Won't Start

Hi, I am trying to help a friend get a 1979 KZ1000st running so she can sell it. It belonged to her husband who passed away about a year ago. With the key/switch on, nothing happens when you push the start switch. It has a full charge and power to the ignition switch. The fuse is good, but I was told to test the rectifier and I did. It is getting voltage in, but appears to not have voltage out. I want to make sure this is the problem before I buy another rectifier. I did the rectifier resistance test listed in the Repair manual and had hi/low resistance in one direction and switched leads and had no resistance the other. Any Ideas? Are there any other things to check? Thanks

Pull in the clutch.

650ed wrote:

Pull in the clutch.

To elaborate a little on this, the clutch lever has a safety switch that it contacts when at rest and prevents the bike from starting w/out first pulling the lever in towards the handlebars. It basically keeps the operator from starting the bike while it's in gear, which could potentially lurch away from him/her and do some serious damage. :pinch:


BTW, welcome to KZr.

Post edited by: RetroRiceRocketRider, at: 2007/10/13 20:49

if u are useing the clutch,the next step would be to test for power at the switch.u can take the switch off the handlebars and put a multimeter positive lead from the power side of the switch and the other lead to ground and see if there is power there with the key on.

Would check wiring from the starter button (black color, I think) through lockout switch to starter relay.

Assure good connections at bullet connectors to and from lockout switch and into starter relay.

Would also check battery positive connection to starter relay.

Good Luck!

This happened to me as well and it turned out that I had disconnected a wire when removing the tank. I felt like a complete idiot. I would look for loose wire first before I unscrewed or disconnected anything.