Need Bike help!

luckyc1423 · 10-19-2006

Hi, its Clint again, I did a previous post on my battery sucking! Well I charged it and the bike still wouldnt start. I took it to Autozone and they tested it for me and said the battery held complete charge and was fine. I wrote the same paragraph below incase someone didnt see my old post. Is there anytnig I can check without having to have any special tools cause I have none other than minor stuff. It is a 1998 kawasaki zx7r.

I was at work the other day and someone mentioned to me that my tailight was on, this seemed wierd because everytime I shut off my bike the tailight always shuts off, but it didnt this time. Nevertheless it drained my battery and I had to have it jumped, I went home and drove it later that day and went back out to start it and it seemed the battery was dead again, I did not check before starting it to see if the tailight was on again but it would not start. I left it alone and jumped started it the following night to ride with some friends. I got about two miles away with the bike running fine I pulled up to a stop light and put the bike in neutral, after my fan came on (which is very loud anyways) the bike died. I rolled it to a parking lot and started checking it out. The tailight, the neuatral light and gauges (they were very dim), and the blinkers all worked but the bike would not start and the front light did not turn on. I got it jumped again from a friend and drove the bike home.....everytime I would come to a place to were my bike would have to come to a stop I kept the biked reved up pretty high and it stayed started until I made it home, I came to the driveway while still going slow popped it in neutral and the bike died immediately........Does anyone have an idea what could be causing this

FPMXer · 10-19-2006

Just a shot in the dark, but I would check the operational condition of the voltage regulator, kill switch and neutral switch. Something is loose and shorting the others out inside the control with the lights, turns and what ever else is in there. Also check all the fuses on the bike and make sure all the connections are tight and clean.

luckyc1423 · 10-19-2006

I really appreciate your help! I visually checked all the fuses and didnt see a messed up fuse, but I will tomorrow get something else to fool proof check them.........I dont know much about bikes and you may think im stupid for asking this, but how do I check the voltage regulator and were would that be.....also how much does one of those cost to replace...........cause this sounds like it could be it since the bike will stay started if the engine is reved, but on the other hand the bike wont even come close to starting now without a jump, I dont get a knock like u usually get with the starter, and the engine isnt trying to turn over, I get no sound when pressing the start button, but like i said the gauges half way light up and horn half way is loud.

FPMXer · 10-20-2006

The only stupid question is the one never asked. The voltage regulator will or should be somewhere in line with the positive wire for the battery. Look under the seat and battery box area and chase the positive wire. Look over all the little boxes and connections. It might be a good idea to go to the dealer and buy a service manuel for your bike. It will be a better resource than what I can tell you without a book in front of me myself.

QKENUF4U · 10-20-2006

could very easily be your ignition switch is bad inside.

luckyc1423 · 10-20-2006

How do you check and see if the voltage regulator is bad?

How do you check and see if the ignition switch is bad, and were would that be?

how much do these run?

Ericthejet · 10-20-2006

My first thought is the ign. switch regarding the brake light.
You bike can not fully recharge the batt. on its own and you need to put it on a proper charger.

luckyc1423 · 10-21-2006

I just thought I would update everyone on what I have done and hopefully I will get some feedback, you guys have been great so far!

A couple days ago I took my battery in to see if it was good and Autozone said it was fine. Well I waited a couple days to re-hook it back it to the back, I re-hooked it last night, but before I hooked it up I followed the positived connector that goes to the battery to a small piece (I have no clue what this is called), I unscrewed this small piece (it would not unscrew with a flat head or phillips, it took some other type of tool). Anyways, I screwed it back on and tighted it alot tighter that what it was. I also tightened the battery screws tighter than what they were also.

After this the bike started up fine and seemed to be in perfect working condition. I ran it for about 45 minutes last night to see if it would hold the charge and it ran fine with no flaws. I realize the bike probably isnt fixed and it was a temporary fix. Why would the bike now be running fine, when just a couple days ago it wouldnt even try to turn over and when it did I had to keep the engine reved to keep it started?

QKENUF4U · 10-21-2006

sounds like you figured it out. you just had a loose connection at the battery/thingamajig you played with and thats all it needed was to be tightened up

10-19-2006	#1 (permalink)
luckyc1423 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 10	Need Bike help! Hi, its Clint again, I did a previous post on my battery sucking! Well I charged it and the bike still wouldnt start. I took it to Autozone and they tested it for me and said the battery held complete charge and was fine. I wrote the same paragraph below incase someone didnt see my old post. Is there anytnig I can check without having to have any special tools cause I have none other than minor stuff. It is a 1998 kawasaki zx7r. I was at work the other day and someone mentioned to me that my tailight was on, this seemed wierd because everytime I shut off my bike the tailight always shuts off, but it didnt this time. Nevertheless it drained my battery and I had to have it jumped, I went home and drove it later that day and went back out to start it and it seemed the battery was dead again, I did not check before starting it to see if the tailight was on again but it would not start. I left it alone and jumped started it the following night to ride with some friends. I got about two miles away with the bike running fine I pulled up to a stop light and put the bike in neutral, after my fan came on (which is very loud anyways) the bike died. I rolled it to a parking lot and started checking it out. The tailight, the neuatral light and gauges (they were very dim), and the blinkers all worked but the bike would not start and the front light did not turn on. I got it jumped again from a friend and drove the bike home.....everytime I would come to a place to were my bike would have to come to a stop I kept the biked reved up pretty high and it stayed started until I made it home, I came to the driveway while still going slow popped it in neutral and the bike died immediately........Does anyone have an idea what could be causing this

