what are 'Bad Igniter' symptoms?

newOld_kz1000 wrote:

loudhvx wrote:

I'm not familiar with the Z1 classic model, but usually T is top dead center. If it is TDC, it should never line up with the mark using a timing light. At idle, the F should line up, then at full advance there should be a double line for advance. Maybe it's different for that model? Anyone for sure?

Yes, correct.

The "T" mark is in fact top dead center.

The "F" mark is were the plug timing fires at inital advance (10degrees or so BTDC) during idle (which must be correct 1000rpm +/- a few hundred for some bikes).

At full advance (after 4000 or so rpm), the timing mark should line up somewhere between the "double line marks".

newOld_kz1000 wrote:

Motor Head wrote:

It looks very close to the same, doesn't it?

enaz1:
I don't think he has checked the fuel pressure or injectors yet, but it has been mentioned and he has it on his list.

Sheesh that is a relief, thanks MH, I would prefer buying a new unit instead of hacking this old switch! Thanks man, that switch looks identical, right down to the metal mounting holes on either side, hopefully it has the 1/2 moon slot for the shaft on the back side.

Should have, and I would score that switch from Rockauto ASAP.They have been great to deal with, if you need anything for a car/ truck they have it. Also you could get new B8ES plugs from them, $1.65 ea. Just look out how they ship, everything comes out of different where houses. So if you make a big order you have to look at several brands trying to find the best price and shipping deal. I would have spent 3K in 3 months with them.
I would also keep in mind that they have fuel injectors that should work for you as well, $35 plus a $9 core ea.
www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php

MFolks wrote:

www.redlinecycle might have the airbox sensor:
www.redlinecycle.com/Fuel%20Injection.html

Thanks MFolks, good to have a go-to source for the computer and the air flow switch, Kawasaki stopped providing some of the parts on this bike, nice to have a fallback.

I checked my 'all Kawasaki cross reference' and this throttle switch was only used one year, on this kz1000-G1 bike. I was hoping to find it used maybe on the fuel-injecte GPz bike, but no.

Good process of elimination work. Keep up your methodology, and you'll have the old girl flying in no time.

Remember - she will run awsome.... soon.

Maintain hope! :laugh:

TeK9iNe wrote:

Good process of elimination work. Keep up your methodology, and you'll have the old girl flying in no time.

Remember - she will run awsome.... soon.

Maintain hope! :laugh:

Thanks dude, I couldn't have made it this far without the help. There are a lot of parts to this one and maybe I got lucky and stumbled on the one part and then it's clear sailing.

MH I went to Rockauto.com and under '79 Beetle I found a part with unfortunately no photograph, under the 'Fuel/Air' section in the Beetle's tree of parts, the part is called "Fuel Injection Resistor Unit" -- do you think that's the part? I'm not seeing any photos for it.

I think, instead, it might be a different part I found under "Electrical-Switch and Relay" branch of the '79 Beetle's parts tree, under 'Miscellaneous Switch':

BECK/ARNLEY Part # 1580074
Throttle Valve Switch [Wholesaler Closeout -- 30 Day Warranty]

Again no picture! It's only $30 but with no picture, wondering if I wait and call them tomorrow/Monday?

That is the switch, no picture on site unfortunately, I was searching all around for the picture I got, and thats of a used unit. Buy NOW as they do not show more being in stock! Might just be the last new one. I looked around a lot of places, and this was the only new one for this switch, hopefully it will be a perfect match, as those systems are almost Identical.

I believe your bike was the first generation FI, the 1981 GPz1100 B1(the second generation) has a similar airbox sensor.

In 1982(the third generation)GPz1100 B2, Kawasaki changed to a variable carbon resistor sensor mounted on the right side of the engine connected to the throttle shaft.

KUDOS GO OUT TO MOTOR HEAD AND EVERYONE ELSE who lent a hand here.

Although the Volkswagen Beetle switch did not have the correct connector, I hunted around and I found many autos from right around 1979-86 and later have an *identical* throttle switch box.

I want to be detailed here to leave a record in the site's files so if anyone else runs into the "No longer available from Kawasaki" they won't part the bike out or switch to carbs in disgust. So below is a description with autos and part numbers for this throttle switch.
ONLY COST $80.

This little switch has *profound* affects on the usability of the bike. Only 1 side of the 2-pole switch was intermittently bad, and it basically made the bike UNUSABLE.

I found the switch today at O'Reilly Auto Parts store here in Silicon Valley -- they used the matching autos to look it up in the O'Reilly computer in the store (using 'Kawasaki' or the Kaw part number was *not* useful, it had to be a car with the year/model or a part number for the switch).

The local O'Reilly store today looked it up for the 1979 Datsun 280zx and they HAD ONE IN STOCK. Put it on the bike, I'm gone on a 45-minute ride around the Valley!
NARY A HICKUP. Bike is fiiiiiine.

So for anyone else with this one-year-only Kz1000 "Z1 Classic", here are a few ways to find this switch:

1) 1979 Datsun 280zx "Throttle Valve Switch"

2) 1980 Datsun 200sx, find it at
Remartautoparts.com, with Remart part # TH114

3) "BECK ARNLEY 158-0492 Fuel Injector Throttle Switch" (NOTE: the 158-0492 is a 'master' part number apparently that most Auto parts stores can use to find all the vendors of this switch)

4) 1986 Nissan 300ZX Turbo "Throttle Position Sensor",
the part is mfg. by 'Nile'

Here are photos:

THIS IS THE BOX MY SWITCH CAME IN:


MY ORIGINAL FORCED-OPEN SWITCH AND THE NEW ONE SIDE-BY-SIDE


THE BACK SIDE OF MY SWITCH (Right side) AND THE NEW SWITCH (left side) -- BOTH HAVE A 1/2 MOON-SHAPED SOCKET


THIS IS WHAT I SHOWED THE AUTO PARTS STORE AND THEY FOUND THE SWITCH



HERE'S THE SWITCH INSTALLED TODAY ON THE Z1 -- IT'S RIGHT BETWEEN THE CYLINDERS AND THE AIRBOX COLLECTOR:



Sorry for the verbosity, but this is kind of a big deal, Motor Head may not be around to help next time!

And thank you *very much* to everyone for helping me out with this tough problem.

That Sir is exceptionally good news, and the bike is running sweet!!!!
Glad that you could find a car at the wreckers with the switch, and then buy a new one locally. :woohoo:
Here is where you need some riding time to equal out some of that wrenching.

Edit: Available at rockauto.com for $18.22 + shipping!!!!

Great news!! This is why forums are so very useful.

This is the sort of info that should go into the file base, I looked but could not find the hidden "Key".
Patton where are you?:laugh:

There's an on-site tutorial about adding information to the file base.

Good Fortune!