Oil Light

Can anyone give me some advice please? I have a 1982 KZ750/LTD, has been running great but then the oil light came on and is now not wanting to run. Will not start by ignition but will start on drift start but does not run good at all. Need some help please on where to start with this problem. Thank you very much! BR

You didn't mention where the oil level is at. Did you check it?

Yes. Oil level is good and has ran great until yesterday.

Are there any loud mechanical noises, like clanks or bumping or grinding while running? Sounds like a bearing or something has let go.

I would drain the oil into a very clean pan and see if there are metal bits in the oil.

How long have you had the motorcycle & have you done an oil change with new oil filter? also, what's the mileage?



...

Just got the bike a week ago. It has 12,700 miles and just ordered a new filter and got oil today. 10W/40. Won’t have filter for a couple days. Starting there and then move forward to something else if that doesn’t fix the problem. Bike won’t start by ignition now so I was thinking possible oil sending unit or maybe even pump? I don’t know. Process of elimination I suppose. I’ll let you know after oil change/filter. If any other suggestions please let me know. Thanks to everyone for help.

Can it be a good test to measure the oil pressure?
The service manual describe how to measure the oil pressure.

Confusing info here. You say the oil light came on and now won't start. Does it turn over using the starter at all or turns over but does not fire. And by drift starting I'm assuming you mean bump or push start?

The oil light is supposed to come on when the motor dies. If it is on while the bike is running.. that is not good.

Car oil will ruin the wet clutch. Use Rotella T-4 or T-6 15-W40 .

This sounds like a charging / battery issue. A bike with a low battery runs like... umm.. not very good. That pesky spark gets pretty weak with a dead battery.. Magneto's haven't been used since the 50's.

There are free *.pdf service manuals on this site. I don't remember where. Perhaps someone else can chime on where to find it.

Good luck with your bike.

baldy110 wrote: Confusing info here. You say the oil light came on and now won't start. Does it turn over using the starter at all or turns over but does not fire. And by drift starting I'm assuming you mean bump or push start?

Exactly! Said it wouldn't start by ignition, so testing oil pressure? I believe testing battery voltage might rank a tad bit higher than checking oil pressure during the process of elimination. I realize that some language barriers do exist depending on where the OP is located.

Low / dead battery = no start.
Low oil pressure =oil light on.

Pictures or it didn't happen.

Uh yeah, I guess it didn't occur to me that he meant the light came on after the motor stops, as that would be normal.

So to clarify, did the oil light come on before the engine stopped running? Did the engine run while the light was on for a while?

loudhvx wrote: Uh yeah, I guess it didn't occur to me that he meant the light came on after the motor stops, as that would be normal.

So to clarify, did the oil light come on before the engine stopped running? Did the engine run while the light was on for a while?

This sentence gave it away. "Will not start by ignition but will start on drift start but does not run good at all." Of course, I AM also clairvoyant.

BUT then just like he appeared, POOF, he's gone! Mr BR is no longer interacting or offering up any feedback. Obviously if the engine dies, the oil light will come on. :S

I dealt with a bunch of low mechanical aptitude types on the Honda rebel forum while trying to sell off my spares, and it is amazing what little knowledge some folks exhibit on basic repairs. Or the lack of >trying< to research anything. It's much easier to post a question then let others try to figure it out for them.