HELP! does anyone know where i can get a starter rebuild kit that will work with a 1985 kawasaki 454ltd?

Question

I just bought the bike a few days ago its in good condition, i even took her for a little spin this morning. I pushed the electric start and It started first try, no problems at all.
I went to start it tonight after work and when i push the start all it get is a clicking sound..
I have a buddy that fixes his own motorcyle. He came with me and checked the battery and just in case tried to boost the bike, still nothing.
We got close when ( cant remember what he called it) but he drove it down a hill and tried to start it while it was in second gear or something like that.
anyway while he was doing that it would start for like a second and then shut off.. He thinks its the starter wich makes sense to me.
He said he'd give me a hand if i got myself a starter rebuild kit. I just need to find out where i would get one that would fit on the Kawasaki 454ltd.
Or maybe someone has something else that could be wrong and could give me some ideas as to how to get it started.

Answer 1

There are 2 good service manuals available for this bike-one from Clymer and one from Kawasaki. Both have trouble shooting guides and give the expected ranges of what is "normal" for the bike. Without knowing how old the battery is, start with replacing it, or at least recharging and then load testing the current battery.



When your friend attempted bump starting, he took the starter out of the equation, so I doubt that it is the starter. Chances are the ignition system is the fault here, and perhaps even the fuel system needs cleaning. It depends on how long "the little old lady" had the bike sitting without adding any fuel stabilizer to the mix.



Get the manual, get some basic tools and test equipment and get to it.



Those 454's are pretty bullet proof, and are good reliable little starter bikes. Nice choice.

Answer 2

There are plenty of places to look for your problem......bad ignition switch, bad kill switch, broken wire, bad connection, bad stator (my best guess), bad regulator/rectifier. NEVER run a bike with a stator system (as opposed to alternator system) with a weak battery. So, new battery 1ST (preferably an AGM) and keep it on a float charger and start checking things out. You need a service manual and a VOM to check proper voltages. Last but not least, join a Kawasaki LTD or Vintage Japanese bike owners club and you will get all of your answers there. The members are usually VERY helpfu, eager to help and many have spare parts. You may even find someone close by that will help you out and you may even end up with a new riding partner.

Answer 3

Dollars to doughnuts you have 2 problems and neither is the starter. Put the battery on a charger and check it with either a hydrometer or load test (both available at your local auto parts chain). While its a chargin' inspect and clean all the electrical connections you can get to (some minor dis-assembly required). As for him riding it down a hill and trying to start it (bump start) this takes the starter completely out of the equation so...it aint the starter keepin' it from runnin. You have some basic trouble shooting to do. Spark, fuel, compression checks. Do the clean-up of your connections first. Bet it takes care of your conundrum.

As to your question. Doubt you'll find a rebuild kit but check your local yellow pages for a shop that rebuilds alternators, starters and the like.

Answer 4

What Cettoman meant to say is to never run an alternator equiped machine without a battery. Car, bike, truck, tractor, whatever. The stator is one part of the alternator, not a different type of electrical generating device. Old timers would sometimes run their car or whatever with the battery cable disconnected, but those were with a generator, not alternator. Nearly everything built after the late '60s has an alternator.



I'm with molitor, I seriously doubt it's the starter. Don't forget to check the ground strap where it connects to the engine or frame.