Noob with ZL600 electrical problem

I am completely new to bikes but I have technical experience so parts replacment doesnt scare me. I got this bike last night, the seller drove it forty miles to meet me he says he did not ride it in a week or two. It was shut off and then when trying to start it we needed to jump it off his car (very quickly) and it fired up and ran fine again. The battery is old and it looks the part too. My question is if it was a bad stator would the bike still run or does this sound like a bad battery? If it sounds like a bad stator how hard and more importantly how to replace it?

Thanks

jesse

You should test/ replace the battery first, before diagnosing the charging system. With a Fully charged battery in place, then you can start testing. First check the voltage across the battery with the bike running at 4K RPM, should get about 14v or so. If you need to test the stator out put, there is AC volt tests, as well as OHM tests for the stator. I don't have the book for your bike, but it is probably a three phase stator. Approximately .7 OHM resistance on each of the three legs. ACV around 50 on each of the three legs. These will be wires coming from the stator to the Regulator Rectifier, R/R. Probably Yellow in color.
Maybe someone has the Manual? A download pdf?

Welcome to KZR! There are lots of people that can help here but if it is a ZL you may want to check out www.ZL-OA.com

I am also a member there, lots of help there too!

Thanks for the replies, I pulled the battery and it is at 12.0 volts, not nearly good enough to start the bike, I will get a new battery today.

Jesse

I'd fully charge the battery and then have it load tested, this will determine wether or not it can crank the bike over to start.