1983 Kawasaki KZ 550 LTD woes

[Bonz]

That could be a good bike for you motoman. Weighs 475 pounds drippin wet, comes up easy on the center stand, and you weigh half what I do. It would be a small-size rocket with you on it. :-)

[oldyam80sg]

One thing that annoys me with this bike-You need to pull in the clutch to start it-can that be disabled until he can get the bike straightened out?

[motoman]

One thing that annoys me with this bike-You need to pull in the clutch to start it-can that be disabled until he can get the bike straightened out?

Nope, that would be a factory safety switch at clutch housing just like that's on my Venturer oldyam80sg. Howard, upright the weight is not an issue. Even with THAT bike, a tipover setting still with me aboard would likely put me in a wheel chair for my remaining days. Just have really think about it before I decide to throw a leg over and ride the Venturer this Spring.

[Bonz]

Sounds like you are thinking about what you need to be thinking about, Brant.

For the clutch switch, could it be at the clutch lever itself? Or is that usually only with hydraulic clutches/brakes?

Good trivia, didn't know the Venturer (or any XS) had a clutch switch.

[motoman]

Sounds like you are thinking about what you need to be thinking about, Brant.

For the clutch switch, could it be at the clutch lever itself? Or is that usually only with hydraulic clutches/brakes?

Good trivia, didn't know the Venturer (or any XS) had a clutch switch.

All 80 and later XS11s had the OEM clutch switch in wiring to left side clutch perch.

[oldyam80sg]

Well I went to this guys apartment today-Hooked up multi-meter and battery voltage no key on was 11.40 volts-turned on key and bike would not start-put on jump pack and bike started-took off jump pack battery voltage was 12.2 volts - Reved up bike 13.4 volts and dropping-took bike for a ride down street and made it back-shut off bike nothing-put on jump pack bike started-took out battery and it is sitting in my garage now charging-only goes to 75% and wont charge any more.Are we looking at a dead cell? Walmart battery maybe 4 months old.

[motoman]

Sounds like you are thinking about what you need to be thinking about, Brant.

For the clutch switch, could it be at the clutch lever itself? Or is that usually only with hydraulic clutches/brakes?

Good trivia, didn't know the Venturer (or any XS) had a clutch switch.

Might wanna look closer.......IIRC so does your SG.

[motoman]

Well I went to this guys apartment today-Hooked up multi-meter and battery voltage no key on was 11.40 volts-turned on key and bike would not start-put on jump pack and bike started-took off jump pack battery voltage was 12.2 volts - Reved up bike 13.4 volts and dropping-took bike for a ride down street and made it back-shut off bike nothing-put on jump pack bike started-took out battery and it is sitting in my garage now charging-only goes to 75% and wont charge any more.Are we looking at a dead cell? Walmart battery maybe 4 months old.

WallyWorld being your key answer. Spend the extra money and use an Interstate battery. You gain nothing using a cheapie battery. I get 7-9yrs. from
Interstate batteries, with one recharge from a stupid mistake. The Venturer's Interstate is going on year 7 as of now.

[Bonz]

Yeah, that is a possibility for sure with the powersport batteries from big chain stores. It's inconsistent on how long they have been there, and the quality isn't necessarily the best. I am sure you can talk Walmart into giving your money back, even without the receipt they are pretty good with that kind of thing. Get a new battery and the woes will be gone.

That's a negative on the clutch switch Ghost Rider.

[oldyam80sg]

What prevents the battery from charging when it is installed on the bike?

[Bonz]

Looks like it is charging based on 13.4 volts? Yeah, dead cell or cells and it can't hold enough charge to start the bike.

[oldyam80sg]

Yes but as I held the multimeter on the battery voltage steadily dropped.Was less than 12 volts before i rode bike

[Bonz]

So, at a steady 3-4k was voltage steady or dropping?

[oldyam80sg]

dropping I dont understand why besides bad cell

[Bonz]

Sorry for all the questions... that voltage was at the battery, right? Can you check it before the battery?