Jump start reverse wire disaster

[Rapido Toddy]

Hi all this is my first post on these forums and hopefully my most stupid. I lent my bike a 1991 Kawasaki zr 250 A ( balius) to my father when i went on a recent overseas holiday. When i returned i had found that when hew was trying to take it for a ride he had some difficulty starting it and drained the battery so decided to jump start it off his car. I dont know why he didnt roll start it hes learned to ride on old BSA's etc but in a moment of dementia he managed to put the cables the wrong way round on the bike (while he had the car running). And before he realised the sparks i think it did a lot of damage. The result a completley dead bike. No lights, no horn, no nothing:gob:

This happened back in october and now i have time to start trying to repair it as i dont want to pay any one to fix it. I was just wanting to get some advice on trouble shooting and what would be the most likely problems. i have done a lot of reasearch online and a few books but cant find a mannuel for this bike anywhere

So far i have purchased a new battery
checked all the fuses i could fine only 4 and for tail lights etc
Checked conections on lots of point s and there is no visable sign of burnt wires etc
Come to the conlculsion that the cdi / ic ignitor is fried !!

Is there anything else that could be fried by this ?
relays etc?


any advice would be great

cheeres

[onearmedbandit]

Have you checked the main fuse (aka main fuse-able link)? There should be one, and it should be near the battery rather than with accessories fuses.

[glegge]

Yep, what onearmedbandit said.. a main fuse would most probably have blown.
there sometimes under a cover, on the starter relay or such like. have a poke around...

some electrical gear is reverse protected, so you never know your luck. but get the bike 'lit up' first.. ie, lights etc should all work. once you get power back, then look at engine etc.

[bungbung]

Yep, what onearmedbandit said.. a main fuse would most probably have blown.
there sometimes under a cover, on the starter relay or such like. have a poke around...

some electrical gear is reverse protected, so you never know your luck. but get the bike 'lit up' first.. ie, lights etc should all work. once you get power back, then look at engine etc.

What Glegge said, the Balius is the same as a zxr250. The starter relay and fuse is on the subframe under the tail fairing (can't remember which side) on a zxr.
If the bodywork is the same, you'll need to remove the seat than the side panels to find it.

[Rapido Toddy]

Hey thanks for the help. I managed to find the main fuse eventually it was hidden very well, in a clip with a connection box between the air in take and fuel tank. I had been looking for a main fuse as there was a replacment 30 amp fuse in the junction box but no space for it, but they dont make em easy to find. Replaced it and away we go.

all lights are going etc and it cranks but it wont turn over yet. will get some fresh fuel and try and roll start it tommorow.

Once again thanks

[awayatc]

I think I know that bike of yours..............
last time it had starting issues it was because of the sparkplugs.....
Good luck

[onearmedbandit]

Hey thanks for the help. I managed to find the main fuse eventually it was hidden very well, in a clip with a connection box between the air in take and fuel tank. I had been looking for a main fuse as there was a replacment 30 amp fuse in the junction box but no space for it, but they dont make em easy to find. Replaced it and away we go.

all lights are going etc and it cranks but it wont turn over yet. will get some fresh fuel and try and roll start it tommorow.

Once again thanks

Excellent. Let us know how you get on.

[Rapido Toddy]

I got her started tonight, and put back together with a fully charged battery. Starts fine, bit of smoke but it hasnt run in almost 6 months but not to bad and it still revs right up to 20k. But now i have the pleasure of the kick stand switch being shorted some how so when ever i let out the clutch in gear it just cuts out. Any one know how to shortcut it?? i tried just un pluging it with no avail and then just pluging the two wires together but its a bit smarter than that.

[FJRider]

But now i have the pleasure of the kick stand switch being shorted some how so when ever i let out the clutch in gear it just cuts out. Any one know how to shortcut it?? i tried just un pluging it with no avail and then just pluging the two wires together but its a bit smarter than that.

Its only a switch ... no brain ... basicly a just kill switch. Earthing it should kill the motor. Follow the cables back and see where its earthing ...

Sometimes you can pull apart the switch and fix it ...

[Rapido Toddy]

Have pulled apart the wire loom and followed the green and white lead back to the fuse junction box, i think the other wire black/yellow is earth. Have not found any earths yet,, its driving me crazy ah. Any one got any ideas of what could be doing it if its not the kickstand switch? i think i will start a new post as off original topic