kz1000 z1 classic help

[9secGSXR1340]

My father in law has this (1980) kz1000 z1 classic FI. he's had it since the late 80's. rode fine until 8 years ago. then i guess it would just bog out and not throttle up then not start. so i deceided this year to take a shot at it. the coil was cracked, so i replaced them with coils from a gsxr1100 (there spec'd the same) changed spark plugs, battery...ect. the problem were having im thinking it has to do with the fuel injection. the bike has no power, and bogs when giving throttle. its almost like its not reading the tps sensor. this FI stuff on bikes in new for me.

im wondering where to start.....replace the tps, replace the maf sensor, clean injectors, clean throttle bodies????

any help would be apprieciated

[elr658]

29 smoothbores.

[9secGSXR1340]

how is that a helpful idea?

[elr658]

It isn't an idea. IT'S THE FIX.

[MFolks]

You can try spraying some electrical contact cleaner(NOT WD-40!!) into the TPS. Most of them are a variable carbon resistor that gets dirty from use.

I'd recommend going to the nearest Radio Shack or any good electronics supply store and get a can of De-oxit D5. I use it on my 82 GPz 1100's FI connectors and TPS.

The website for De-oxit is caig.com - Home of DeoxIT - CAIG Laboratories, Inc. It's made by Caig Labs in San Diego Ca. I've used it for years with no problems.

[9secGSXR1340]

thanks i will try that.

are these bikes known for anything faulty in the FI systems....are the injectors prone to get clogged?

[steell]

See number 7 in the pic?? That's the Mass Air Flow meter, and if it's not working then you get the symptoms you describe.

As far as the 29mm smoothbores being the fix, it is if you can't figure out EFI and want to take a step backward in technology.







.

[KevyzToy]

Originally Posted by elr658

29 smoothbores.

What he said. That bike had history of a crappy FI system. So bad that many owners tore the FI out and put carbs on.

[steell]

As the very first fuel injected Kawasaki motorcycle the FI system certainly doesn't compare to a 2009 system, but it was leading edge at the time.
The "history of a crappy FI system" is a result of the ham fisted wannabe mechanics that couldn't repair or even diagnose the problems with the system.
Of course that makes an actual fuel injected KZ1000G worth more money

[9secGSXR1340]

well i knew what he meant by 29mm smoothbores.....if it was my bike i would make it carb'd.....but its not. i will definitly look in to the maf now....thank for all the help......is there away i can check the ohms/volts on it to figure if its working right

[Jeff.saunders]

In the early 1980's Kawasaki issued a service bulletin telling dealers to remove the fuel injection and replace with carbs. The system is very unreliable - esp. 30 years on. There are a number of typical causes for problems, the main being the control module itself. new ones are totally unobtainable. Used ones a risky proposition as there is no effective way to test them except slap them on a bike and run the bike for 30-40 minutes or more.

Like any system where gasoline is left in the bike, deposits can accumulate and clog components.

One major issue with these bikes, there's no easy way to recalibrate the setup when changing to a 4-1 exhausts system, or adding performance parts.

I only know of a handful of the Z1 Classics still running EFI - probably better than 75% of them have been converted to carbs.

[9secGSXR1340]

ok ill run this by him...any idea where to find the 29mm carbs. will they fit the intake boots, and what do you do with the openning where the injector goes, im assuming some sort of block off plate

[steell]

Check out this link for KZ1000G parts.

http://redlinecycle.com/Fuel%20Injection.html

[StarGate]

Originally Posted by 9secGSXR1340

any idea where to find the 29mm carbs.

29mm smoothbores were the top of the class for building a performance bike. For that reason most of them are sought out by drag racers and like minded people so there are not a lot of them around that are still available. If you want a set be prepared to pay $400 + for a set and keep an eye on ebay. A good set of VM or CV carbs will do just fine if you decide to go to carbs. As far as I know, the vast majority of the Kawasaki 1000+cc carbed models produced post 81 were fitted with the BS34 CV carbs. I think all of the 1000 police models from 81-05 had them. They work well, and are easy to find parts and rebuild kits for.

[elr658]

Originally Posted by Jeff.saunders

In the early 1980's Kawasaki issued a service bulletin telling dealers to remove the fuel injection and replace with carbs. The system is very unreliable - esp. 30 years on.

I only know of a handful of the Z1 Classics still running EFI - probably better than 75% of them have been converted to carbs.

I was a line technician at Kawasaki of Myrtle Beach from 1979-1986.

[elr658]

Originally Posted by steell

As far as the 29mm smoothbores being the fix, it is if you can't figure out EFI and want to take a step backward in technology.







.

I'd bet you could fabricate dandy block off plates that look like the #10 gasket in steell's diagram.
You could run VM28s off a 78-79 model without any difficulty.

I'd gently remove my EFI and put it in a clean plastic tote. So that when I'm too old to ride, I'd reinstall it on the bike I'd put in my living room.

[zoro]

Originally Posted by elr658

I'd bet you could fabricate dandy block off plates that look like the #10 gasket in steell's diagram.
You could run VM28s off a 78-79 model without any difficulty.

I'd gently remove my EFI and put it in a clean plastic tote. So that when I'm too old to ride, I'd reinstall it on the bike I'd put in my living room.

You are too old! Aint you figured that out yet?.........LOL........EFI? Never!!!

[sidy]

Originally Posted by 9secGSXR1340

My father in law has this (1980) kz1000 z1 classic FI. he's had it since the late 80's. rode fine until 8 years ago. then i guess it would just bog out and not throttle up then not start. so i decided this year to take a shot at it. the coil was cracked, so i replaced them with coils from a gsxr1100 (there spec'd the same) changed spark plugs, battery...etc. the problem were having i'm thinking it has to do with the fuel injection. the bike has no power, and bogs when giving throttle. its almost like its not reading the tps sensor. this FI stuff on bikes in new for me.

im wondering where to start.....replace the tps, replace the maf sensor, clean injectors, clean throttle bodies????

any help would be apprieciated

G'Day,

The z1000G and H models as well as the GPz1100B1 all have the same EFI system that uses a Variable Air Flap mechanism.. its a hybrid car design and very unreliable. However the bike should always start.. I have some info here:

z900

I bough one of these some years back and still have it as a future custom project, here is what I did:

1. Clean EFI fuel Lines - if its been sitting 8 years then it will be blocked.
2. Verify FULL spark when cranking - same ignition as a carb model.
3. Verify Fuel PUMP starts and primes fuel lines when initially powered on, use kill switch on and off to verify this.
4. TPS is a switch on these models - ON/OFF, not a true TPS as used in later models. Does not impact starting.

Have you tried the above?

Hint: You can disconnect the air flap and the bike should still start.

My Thoughts:

If you want to keep EFI on the bike, use one from a GPz1100B2 or later model... (they use ALPHA-N, real TPS and no Air flap!). Later model requires air temp sensor and CLT sensor, wiring harness should be the same but don't hold me to this. I have 4 EFI models (Z1000G, B1 and 2 zx1100-A1's) my B2 has carbs on it, and all work great if wiring and sensors are good.

The first EFI system is crap so convert it to something (later model DFI or z1000J carbs) if you can't get original system to work.