TOPIC:

1981 KZ550 LTD - Is there a way to test the "start" switch? The bike was running well and after trying to start it there was no ignition and had to push start it to turn it over. Should I be looking to replace either the IGNITION COIL SET or RIGHT HAND CONTROL SWITCH. Thanks!

But the kick worked as well right?

Have you checked the charge on your battery? Perhaps it is dead?

The 550's have no kick starter. Also, it's much easier to push start in third gear rather than first gear, but you have to play with the shifter and rock the bike back and forth sometimes to get past the neutral-finder system.

You can try the screwdriver-across-the-starter-solenoid trick to bypass the start switch. That will narrow the problem down. If it cranks over, then the starter and battery are ok.

If you can push start it, then the ignition system is fine and the ignition coils are fine.

It's the battery (as Q mentioned), or the starter, or the starter solenoid, or the start button, or the starter-lockout switch on the clutch lever, or some wiring problem.

No kick starter,.... oh..
Awh Hell, life is but to learn!!

If you had a multi-meter you could check the circuit from the battery to the starter, and also through the solenoid circuit via the schematics here in the filebase:

kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_docman&...w&gid=160&Itemid=108
kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_docman&...w&gid=100&Itemid=108

Multi-meters can be as little as 20 bucks.

Did you try to jump-start the bike?