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Battery keeps dying
- nickleo373
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I've been having trouble getting my 1981 KZ550 to start and idle. I got it going for a little while yesterday but the engine seems to be hovering right above its stalling point. At first I was thinking it was a carburetor issue but today I noticed when I was starting the bike the headlight would flicker like it has a low battery and it wouldn't turn over. This is the second time in the past 2 weeks I have had to recharge my battery which is 4 weeks old. Can anyone tell me what the most common problems that would cause the battery to keep dying are?
Thanks
Nick
1981 KZ550C LTD
"If you ain't first, you're last"
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- Motor Head
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Do you have a DVOM (Digital Volt Ohm Meter)? How about the service manual for your bike?
You need to test the voltage across the battery terminals when running at 3K RPM. It should be like 14v or so. If not then you need to test the stator wires. Yours is a single phase system, so there is Two Yellow wires coming from your stator. It will make AC Voltage, before the R/R. You need to test it for the correct output. If the correct ACV is there, then test where it should come out of the R/R on the red/white wire. It should be 14DCV or higher.If not be sure it got a good connection at the plug in the right side cover area. This is where the two stator yellows come and connect to the R/R. The wires can be Heat damaged, burned etc. I had a problem here on a 550 I had a few years back.
If you don't have the Manual,find member Loudhvx, he has them in his profile signature, links to his website for download.
1982 KZ1000LTD K2 Vance & Hines 4-1 ACCEL COILS Added Vetter fairing & Bags. FOX Racing rear Shocks, Braced Swing-arm, Fork Brace, Progressive Fork Springs RT Gold Emulators, APE Valve Springs, 1166 Big Bore kit, RS34's, GPZ cams.
1980 KZ550LTD C1 Stock SOLD Miss it
1979 MAZDA RX7 in the works, 13B...
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- 650ed
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www.theotherstyle.info/manuals/bikes&atv...0%5b1979-1985%5d.pdf
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- nickleo373
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1981 KZ550C LTD
"If you ain't first, you're last"
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- Motor Head
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- FIX UP YOUR BIKE RIGHT AND CHEAP
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1982 KZ1000LTD K2 Vance & Hines 4-1 ACCEL COILS Added Vetter fairing & Bags. FOX Racing rear Shocks, Braced Swing-arm, Fork Brace, Progressive Fork Springs RT Gold Emulators, APE Valve Springs, 1166 Big Bore kit, RS34's, GPZ cams.
1980 KZ550LTD C1 Stock SOLD Miss it
1979 MAZDA RX7 in the works, 13B...
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- 650ed
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nickleo373 wrote: Thanks for the replies. I just hooked the battery back up to the bike after charging it and it turned over on the first crank so it's definitely an electrical issue. If I need to replace the regulator is it best to buy an original used one or should I go for an aftermarket one?
If after testing you find you need a regulator/rectifier the place in the link below makes very high quality units at decent prices. I have one of their rectifiers on my bike and it works perfectly. I wouldn't buy a used regulator/rectifier. Ed
www.oregonmotorcycleparts.com/Products.html
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- loudhvx
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1981 KZ550 D1 gpz.
Kz550 valve train warning.
Other links.
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- nickleo373
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Thanks
1981 KZ550C LTD
"If you ain't first, you're last"
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- 650ed
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Did you run the tests on the regulator/rectifier? Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- nickleo373
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1981 KZ550C LTD
"If you ain't first, you're last"
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- nickleo373
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1981 KZ550C LTD
"If you ain't first, you're last"
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- Motor Head
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Also you say you did a draw test. Are you familiar with your meter to do this? Did it come with instructions for this? You need to disconnect the battery and put the meter into testing for DC Amps, making the meter the connection between the battery and cable.
When you say 14+ volts across the battery revved, is the headlight etc on? If not whats it do when everything is turned on?
Another test for you. With everything hooked up, bike running, everything turned on. Put you meter on AC Volts, put your leads, black on battery -, and red at the red wire connection from the R/R to the battery. So that your are in the wire at the bullet connection, before the battery. Measure the AC Volts.
1982 KZ1000LTD K2 Vance & Hines 4-1 ACCEL COILS Added Vetter fairing & Bags. FOX Racing rear Shocks, Braced Swing-arm, Fork Brace, Progressive Fork Springs RT Gold Emulators, APE Valve Springs, 1166 Big Bore kit, RS34's, GPZ cams.
1980 KZ550LTD C1 Stock SOLD Miss it
1979 MAZDA RX7 in the works, 13B...
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