TOPIC:

So I bought this and he had no key with it, it was a lien sale bike and hence no key.

And before I go spring for new ignition/key, new seat, new this-new that, I will get her running.

I bought a new battery this morning and I need to get her started, then once I get her started the floodgates of money will open a crack (I will be needing a seat for a 1981 CSR Kz650, and rear grab bar, left rear stock turn signal, yada yada).

Here she is in current state of semi-glory now.
The seat not the correct one for my bike here.

Need to turn the ignition 'on' to start her -- how do I go about it without breaking anything?

I GOT THE HANDLEBARS OFF THEY WERE PAINTED A GLOSS WHITE
(wow) AND ARE GOING TO ENAMEL BLACK AS WE SPEAK


FRONT VIEW -- HAS 17,300 MILES ON HER

newOld_kz1000 wrote:

So I bought this and he had no key with it, it was a lien sale bike and hence no key.

And before I go spring for new ignition/key, new seat, new this-new that, I will get her running.

I bought a new battery this morning and I need to get her started, then once I get her started the floodgates of money will open a crack (I will be needing a seat for a 1981 CSR Kz650, and rear grab bar, left rear stock turn signal, yada yada).

Here she is in current state of semi-glory now.
The seat not the correct one for my bike here.

Need to turn the ignition 'on' to start her -- how do I go about it without breaking anything?....

Can hotwire battery positive to coils, which should enable ignition. See illustration below.
This is akin to using ignition key to turn the ignition "ON."
Remember to disconnect while engine isn't running.

Use kick starter (if fitted) or jump the starter motor.

Good Fortune!

Remove the ignition and look for the key code number on the side or back somewhere.
Probably will be a Z5*** number or one of the other series listed below.
I can cut a key by the number, or a local Locksmith may be able to.

170-174
175-195
176K-250K
251K-325K
3101-3150
3201-3250
326K-400K
401-470
701-720
706-710
751-795
8001-9000
801-845
901-925
A00-A99
B8001-B9000
E8001-E9000
G1-G35
KZ5001-KZ6000
N1-N35
RVS101-RVS499
Z5001-Z6000

For more good information from rstnick:

Click > kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&...ew&catid=4&id=414874

Good Fortune!

x2.......you can also hot wire it and tape it over later..or order a new ignition and keys from Z1 ent for a great price too ...hot wire then wait for the keys and ign to come from Z1 ent...and replace the crossed wires...wnna know how to hot wire the ign...p.m me.. rstnick wrote:

Remove the ignition and look for the key code number on the side or back somewhere.
Probably will be a Z5*** number or one of the other series listed below.
I can cut a key by the number, or a local Locksmith may be able to.

170-174
175-195
176K-250K
251K-325K
3101-3150
3201-3250
326K-400K
401-470
701-720
706-710
751-795
8001-9000
801-845
901-925
A00-A99
B8001-B9000
E8001-E9000
G1-G35
KZ5001-KZ6000
N1-N35
RVS101-RVS499
Z5001-Z6000

I'm already into this bike on the $35 battery and I haven't even verified what the owner told me (the old 'sure it runs, it ran the last time it was parked).

Not that I'm cynical er nuthin.

So before I buy anything else I gotta bypass the ignition. The key switch on the dashboard looks to be okay, it was a lien sale bike and I guess the key was misplaced or something.

As to where I will buy, I happen to love Z1's service and I have personally experienced their fast shipping, I mean I believe theyre in New England I'm in Silicon Valley my stuff for my '78 kz1000 come FAST man..... plus when I called them I don't know who I talked to but for a city slicker he sure did sound quite helpful and friendly.

Now if Z1 could mess with their web site a bit....
that would be my old software interface design career talking now.

I sure the HELLO aint ordering a DAMM thing from England. If anything such as carb syncs ever shows up I will let the board know but the 49ers will be in the Super Bowl again I think before THAT happens.

If Z1 carries ignitions for this bike and/or keys they will be my first place to check. I'd rather not do ebay unless I have to. I cancelled my 23% annual-interest Paypal credit card last November and Paypal now insists either I re-apply and get that 23% card again or give them my bank account number and bank routing number to 'Get Verified'. Anything I buy now on ebay I have to send a postal money order.

ASk any 15 year old street kid, they will do it for you.

Could put a "secret" toggle switch in the hot wire between battery positive and coils.

MAKE SURE BIKE IS IN NEUTRAL!
after you temp power to coils jump across both sides of solenoid

Okay thanks guys, I will be seeking a key soon I hope, will retrieve the key code. After I get the bike started; only thing I miss between my '79 650 and this one is -- no kick starter. For the '81 kz650 they removed it.

So I will have to get the ignition actually turned 'on' I believe because I need the starter motor playing a role here. I miss kick starters, they got overconfident on this. I remember back in those days -- I had my cb400f bought new in '76 age 16, my '77 kz1000 bought new in '77.
I did use the kick starters on those even though they had starters. Then the kick starter disappeared on new bikes and we all thought why put drama and more risk getting the bike going. It was a real spookie thing they did back then. Just to save a few bucks on the manufacturing. If your driveway has no slope and no hills around it becomes a chore.

Today is the day, handlebars back on, jumpers deployed, wish me luck.

newOld_kz1000 wrote:

...no kick starter...So I will have to get the ignition actually turned 'on' I believe because I need the starter motor playing a role here...
Today is the day, handlebars back on, jumpers deployed, wish me luck.

Ignition is actually turned 'on' via powering coils with the hot wire connection from battery to coil primaries.

Only role of starter motor is initially turning over the engine, same as a push-start would accomplish.

Good Luck!

Happy Sunday everyone,

I got sidetracked yesterday, the carb slides on my 650 were stuck. I pulled the carb bank, opened the tops and sprayed carb cleaner, presto unstuck. He said he had just cleaned out the carbs one year back, so I pulled the float bowls, all good, checked float levels, perfect 23.5mm. Reinstalled the carbs. I find the absence of fuel pump/fuel pressure regulator/air flow switch/throttle position switch/computer/etc to be welcome.


Then I got real lucky here, I went to messing around with the ignition to see if there was a number to make a key and I discovered the prior owner rigged it so I can turn the ignitionon using any Kaw key, actually a screwdriver will work. You cannot tell how he did that because unlike some decrepit bikes I've seen it does not appear someone forced a screwdriver in there.

- I put in my new battery
- I turned on the ignition, lights on the dash, headlight and so on, great
- hit the starter button -- she turns over just like a 17,300 mile Kawasaki KZ should

I pulled each spark plug individually and checked for spark -- wow, so big and bright it puts my '78 kz1000 spark to shame. This is an ignition system that seems to be in very good shape.

Today I'm flushing the gas tank with lacquer thinner, cleaning the petcock, installing a fuel filter, checking for good ground on the battery-to-chassis, and on the igniter.

And putting in fresh oil. I think she will be running today.