Z1300 Technical Articles

Z1300, KZ1300, ZG1300 or 

ZN1300 Technical Articles

Last Update 7/12/08

   I've been using a standard automotive Stant 16lb lever cap on my radiator for years now.  It makes it very easy to bleed the air out when needed.  I don't think Stant is still in business these days, but any 16lb lever cap the right physical size to fit the radiator neck that your local auto parts has should work fine.

   Tim K. sent these 2 pictures in of the original cap and the replacement lever cap.

Comparison of igniters covering all years of the KZ1300 models and ZN1300 Voyagers (igniters on top and corresponding pickups pictured below).  There will be some interchange with the Z1300 and ZG1300 models too.  The KZ and Z1300 models are the same with respect to igniters and pickups, and I've been told but I can only confirm through one member that the ZG1300 model uses the same igniter and DFI computer as the ZN1300.

The 79' - 80' KZ1300 igniter only fits those 2 years and the pickups mount just below the carb's on the right side of the engine.  The 79' - 80' igniter and pickups are easily distinguishable from all others as you can see in the image above, and the exact same part fits both years.  The only thing I've noticed is that there are some sets of pickups with a short wiring harness on them and some with a long harness.  In the picture I show a long harness, but I have run across at least one set where the wires were only about half as long as these.  

The 81' KZ1300 igniter and pickup only fit that year and are not interchangeable with other years.  The 81' uses a 'Hall Effect' system unique to that year and it's easy to see the difference between the 79' - 80' versus 81' versus 82' - 83' KZ style pickups.  Also, the 81' pickups mount on the left side on the crankshaft, where the 82' and newer models all mount on the right side on the crankshaft including all ZN1300 Voyager models.  The igniters between 81' and 82' look very similar and they mount in the same place on the bike, but you can see that the 81' is narrower than the 82' and newer boxes.  Dimensions are 3.25" wide x 4.625" high measuring the widest points on the back and discounting the mounting tabs.  Also, the lead to the pickups has a 6 pin plug on the 81' where the 82' - 83' has a 4 pin plug and the later 83' and up ZN1300 Voyager or 84' and up ZG1300 both have a different style 6 pin plug.

The 82' - 83' KZ1300 igniter dimensions are 3.875" wide x 4.75" high measuring the widest points on the back and discounting the mounting tabs.  The pickups which are shown above on the far right, mount on the right side on the crankshaft starting in 82' and look identical to the later ZN1300 and ZG1300 models, but the 82' - 83' Z1300 or KZ1300 has 4 wires running from the igniter to the pickups where the ZN1300 Voyagers and ZG1300 all have a 6 wire connection back to the igniter.  The ZN1300 and ZG1300 are both fuel injected bikes, but the ZG1300 looks like a Z1300 or KZ1300 in almost all other respects.

The other notable difference between an 82' Z1300 or KZ1300 igniter versus a Voyager or ZG unit is the the Voyager and ZG igniter have 3 sets of connectors coming out of them.  The 3rd wiring harness goes to a MAP sensor (manifold vacuum readings are converted to an electrical signal) to feed it an electronic 'vacuum signal' so it can alter the ignition advance curve according to how much manifold vacuum it measures.

Both boxes have the same dimensions except that one has 2 connectors and the other has 3.  I seriously doubt there would be any way to interchange these igniters even if you swapped the pickups with them unless you were possibly using the KZ box on a Voyager or ZG and you were doing away with the fuel injection system and trying to adapt it back to the old style carbs.  I've only heard of one person ever doing a swap like this.  Or going the other way by using the Voyager igniter on an 82' you'd need to add the MAP sensor so you'd have an ignition advance.  Probably not difficult, but you still have the issue of different cam timing between the KZ and ZN motors.

   79' Stator cover without oil feed

   80' - 81' Stator cover with oil feed.  You can clearly see the difference in the 2 covers inside and out.  Keep in mind that while either of these covers will physically bolt to any 79' - 81' engine, the 79' engine had a smaller stator and rotor (approximately 1.75") and that 'small' cover is not quite as deep as the 80' - 81' large cover.  

I think the way this works is that you can put the 79' cover without oil feed on a 80' - 81' but you'll need the 79' rotor (and stator) too or you'll have interference problems on the wider 80' - 81' rotor / stator (approximately 2.00").  As I recall, going the other way by putting the 80' - 81' cover on the 79' you'll have an issue with the 79' rotor not fitting all the way into the smaller stator and maybe causing charging problems.  However, you could use the 80' - 81' large stator on a 79' small rotor.

The best way to do this is to put the 80' - 81' large engine cover with oil feed on a 79' and install the larger 80' - 81' cover, stator and rotor all together as a unit.  Now you have a little more alternator output with this setup.

If you're waiting on one of these right side covers to come available in a 79' version you might be waiting a year on ebay to see an auction for one.  These don't grow on trees in NOS versions, and they bid pretty high usually even on used ones.  I'd expect a NOS cover to bid $300 easily whether it's a 79' cover or an 80'.  Most people don't care, they just need the part.  The stator is available new from multiple sources and those are on my links page.  The 80' - 81' also used a larger regulator, but that's available new or used.  

It's always a much better idea to upgrade from the 79' version to the 80' - 81' parts, because the small stator that comes on a 79' is not available anymore as far as I know.  I think only the larger 80' - 81' stator and the even bigger 1300 Voyager dual stator setups are available.

   82' stator cover.  As you can see it's shaped quite a bit different than the older models and has a timing window in it since the pickups are on the right side starting in 82'.  This 82' KZ cover is the same as an 83' and up ZN Voyager cover. 

   ZN1300 Voyager ignition system wiring.  The Voyager won't start if the side-stand is not up, the bike is in neutral, kill switch is off and the clutch is pulled in.  Bad diodes can also do the same thing.  They're in the Junction box along with the fuses and relays.  You still have the potential of a bad starter button, bad ignition switch or starter solenoid if you have a no start condition.  Happy hunting!

   KZ1300 Factory tools.

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