Starting

Since I've had this computer I've spent a lot of time looking at z1300 sites and one of the most common problems that owners experience is hard starting. I've seen reference to all the solutions- Fuel pump, better coils, trick battery etc. but nowhere have I seen any reference to something that I have discovered relatively recently. As the bike ages so does the starter motor. Namely its internal resistance increases. This causes it to draw more and more current and in the process deprives the ignition system of its share. The ignition system on these bikes is pretty bitchy, in that if it senses that it is not getting its correct share of juice, it spits the dummy and won't provide the vital spark.

The solution is very simple. Pull the starter out and strip it. Give it a good clean and check all the usual- commutator, brushes, bearings etc. Now here's the bit that no-one seems to pay any attention to. The brushes are mounted on a plate. This plate is the earth part for the current. On the outer circumference of this plate there are two small bent tangs. these are meant to provide a firm contact with the starter body. If you pull one apart and inspect these tangs you will invariably see signs of arcing, hence increased resistance and higher current draw. The starter will still seem to be spinning over fine but what you can't obviously observe is what is causing the problem. The solution is to clean these tangs and the area where they contact the body with a bit of emery, give them a bit of extra bend with a pair of pointy nose pliers, and reassemble. I every case I have done this the difference in starting has been astounding.