TOPIC:

I have a 1983 kzt550 ltd shaft (f1). I am definitely in need if a new igniter unit. Is there an aftermarket oarts source? Or a home made solution? The part numbers 21119-113 (off of my original), 21119-1129, and 21119-1140 are all unavailable. I found one new for $307 us, and several used online for around $100 each that look about useless from the pics. I have searched the forum and found how to make a cdi using 2 GM hei for older model bikes, but, not much info on the gps/spectre models. Thanks for any help in advance!

HEI for older model bikes needs a mechanic ignition advancer your bike didn´t have.
Your igniter unit have an electrinic advancer onboard.
He sells your CDI 21119-1113 for 70 Euro.

www.motorparts-online.com/en/kawasaki/gp...r-cdi-ecu/201268853#

1983 Kz550F1 spectre/Ltd should have had a mechanical advance unit. The igniter should have been 21119-1040. That is the smaller unit for mechanical-advance.
In the U.S., at least, none of the Kz550's got the electronic-advance system. It first appeared on the 1984 Zx550A1 (Gpz550).
EDIT: With the possible exception of the California model 1984 Kz550F2 shaft-drive Ltd (they dropped the "Spectre" name on the 550 after 1983) which may have had the electronic-advance ignition.

As long as you have mechanical-advance, you can use the HEI system as long as you can find the right 4-pin modules.
You can also retrofit the mechanical-advance system onto bikes which came with electronic-advance. That requires the advancer, pickups, rotor, and igniter. The same coils will work with either system.

I am in the process of converting the various HEI projects over to the 7-pin modules, but it may be awhile. In the meantime, the 4-pin version will work as long as you can get the correct modules as described.

This is the project for the Kz550's and other Kz's using mechanical-advance. Notice the photo of the original igniter. If yours looks like that, then you can use the HEI igniters.
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/Ignition/GPZgmHEImod.html

This link describes how to test the modules for type.
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/Ignition/HeiModules/HeiModules.html

I do not have the mechanical advance. I intend on building my own wiring harness for this bike anyways. I have been checking out some dyna digital ignition systems to possibly replace all this with. However, if I can replace it with a simpler (and more affordable) option like retrofitting older style mechanical advance, I'd rather do that. Witha dyna system, its at least $320 (USD), and the dr100 gm hei module is easily obtained for a reasonable price and simplicity. I may be looking for the wrong year model, the vin plate on my bike;
Mfg date: 12/83
Vin (model characters): JKAKZFF1
model: kz550 F

If im thinking correctly, this would actually be a 1984 kz550 ltd shaft (spectre)

A December build date indicates a 19484 KZ550-F2, LTD.

Is it possible to retrofit a centrifugal advance unit? If so you could then give loudhvx's HEI conversion a try.

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationYou need one of these. Not only will it answer your question about model year (that info is on the back cover) it will answer I host of other questions, some of which you have not even thought of.

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationA real factory manual should be considered a manditory purchase for sure.

This one is quite a bit cheaper than the one our friend TexasKZ posted...

I already downloaded a service manual. I'll be going over it over the next few days to see what all info I can find on the igniter information. Hopefully, all (or most) of my questions will be answered. From what I skimmed over in the manual, I should be able to use either/or system. However, im starting to lean towards the dyna digital cdi system just because of the parts availability and the ability to adapt.

If the bike is an 84 F2 it should have a silver motor case instead of the 83 F1 which was gold. Then, if the bike was a California model it may have come with the electronic-advance ignition, with the larger plastic-box igniter. This is according to the Kawasaki parts fiche. (I edited my post above to include this.)

The HEI modules won't be compatible with the pickups or rotor of the electronic-advance system.

And yes, you can easily retrofit the ignition from any earlier Kz550 into the F2 motor (but the later ignition won't fint into the earlier motors without modification).
That requires the pickups with timing plate from any earlier Kz550 and even most Kz650 and early 750-4 motors, along with Kz550 advancer mechanism # 1016 (number that is stamped into the unit) with rotor/pointer. That will work with the HEI modules. The coils are interchangeable between transistorized Kz systems.

Incidentally, none of these, are actually CDI. They are transistorized ignitions. Many sites get the name wrong and call everything CDI. Same goes for the Dyna ignitions. They are not actually CDI either.

I had to make some measurements for the later ignition so I put these graphics together for anyone interested in installing later ignitions into Kz550 motors.