ZL 1000 not charging

[Guest]

ZL600-Carb and throttle question

Hello all- I'm new to the forum and glad your here!
I just purchased my first eliminator 600 and love it. Great bike. Its a 1996 with 3700miles. The bikes previous owner let this thing sit- he wasnt really mechanically inclined so it wasnted taken care of very well.
It needed a little work. It would start only with the choke on, and would run at 4-5k rpms and would quit after choke was was turned off.
I changed the plugs, oil, fuel, charged the battery and a little sea foam to the fuel and got it to run, took around the block. It ran about 3-5krpm at its lowest- when i gave it throttle it would go to 7-8k rpm. It would stall if i lowered the curb idle too low.

After that i and decided to pull the carbs and clean them. once back on, i could get the bike to idle lower than 4k rpms - and it ran a little better than before.
It will not idle very well under 2500rpms before it drops quickly and will stall out. When i give it throttle it rev's very nice but will hold steady at that rpm before slowly returning to lower rpm.
This has me stumped!! I have checked for holes in my rubber boots connecting from the carb, they are clean.
I just dont know what to look for next. anyone have any suggestions?
Is this a carb issue or a throttle cable issue?
Thanks!
Z

 

[RickW]

Hello all
I'm new to the list, I found this great site looking for a replacement generator/alternator for my 1000. My bike is not charging, battery ran down, recharged and tested with a meter at the battery. I have about 12.4 volts with the bike off and discharges when its running. I'm not paying 850.00 for a new generator. I don't have the base manual which covers the diagnostic trouble shooting procedure, and can't find it online. Does anyone know what will interchange? It looks like the regulator and a few other parts for a ZG will work, but not the whole unit. Any advice would be great. Cheap part sources? Possible remedies?

 

[zlMark]

Welcome RickW!


Glad you found us!

Yea I just looked to see what crosses with the zl1000 generator and it lists only the zl900. I would take it apart and check/clean all the components. Who knows it might just need the regulator and/or diodes which won't show unless you put it on a lab scope. I have yet to get into troubleshooting this system so if anyone here knows better


Have you checked the Downloads section yet?

www.partsdepotstore.com

 

[SnakeDoctor]

The base manual should be here to DL and if not, give me and addy by PM to send it to and I will.

 

[RickW]

Thanks for replying. I downloaded the manual. I guess I typed in the wrong search. I'm beyond computer stupid. I probably should of posted this question on the technical forum. I'll figure out this site evidiently.

 

[zlMark]

Hey rick no biggie. We are here to help, and thats all i have to say about that. Let us know what the fix is or ask more questions. You are in Kansas correct?

 

[p2e1a1r2t]

zl alternator

hey rick, when my alternator went out i bought one from a salvage yard for 80 to 100.00. can't remember it's been a while. but it wasn't terrible. it was marked at the junkyard zx-11. i don't know if it actually was from a zx11 or missmarked but these engines have been around a while. i would check anything similar. jerry

 

[Kawasaki-krazy]

You need to see which other bikes use the 14 Amp/hour battery. The ZG (Concours) has a higher output alternator to cope with more accessories. I'm not sure if the higher output will fry the ZL battery. The rest of the electrics will be fine but it may be worth seeing if a slightly larger capacity battery will fit....could be a cheaper way round it.

Hope this helps.

KK

 

[RickW]

I'm definintely buying used, whatever I find after trouble shooting per the manual. I may not be able to get to it til the weekend though. Bummer, I wonder how long it will run before the battery dies. The good news is that the internals of many of the same era kawasaki's are the same. This will be my third alternator. The second one which appears to have died was bought used for 95 bucks about eight years ago. I was told it was out of a ZX9, the only difference was a shorter lead comming out of it. I appreciate the responses to my post. I look at everyone's bike pics in the galleries and see how neglected mine is. I need to get busy! It's in the garage or being ridden, not much cleaning/polishing.

 

[furchin]

Hey rickw, passing along some info to you that may be of use. You may want to call Morton
Grove Auto Electric in Illinois @847-965-0372. Ask them if they can repair your alternator. I sent my alternator from my Kawasaki voyager to them and had them increase the output from 35 amps to 60 amps. They did this for about $180.00 and a real quick turnaround.

