We need a sticky... >:D

[K31Fan]

Hello ladies and gents!
1995 Kawasaki zx7 problems again here goes:

1) ISSUE:
So I'm having difficulty getting my zx7 to turn over. Originally I thought it was a faulty clutch sensor that was causing the problem, so I cleaned the contacts and stretched them just a little further to contact; however, I just bridged the contacts on the solenoid (lots of sparks) and the bike turned over (yay!). The interesting thing being the bike turned over with the ignition in the "off" position and NO key, also the clutch sensor was UNPLUGGED. Call me an idiot, but, is that normal?!? basically, did I just hot-wire my own bike?

2) QUESTIONS:
So I'm wondering how having the clutch sensor unplugged would still allow the bike to turn over at all, let alone having no key in the ignition. And how would bridging the solenoid (producing lots of sparks ) still allow the bike to turn over?

3) IDEAS:
So I'm trying to kick around some new perspectives here. I heard a clicking sound trying to start the bike without bridging the solenoid, but I'm not sure if the clicking was coming from the junction box or not. I also have no idea where the starter motor is, so any help there would be appreciated! I haven't physically checked voltages yet with a meter, but I charged my battery to full before I tried any of this. Anyway, any help or advice you could give would be greatly appreciated!

Have a good one!

BTW: while TFOGGER is an awesome gent who has helped me tremendously in previous motorcycle threads (and I am aware he runs his own business fixing motorcycles), my biggest motivation in fixing the bike is learning how to do it myself!

[TFOGGER]

By jumping the 2 large terminals on the starter relay, you have effectively bypassed all of the other electronics on the bike(including the ignition switch), directly connecting the starter motor to the battery. So, it's good that it turns over at that point, as this eliminates the starter as a source of the problem. ZX7s are notorious for starter relay failures, so this would be where I would start my electrical checks, making sure that the relay was receiving either a 12v + signal to the smaller wires on the relay when the button was pushed, or a ground signal(I'd have to look at a wiring diagram to tell which). The clutch switch should only make a difference when the neutral light is not illuminated on the Kawasaki, Suzukis require the clutch to be pulled any time the starter switch is pressed. Regardless of whether the clutch is pulled or not, you should not be able to activate the starter with the button when the bike is in gear and the kickstand is down.

[K31Fan]

Thanks again, TFOGGER.

I checked the starter relay last night, and it's working okay. So that leaves the clutch sensor, the neutral sensor, the kickstand sensor, the engine cut-off switch, and the ignition switch. I'm ruling out the neutral sensor (based on the wiring diagram) since the neutral light on the bike works just fine. I just found out, however, that some bright and well meaning soul removed the kickstand sensor from its functional place, and lovingly placed it on top of the fucking engine in front of the battery...? So I guess the next thing to test is the kickstand sensor! Especially since it's a very simple circuit;
junction box--->sidestand---->ground


Edit: The kickstand circuit seems to be okay. Actually, I'm wondering why whomever disconnected the thing left the sensor on the bike at all. I'm pretty sure they could have just spliced the connecting wires together and left the sensor out entirely, since the circuit would be complete anyway...Hmm, the plot thickens?

[K31Fan]

Faulty clutch sensor.
Got the bike turning over tonight! I'm gonna see if I can get 'er fired up tomorrow!

Thanks again for the advice!

[sneakerd]

Vroooooom, Vroooooom!!