Z1OwnersClub GB

Hi all,

I'm reassembling my Z900 following an engine rebuild and the one thing I didnt label up was the HT leads so now I'm not sure if I'm putting them back in the right sequence. I believe the l/hand solonoid feeds 1 & 4 and the r/hand solonoid feeds 2 & 3, correct? Does it matter which way round the leads of each pair go, or do they fire together ?
Any words of wisdom appreciated !
Cheers,
Derek

Hi Derek,

You should be able to tell which coil is which from the LV cables.

The coil with the green wire is 1 & 4 and the coil with the black wire is 2 & 3 (this assumes the wiring is correct at the points or electronic ignition)

Once you have established which coil serves which pair of cylinders it doesn't matter which way round you connect the HT leads, i.e. 1 can go to 4 and 4 can go to 1 etc..

Regards,

Andy

Agree with all hacks comments, although I think you will find on 1 & 4 the length of the HT leads is a bit of a give away which goes on which plug.

Oh, I forgot to mention that my previous post is only true for Z900A4.

For Z1/Z1A it's the opposite way round - green = 2/3 and Black = 1/4
(trust Kawasaki to stick to a standard - not!)

Well at least that's what is shown on the diagrams I have.
Not sure about Z1B but would assume same as Z1/Z1A

Anyone else like to comment?

Andy

Thanks guys. I just checked the wiring to the coils and unfortunately each one has a red wire and a black wire going in so I'm none the wiser! Not a green wire to be seen. Any clues ?
regards
Derek

Derek,

Are you running with points or electronic ignition?
If electronic what make and model?
Is your bike a Z900A4?

Andy

coils go to 1 & 4 and 2 & 3 if it doesn't start swap the LT leads around. Left hand point is usually 1 & 4 if I remember right unless you've had the cam off and put it back on the wrong way!!!

Andy & co

Its a Z900A4 and its definitely points. A Black wire comes from the contact set marked 'L' and a green wire comes from the contact set marked 'R'.
I followed the wiring up to the coils and the previous confusion was caused by the green wire splitting into two black ones at a connector to the coils (the red ones coming from the main wiring loop).
I currently have the green wire going to the r/hand coil which is in turn connected to plugs 2&3. The black wire goes to the l/hand coil which is currently connected to 1&4.
On checking the contacts, the Left one (black) opens at the 1&4 timing mark and the Right one (green) opens at 2&3. (I just checked this with the manual and appears to be correct). So by my reckoning I've got it set up correctly but it is the opposite of Andy's layout for a Z900!!
Any further comments welcome before eventually I start her up (once the carbs & fuel tank go back on that is..)
cheers
Derek

left coil is 1 & 4 on my A4

Derek,

This is really wierd.

I have a genuine Kawasaki Shop Manual and a genuine Owners Handbook, in both cases these show green as firing 1/4 and black as firing 2/3 for a Z900A4.

The Shop manual also has drawings for Z1/A and shows these as the opposite way round - which is suspicious to say the least!!

I have just been and checked my Z900A4 (points) and can confirm that it is as you describe:
Black wire to l/h points firing 1/4
Green wire to r/h points firing 2/3

This contradicts the Kawasaki wiring diagrams for this model so I can only assume that the wiring is the same across the entire range and that the drawings are incorrect for the Z900.
I wouldn't have been surprised to find this in a Haynes manual but to come across this in a genuine Kawasaki manual is a bit dissapointing.

Anyway, the good news is your bike is wired the same as mine and mine works, so it looks as though you're ready to go.

Surely someone else must have come across this before - any comments?

Andy

Thanks Andy & co. It just goes to show that membership of Z1OC is better than any manual, including original Kawasaki ones !!

FYI, my manual is a Clymer for all Kawasaki 900 & 1000 Fours, '73 to '80. Its description of the Ignition Timing on p.55 appears to be correct but cleverly avoids mentioning any wiring colours!

Cheers
Derek

This gets worse!

I've just checked my Haynes manual and just like the Kawasaki manual it shows Z900 ignition being the opposite way round to Z1/Z1A - so I'm no longer sure about anything.

I will take the tank off at the weekend so that I can follow the the wiring from end-to-end.

Andy

Andy

Sorry if I've given you cause to doubt the meaning of life, the universe & everything !!

Derek