Electrics

[mikey]

Heres one for you Z1000A2 Sometimes itl start on the button like its got a fully charged battery and be ok for a while, then its like its got a flat battery and got to kickstart it, when its like this and you press the start button the ignition lights go dim and the indicator warning lights come on very dim
and if you charge the battery overnight when its playing up its makes no diference, then all of a sudden its ok again and it starts on the button, and also when its playing up sometimes the 2 indicator direction lights come on dimly and cuts the engine but it starts up again easy on the kickstart, ralphy has very kindly offerd to take a look but with work commitments its finding time to take it to him anyone got any ideas as to what this could be

[RALPHARAMA]

Bring the fucka round 'er an I'll take a gander !

Not Wednesday night cos I'm going down Machine Mart (VAT free day!)with John to get me new bike lift ... on second thoughts ... do make it Wednesday, it'll be heavy ... I'll make the tea and watch

[Ed Z1-R]

How old is the loom

RIP 'N' Lazarus the L.S.B.

International Budget Wire LoomZ Utopia

[mikey]

Ed guess the loom is as old as the bike 30 years cheers ralphy maybe tonight
but work flat out at mo aint enough hours in the day

[Steve S]

Sounds like a loose wire/earth problem have a good look at all the wires in the headlamp area but you also need to confirm that the battery is in good shape.

[Z1RII]

exactly same problem in my Z1R, after looking for the mistake and replaced everything has to do with electric with no changes, the problem was the starter. replaced it and engine starts like bike came out of factory yesterday.

[Buckle]

I'd go with what was suggested above, probably an earth / connection fault. To diagnose engine earth fault or not - when bike exhibits the fault connect a jumpt lead between the engine (or even better the starter motor body making sure you don't short out on the feed to it!) and the battery negative terminal. If the starter immediately cranks okay suspect a poor earth connection between engine / frame/ battery.

Checking earths with a multi meter when not loaded (ie starter not drawing loadsa amps) will probably not show up the fault, as connection may only break down under load.

Have you got a manual? Should tell you where earth points are.

Good luck!

[mikey]

Cheers guys took a trip to ralphys after work and i aint guna pretend to understand what he done but, after virtually rewiring the charging circiut
and calling me a few names hes sorted it but said realy it all wants rewiring
which im sure hel help me with, more like ill help him he worked for best part of 4 hours on my bike tonight ralphy your a star thank you very much owe you a BIG BIG BIG drink at yorky rally cheers mate

[RALPHARAMA]

Glad to be able to help After my experiences with the Old Gurl's electrics I do have a passable understanding of what makes the electrics work.

After making a new loom for the Old Gurl, and it crossed my mind at the time, I reckon it should be possible to redesign the loom having the bits where you have runs replicated by loads of lengths of thin wire replaced with single heavier cables. If I had a load of time it would be fun to try and simplify what I consider to be an over complicated loom with something much simpler. I guess it would involve having, not just ten million different colours, but also a lot of different weights. Maybe Mr Kwaka worked out that it was cheaper to buy a shit load of wire in one thickness than varying sizes.

When you're ready to attack you're wiring with fervour I'll be there to help

[mikey]

Cheers ralph i can see me visiting vision house often this coming winter but
lets hope i can get through this summer first thanks again for tonight ralph your a diamond geezer

[Ed Z1-R]

Mikey when wiring is that old i rip the lot out and refit,even the wires to components.(where possible)
With the switch gear i strip them,clean the contacts.
Its good fun and you learn the sparx.
Go on give it a go

[Geoff Meager]

You can rewire mine if you like Ralph....as its only just up the road

[RALPHARAMA]

Where it is is no sweat to me - bring it to Vision House and I'll take a look

[Ed Z1-R]

Im on my 8th "zed" rewire over the moons,bin a lot of fun
When i bought back the LTD 440 off the chick i sold it to, a few weeks later she asked me had i had any sparx problems (like key arcing on the bars etc) i replied that i did not as the first thing i did was rewire the lot

[RALPHARAMA]

I have to admit that making a new loom for the Old Gurl was harder than I expected, but the satisfaction was so much greater than paying some one to make one or buying one off the shelf. But realistically some find electrics very hard, I don't luckily, but I know enough folk that do. Having seen many examples of home wiring on both bikes and boats, I wouldn't try and persuade those who don't find it comes to them easily to attempt it without some serious help and coaching.

That said it is very rewarding and with some help many more could do it with some tuition.