Kill Switch/Short

  • SRQ Mike
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Kill Switch/Short

18 Mar 2023 11:42
#881697
Finally got my 79 KZ650 running fairly well.  Unfortunately, yesterday when I turned the kill switch to the Run position, I heard a click/pop near the fuses.  The fuses all appear to be intact but obviously the starter portion of the electrical system is dead.   What else should I be checking?   I should note that I'm fairly ignorant when it comes to the electrical system and apparently too old to learn the intricacies of diagnosis.  
1979 Kawasaki KZ650 SR

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  • F64
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Re: Kill Switch/Short

18 Mar 2023 12:00
#881699
Do your ignition coils have voltage on the yellow/red wire with engine kill switch set to "run" and key "on"?
81-KZ440-D2.
Louis Dudzik's GM HEI ignitor conversion installed 2015 s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/Ignition/GPZgmHEImod.html
Motogadget m-unit blue installed 2017.
LIC, NY
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Re: Kill Switch/Short

18 Mar 2023 16:10
#881728
Fuses can be look okay from the outside view but can fail internal. They have to be continuity test with a multimeter!
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Re: Kill Switch/Short

19 Mar 2023 05:44
#881750
Thanks for the ideas.   I've been very fortunate that previous bikes (mostly Honda's) that I've tinkered with over the years have had very minimal electrical issues.  So,  I've never learned much about diagnosing the problems.  
1979 Kawasaki KZ650 SR

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Re: Kill Switch/Short

19 Mar 2023 06:26
#881758
Thanks for the ideas.   I've been very fortunate that previous bikes (mostly Honda's) that I've tinkered with over the years have had very minimal electrical issues.  So,  I've never learned much about diagnosing the problems.  
You find find the attached fault finding guide useful

www.kzrider.com/forum/forum-index/faq-wi...-fault-finding-guide
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Re: Kill Switch/Short

27 Mar 2023 10:37
#882073
Follow-up:   After rechecking fuses, cleaning the contacts in the kill switch, reading about electrical systems and beating myself up
for not knowing much about electrical systems, I found the problem!  It was a faulty connection on one of the wires which connects
to the rectifier.  Bike is now running great!   Thanks!  
1979 Kawasaki KZ650 SR
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