10-19-2006	#2 (permalink)
FPMXer 2Stroke 4 life!! BTK Expert Join Date: May 2006 Location: Temecula, California Posts: 561	Just a shot in the dark, but I would check the operational condition of the voltage regulator, kill switch and neutral switch. Something is loose and shorting the others out inside the control with the lights, turns and what ever else is in there. Also check all the fuses on the bike and make sure all the connections are tight and clean. __________________ 86' 250R Trike 88' LT500RJ Quadzilla My blood is yellow and red!

10-20-2006	#4 (permalink)
FPMXer 2Stroke 4 life!! BTK Expert Join Date: May 2006 Location: Temecula, California Posts: 561	The only stupid question is the one never asked. The voltage regulator will or should be somewhere in line with the positive wire for the battery. Look under the seat and battery box area and chase the positive wire. Look over all the little boxes and connections. It might be a good idea to go to the dealer and buy a service manuel for your bike. It will be a better resource than what I can tell you without a book in front of me myself. __________________ 86' 250R Trike 88' LT500RJ Quadzilla My blood is yellow and red!

10-20-2006	#7 (permalink)
Ericthejet Needs A Real Job BTK Expert Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The northeast! Posts: 2,018	My first thought is the ign. switch regarding the brake light. You bike can not fully recharge the batt. on its own and you need to put it on a proper charger. __________________ 1984 Ninja 900 (A1) To make it go faster I need to add more lightness!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Wrecked the Bike... :(	Constrictor	Kawasaki Cruisers	91	03-31-2009 10:13 AM
A Little History Lesson for the Noob Wanting That Big Bike	OmahaRider	Kawasaki Streetbikes/Sportbikes	118	04-04-2008 05:56 PM
That Harley Sound?	beantmt	Kawasaki Cruisers	123	07-21-2007 10:24 AM
Big bike, small woman, big incline...	ervins	Main Lobby	25	09-18-2006 04:16 PM
My second bike, so far so good...	NovaPhoenix	Main Lobby	9	04-20-2005 05:13 PM

10-19-2006	#3 (permalink)
luckyc1423 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 10	I really appreciate your help! I visually checked all the fuses and didnt see a messed up fuse, but I will tomorrow get something else to fool proof check them.........I dont know much about bikes and you may think im stupid for asking this, but how do I check the voltage regulator and were would that be.....also how much does one of those cost to replace...........cause this sounds like it could be it since the bike will stay started if the engine is reved, but on the other hand the bike wont even come close to starting now without a jump, I dont get a knock like u usually get with the starter, and the engine isnt trying to turn over, I get no sound when pressing the start button, but like i said the gauges half way light up and horn half way is loud.

10-20-2006	#5 (permalink)
QKENUF4U AZ's Official Mechanic BTK Expert Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: lake havasu city arizona Posts: 4,551	could very easily be your ignition switch is bad inside.

10-20-2006	#6 (permalink)
luckyc1423 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 10	How do you check and see if the voltage regulator is bad? How do you check and see if the ignition switch is bad, and were would that be? how much do these run?

10-21-2006	#8 (permalink)
luckyc1423 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 10	I just thought I would update everyone on what I have done and hopefully I will get some feedback, you guys have been great so far! A couple days ago I took my battery in to see if it was good and Autozone said it was fine. Well I waited a couple days to re-hook it back it to the back, I re-hooked it last night, but before I hooked it up I followed the positived connector that goes to the battery to a small piece (I have no clue what this is called), I unscrewed this small piece (it would not unscrew with a flat head or phillips, it took some other type of tool). Anyways, I screwed it back on and tighted it alot tighter that what it was. I also tightened the battery screws tighter than what they were also. After this the bike started up fine and seemed to be in perfect working condition. I ran it for about 45 minutes last night to see if it would hold the charge and it ran fine with no flaws. I realize the bike probably isnt fixed and it was a temporary fix. Why would the bike now be running fine, when just a couple days ago it wouldnt even try to turn over and when it did I had to keep the engine reved to keep it started?

10-21-2006	#9 (permalink)
QKENUF4U AZ's Official Mechanic BTK Expert Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: lake havasu city arizona Posts: 4,551	sounds like you figured it out. you just had a loose connection at the battery/thingamajig you played with and thats all it needed was to be tightened up

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)