 

[zl900_moab]

Third alternator in one bike?
You may have some other issues there, maybe run down the whole electrical system if you have it apart and make sure there aren't some other issues...Just a thought.
moab...
ps...WELCOME!

 

[zot]

What ever happened here? Rebuilt? used from ZG? Just spent the day looking for new generators...cheapest so far $555.96 (reminds me of 555=hahaha)

Mine is now doing the same thing....low out put I think, because I dont know the proper output at this time... when at idle I get 4.7 volts at the green connector by the battery, seems low. Bike shows classic symtoms of bad generator...was starting fine now a little sluggish, lights and signals getting dull after a few miles, then dies. Meter on battery says 12 volts key off...draining slightly when running.

 

[kawboy]

You can buy used cheaper than rebuilding one. They are on ebay, just shop around and make sure you're getting a good one.
These alternators will work
21001-1105
21001-1107
21001-1055
21001-1091
These are from the '84-'90 900/1000 Ninjas. Same alternator as the ZL, but the lead wire is shorter so you will have to swap that out. I have the 1055 on my ZL1000.

21001-1106
21001-1067
These are for ZL900/1000, direct replacement.

21001-1104
21001-1072
These are for the 86-06 Concours (ZG) and 90-01 ZX11. This is a little larger physically and has a little higher output capability. I know it will fit because I have fitted one to mine. You will have to change the lead wire.

 

[kawboy]

. Meter on battery says 12 volts key off...draining slightly when running.

Our bike alternator is not like a car's - it will NOT charge the battery at idle. So with the bike idling, the battery will slowly discharge due to the lights. As you rev the engine, the battery voltage should increase, and peak at around 14.5V somewhere around 3-4K rpm.

 

[Stormy]

You need to see which other bikes use the 14 Amp/hour battery. The ZG (Concours) has a higher output alternator to cope with more accessories. I'm not sure if the higher output will fry the ZL battery. The rest of the electrics will be fine but it may be worth seeing if a slightly larger capacity battery will fit....could be a cheaper way round it.

Hope this helps.

KK

I wouldn't say a higher output / amperage altenator will hurt the wiring any KK, I've often thought of getting mine re-wound to increase the amps output for running additional spotlights, but now I know the Concours is a clean fit, I might follow up on that lead instead and sawp them over.

Mick.

 

[Stormy]

35 amp altenator should be plenty in a bike, my car runs a standard 35 amp altenator and it powers two normal 60W/55W headlights and two tail lights, plus 4 spotlights (2 x 100W and 2 x 50W) a car radio with a 100W amplifier and six 60W speakers, cell phone charger and a 25W UHF transceiver, all running at the same time, and it copes well enough. So with headlight on the bike, plus two tail light globes, plus the panel lights aren't going to draw anymore than half the max output of the altenator
Mick.

 

[kawboy]

I wouldn't say a higher output / amperage altenator will hurt the wiring any KK, I've often thought of getting mine re-wound to increase the amps output for running additional spotlights, but now I know the Concours is a clean fit, I might follow up on that lead instead and sawp them over.

Mick.

No, it shouldn't hurt anything. You'll just have more reserve power for extra lights or whatever. And if you don't have extra accessories, then the ZG alternator will be less stressed and theoretically should last longer.

 

[furchin]

The ZL1000 alternator is 25 amp @ 6000rpm. This amp will give you about 350 minimum available watts of power. Add up all your light wattage, ie: headlight , taillights, tach bulb, speedo bulb, turn signal lights etc, etc. subtract this total from 350 and you will know if the capacity if there for all your lights and extras. The 350 number is slightly on the low side but better to err on the safe side.

 

[zot]

Kawboy...dough, didnt think that one thru, kinda like a chevy/delco only puts out after you rev past 2000rpm.

Furchin...Thats what I was needing..dont want to replace if itz putting out properly.

Local salvage guy says he has one from a smashed 86 ZX-10 that is "exacarry" the same, bike had 9k miles at time of death for "just over $200".

 

[kawboy]

Local salvage guy says he has one from a smashed 86 ZX-10 that is "exacarry" the same, bike had 9k miles at time of death for "just over $200".

If you watch ebay patiently you can get one for less than $200. I got one for $75 incl shipping. $200's not too bad, though, considering new is like $700.