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Starter problem
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 6:51 pm
Author: DavidZ1R
Not my z1 but my kz550, got it out afer winter store, flushed the carbs, charged up the battery, tried to start it, all the lights dimmed, starter just turned then stopped, is it starter or solonoid, I a getting fed up with classic bikes ggggrrrrrrr.
Re: Starter problem
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 7:22 pm
Author: z1bman
sounds like the battery
Re: Starter problem
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 7:28 pm
Author: warren3200gt
David, try shorting across the starter solenoid poles the eliminate one or the other. If the starter spins it the solenoid if it doesn't its the starter.
If its the starter ( and its anything like a z starter) could be dry gears or bushes maybe.
Re: Starter problem
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 7:29 pm
Author: DavidZ1R
Could be it's 4 years old, yuasa. Will see what charge it has in the morning.
Re: Starter problem
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 8:55 pm
Author: Garry.L
Has the pilot light gone out on it David?.
Get shut of all your old unreliable classics and buy yourself one of those nice new modern reliable bikes with great handling, performance and brakes..... and all the Styling of a 1960's Comprehensive School and all the Soul of a Wheely Bin.
Re: Starter problem
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 9:54 pm
Author: DavidZ1R
Re: Starter problem
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 10:08 pm
Author: z1bman
do any of the cells in the battery look darker than others ?
Re: Starter problem
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2018 11:14 am
Author: DavidZ1R
New day, new start, and the bloody thing did, first time, battery after 2 hour charge last night, checked this morning, 11.90 volts reading, 11.95 amps, hit the button and bingo, she run. Must have been because the battery had stood for 5 months.
Re: Starter problem
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2018 2:59 pm
Author: DavidZ1R
Yes, update, the battery is buggered, went flat, charged again , motor started, half hour later, nowt.
Re: Starter problem
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2018 6:12 pm
Author: Garry.L
My turn today David...
A Few miles out on the 400 and she dropped the middle pot. Usual checks point to the coil pack which ain't available pattern. So it's take my chances via the usual suspects

Re: Starter problem
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2018 7:38 pm
Author: Kwackman
DavidZ1R wrote:Not my z1 but my kz550,
Nice - Any photos?
I'm doing up the little brother, a Z400J
I'm fond of these baby Zeds
Re: Starter problem
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2018 7:46 pm
Author: DavidZ1R
Here you go, great fun to ride, when it feckin starts, if you want look on YouTube, ,, 'kawasaki kz550 rebuild'
Re: Starter problem
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2018 7:50 pm
Author: Kwackman
DavidZ1R wrote:Here you go, great fun to ride, when it feckin starts, if you want look on YouTube, ,, 'kawasaki kz550 rebuild'
Thanks!
Wow, that's a disgustingly clean example!
Those exhausts set it off nicely too.
I'll look up youtube tomorrow.
Re: Starter problem
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2018 7:50 pm
Author: DavidZ1R
Garry.L wrote:My turn today David...
A Few miles out on the 400 and she dropped the middle pot. Usual checks point to the coil pack which ain't available pattern. So it's take my chances via the usual suspects

Check the usual, plug, points , lead, then when all else fails bite the bullet, no patten part, I'm surprised. , these old bike are a pain sometimes, gave the Z1R a run out today, first since the top end rebuild, smoked like mad when started but after a mile or so, much better, hope it was just burning the oils from the rebuild.
Re: Starter problem
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2018 7:52 pm
Author: DavidZ1R
Kwackman wrote:DavidZ1R wrote:Here you go, great fun to ride, when it feckin starts, if you want look on YouTube, ,, 'kawasaki kz550 rebuild'
Thanks!
Wow, that's a disgustingly clean example!
Those exhausts set it off nicely too.
I'll look up youtube tomorrow.
Lucry with the pipes, both nos, left cost me £9 , honestly, the right £120.