TOPIC:

i have the bike listed above in the subject line, and it has run fine for years. i went to start it up for spring this year, and when i turn the key to the "on" position my bike tried to start up without me even pushing the electric starter button! my bike will start, but the electric starter button seems to keep running, and then it drains my battery. my kill switch also won't work, so i'm wondering if anyone knows what the problem might be?? is there a spring in the electric starter that keeps the circuit closed or something that it won't stop starting??

thanks for any and all help!!

It may be in your start switch, but something tells me it is more likely you have a faulty stater solinoid, that has the contacts welded shut. I would look there first (under your side cover).

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Good call, Apeman. The starter solenoid sits under the left side cover, right beside the flasher relay. With ignition on check if you have 12V on the wire that connects to the small black wire going into the solenoid - you shouldn´t have unless you push the start button and pull the clutch at the same time (provided you still have you clutch safety switch).

There are two large nuts on the solenoid, one connects to the battery, the other to the starter motor. Disconnect the wire going to the starter motor and check for continuity between the two nuts - there shouldn´t be continuity unless you have 12V going into the solenoid, if there is Apeman is right on the money.

Btw, note that for some reason unknown to man the black wire on the solenoid is the positive wire and the red/yellow connects to ground.

Post edited by: OnkelB, at: 2007/03/22 15:40

thanks a bunch! i'll check the solenoid out and see what happens! Never would have figured this out on my own - electric work is not my specialty!

The starter relay/ solenoid is an easy check, but a good hint is that your kill switch also doesn't work.

I'd open up the right handlebar control cluster and see what nastiness exists in there. Sounds like a loose wire flailing about perhaps?

But like the guys said, pull the starter relay and see if its fused.

The starter solenoid can stick as already mentioned, but when this happens the starter will turn for eternity regardless of what position the key is in, so I doubt this your problem. Sounds more likely problems with wiring up in the handlebars or the start switch, but hard to say.

I had all kinds of elect problems with mine until I pulled the wires out of the handle bars, I found a lot of chafed wires, run them on the outside

I vote for checking the right handlebar controls. I just replaced the kill switch and start button on mine, both had broken plastic, were corroded, and offered iffy starting.

Well, I found out that the problem was a faulty starter solenoid, so I need to get a new one. Thanks for the help with all the trouble shooting! I looked at the kill switch (which wasn't working, and had in the past), and opened up the plastic "box" on the right handle bar, and everything seemed good - no rusting or junk in there at all. I've found several starter solenoids on ebay (no carries this part by me), and there are a lot of different years, but no 1977. Does anyone know if a 1979 kz650 starter solenoid will work for my 77??

thanks again for all the help!!

Yes it is the same switch for years '77-'80 650's and a few years of the 305cc bike

Same solenoid is also used on a lot of Hondas, the one on my 650 is off a CB500T, it even fits in the stock rubber holder. Don´t know if you have TourMax parts in the US but they offer a new one for around $50. Honda OEM no. is 35850-431-007.

Post edited by: OnkelB, at: 2007/03/27 10:07

I have bought solenoids from a variety of makes and any will work if wired properly. Biggest thing is mounting as some mount a lot different than on a KZ.