usually a quick fix. And electrical problems are generally cheaper.

I would suggest buying a multimeter and printing out the wiring diagram. Then but the black lead on the negative terminal and follow the wires carrying voltage for the starter solenoid circuit probing at all connections and before and after switches with the red lead. When you stop getting 12 volts on the meter turn the key off and go back to the last point you had twelve volts at and insert the black lead here and put the red lead on the point that didn't get voltage and read the resistance (ohms) across those two points. If it's a load (starter solenoid I think is the only one in that circuit) then it'll have a specified resistance that you can check with a FSM. If its a switch or wire then it should have less then .1 ohms resistance.

Good luck.

And I was joking about selling the bike. Once you get it tuned up and running right you'll never want to sell it.

They're right, you know. Every word.

I'd start with the connectors to your starter lockout switch on the clutch lever. One of them probably got unplugged when you were putting the tank back on, or when you cocked the wheel to the right.

(slurred) AND ANOTHER THING!

You don't buy an old bike to ride, you buy it to work on.
If you work on it just right, it might let you ride it.

You need to have two bikes at the same time - that way when you decide to work on one, you still have one to ride

I just went through something similar on my 900 two weeks ago....

@ home, started the engine, no problem....
Rode it over to Cycle gear for some shopping (GRIN), no problem.... 30 minute DROOL spree....

Came out, hit the start button NADA... Hmmm, thank the KZ Gods for kick starters... GRIN....

Get home, get out the DVM... oopsie... 10.8Vdc on the battery @ 4Krpm even....

Do some electrical test & measurements... Lost a phase diode bank in the rectifier..... Charge the battery, put in my KZ1000 rectifier, 14.2Vdc @ 4Krpm....

Ordered a new combo Rect/Reg unit from Jeff @ Z1... All is good....

Maybe this will help... OHMS LAW again.... DOH!!!!




BTW, what the others have replied does hold true in many ways.... Yes we get a little rough at times :blush: but owning a 30 year old motorcycle, car, what ever... It's a passion...

You have to enjoy diagnosing, trouble shooting, tweaking, working on, repairing these old girls... It takes time & money in some cases but worth every penny.... And most definitely, research & study & patience is required... No other way about it....

It's what we do.... and you can as well.... Your call....

Try owning an old Harley. :dry:

"Try owning an old Harley."...

BLASPHEMY.... You are now banished to HD hell... Be gone with you.... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

I sold it if that's any consolation.


:laugh:

KawiConvert wrote:

Also, check your battery wires and fuses. I helped fix my friends van that way, and 2 days later failed to diagnose a loose cable until about 2 hours into tracking through the harness.

I'm amazed this is the first time someone mentioned this... My 750 used to blow fuses occasionally, wouldn't do nothing when you turned the key on. Make sure to take each fuse out and try a new one in it's place even if the old one looks fine. They can often go bad within the end caps and be almost impossible to tell they're dead

guitargeek wrote:

They're right, you know. Every word.

I'd start with the connectors to your starter lockout switch on the clutch lever. One of them probably got unplugged when you were putting the tank back on, or when you cocked the wheel to the right.

Definitely check this; had this happen to me before.
Good Luck!

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pgboyd wrote:

You need to have two bikes at the same time - that way when you decide to work on one, you still have one to ride

Very good advice here. I picked up a wrecked (body damage) ex500 for about 1000.00, pieced it together and use it as my ride while the kz is on the stand (8 months and counting). It gives me time to work on the kz as needed without rushing things or putting off really important things (valentines day, anniversary, etc).

Once you get this one running, keep an eye out for a cheap other non-project bike. This way if it is too much you can always wait for a better deal. Just be careful you don't become addicted to the fact that a 2005 bike will handle much better than a 1978 bike.