Kawasaki Z250

I spent several hours working to fix up the electrics. Starting with the wiring for the starter solenoid and fuse. No power was getting to the coils, so the under-tank connector for right hand handlebar switch was disconnected. Power was reaching the connector but not reaching the feed to the coils. Off came the right hand handlebar switch. Power was reaching to the kill switch and the wire leading running from it, that should have provided the feed to the coils. All very strange. Eventually the dodgy state of the coil’s feed in the under tank connector was found to be the cause of the lack of voltage and a new length of wire soldered in to overcome the problem. So now we had power going to the coils but no voltage across the contact points themselves. Actually, there was power right up to he end of the points lead. I removed the leads and repositioned them so that they were next to the contact point spring and bingo we had power across the points. Now it was time to set the points gap and adjust the ignition timing with the aid of a resistance meter (This enabled us to identify the precise point where the points opened and get it to coincide withe timing marks on the outside edge of the generator rotor). With the timing set as accurately as possible Phil M grabbed a temporary fuel can and it was connected to the bike’s fuel pipe. Then once we had made sure the sump plug and oil filter were properly secured and the engine had sufficient oil, it was time to take it outside and see if it would run. Phil M informed me it had been more than 14 years since the bike had run. After a long period of cranking on the electric start, promising pops and bangs could be heard coming from the exhaust ports (No exhaust pipes fitted at this stage). After some more cranking the frequency of the pops and bangs increased until the engine was running under its own steam. Bringing it back to life was a fantastic moment. There is plenty more to do on the bike such rebuilding the front forks with their recently re-chromed fork stanchions; tidying up and wrapping the wiring; fitting a new turn signal relay; curing the overflowing right hand carburettor; re-connecting the back brake hose and bleeding the back brake; installing a new chain and sprockets; re-fitting the exhaust; installing new handlebars; re-fitting the headlamp assembly; fitting a horn; changing the rear tyre and no doubt more besides. You can’t beat the pleasure of hearing something running that has been unused for such a long time.