Igniter

Why does an igniter for a 1981 KZ 1000-C4 cost so damn much? :ohmy:
Kawasaki doesn't make it any more, but one place wants over $500.00 for one claimed to be NOS, and another place wants over $650.00.
Talk about taking advantage of the consumer.
Is there some other alternative to buying a new igniter than getting it from one of these pirates? :blink: Sorry if you're one of the pirates. :whistle:
Other than getting a non returnable questionable used one off e-Bay, are there any other part numbers from another bike , car, or boat that I could use instead? :huh:

I have a box full of good Kawasaki Igntions, pm me if your interested. I might need to know what yours looks like so I can match it up. $75

If your bike has a mechanical ignition advance (most 80's bike did/do). Find "Loudhvx's" replacement made with GM ignition modules. Have you checked the pick up(pulsing) coils?

Ohm Checking Pickup(Pulsing) Coils

The pickup coils on the Kawasaki’s with the factory supplied electronic ignition can sometimes fail or become intermittent due to heat and vibration.

1.Trace back from where the pick up coils are mounted,(under a right side CD sized cover) locate and disconnect a small 4 pin connector. Using a multi-meter set on OHMS and range of 2K, check between the BLUE and BLACK wires(#1 and #4 sparkplug wires) for between 360- 540 OHMS.

2.For #2 and #3 sparkplugs the wire colors will be YELLOW and RED, again 360-540 OHMS. The 550’s,650’s & 750’s may be backwards to the Z1’s,Kz900’s,Kz1000’s & Kz1100’s.

3.If the pickup coils are suspect of failing due to heat, they can be stressed using a hair dryer without the need of the engine running.

4.A replacement set of pickup coils might be obtained from a dealer who serviced the police Kawasaki’s.

5. If replacement pickup coils are not available, your next choice would be to order a Dyna “S” electronic ignition system from www.z1enterprises.com It replaces the IC igniter with a smaller module located where the mechanical ignition advancer was mounted.

6. Checking with Kawasaki.com website has determined that the Pick up(pulsing) coils are available . The pulsing coil # is 59026-1133 and replaces the older # 1002, 1012 which were used from the MKII motors until the 2005 P24.

7.Check the small 4 pin connector that the pickup coils connect to for corrosion/loose pins too.

:laugh: Just got word from my Buddy that ended up with my bike in his garage when it stopped running closer to his house than mine. He found a used igniter for only thirty five bucks from his friend that has a bike shop. He swapped it out and the bike is running great.
Man it sure is great having friends that love these old KAW's as much as we do.
Not only did he haul my bike in the back of his pickup truck from the side of the road where it left me stranded. He gave me one of his KZ1000's as a loaner so I could get the fortyfive miles home. He figgured out what went wrong, and got the part from his buddy as cheap as I could have found it anywhere. He installed the part and got it running again.
I am truely blessed to have friends like that. :woohoo: Thank you Jeff You are terriffic.

Loudhvx our resident electrical genius designed an ignitor for the gpz 550
See
home.comcast.net/~loudgpz/GPZweb/Ignition/GPZgmHEImod.html

According to Kawasaki.com , owner info, parts diagrams etc etc the 550 ignitor is compatable with the one for the 1980 KZ1000G1............so ........might work. Hang around and a real expert will be along soon.

I know Lou's design will work for a 750/4 which why I keep his page bookmarked. A few years ago I thought I needed a new ignitor. They were available back then and the dealer quoted me $400. Luckily I found my problem was something else.
Good luck

Glad to here your back in the saddle again for a reasonable price. Was it Jeff,s Orange Dream that got you home?
Post up if you plan a ride in this direction.
Jim

I bought a junk Kz550 Ltd recently mainly for the wheels.
I noticed from the picture before I bought it that the igniter was still in place. Yes it is the same as the one for the Z1 Classic so I have a great spare.
Tommotbird

No, it's his spare powder blue bike that he keeps around so he can still ride when he has the Orange dream down for maint. It weighs about two hundred pounds less than mine and peels rubber from stop signs and you can hear it from half a mile away. What a blast it is to ride, but I still want my heavy plastic and chrome covered beast back. I've been spoiled by the windshield and spring loaded seat. Those big bugs hurt at seventy mph.

As other's mentioned, there is an alternative. It's about $35 or $40, but you have to assemble a few parts. The parts are very common and easy to get.

The link has to be done with BB code or it does not work on KZrider:
home.comcast.net/~loudgpz/GPZweb/Ignition/GPZgmHEImod.html

The $500+ price tag is why I came up with it.