z50 year and light questions

[bfaith]

i just got this z50 a couple days ago and i was just wondering if any of you guys can tell me what year the bike is and i was wondering do you have to have the little batterie to run the lights or can you have it running and they will be on because i think i need to fix some wiring but the brake light dont work when running but it works with a 9v batterie so i was just wondering. thanks

[PlanetMinis.com]

[Brodie]

Hard to tell from the picture but I am fairly sure that is a 70-71 K2. That is judging by the fenders anyway. If you could take a picture of the other side I could tell you.
If it is a K2 they did not have a battery and the lights are 6v. It should also have a headlight. Also have a look here and use your frame number to check what year.
Honda50.com Model Vin Decoder

[davmo]

i just got this z50 a couple days ago and i was just wondering if any of you guys can tell me what year the bike is and i was wondering do you have to have the little batterie to run the lights or can you have it running and they will be on because i think i need to fix some wiring but the brake light dont work when running but it works with a 9v batterie so i was just wondering. thanks

I am betting on 69-70 K1, based on the tank and taillight bracket. Agree with Brodie, that might be a K2 rear fender, but the front fender looks to be neither K1 or K2. Also, you asked if you have to have the "little battery" which makes me think there must be a battery holder. To answer, no, you don't have to have a battery hooked up on a K1 to run the lights. There are other models like the CT70 and SL70 that require a battery to be there, or at least the part of the battery harness that has the ignition jump wire in it.

[bfaith]

Ya it has a little battery holder under the seat and the head light is gone I no that can u just use a 12v head light or do u have to use a 6 volt. I was also thinking of useing a battery from one of those mini power wheel things because I can get one of those for like 20$ and there 6 volt

[davmo]

Ya it has a little battery holder under the seat and the head light is gone I no that can u just use a 12v head light or do u have to use a 6 volt. I was also thinking of useing a battery from one of those mini power wheel things because I can get one of those for like 20$ and there 6 volt

Your engine if original, puts out 6volts. You would need the 6volt headlight. The sealed battery or "gel" battery is a good idea, and will work fine. You really only need the battery to keep your lights bright at low speeds, I don't have them in half my bikes, and it is OK, but there are times a little more light would be a good thing.

[fatcaaat]

Your engine if original, puts out 6volts. You would need the 6volt headlight. The sealed battery or "gel" battery is a good idea, and will work fine. You really only need the battery to keep your lights bright at low speeds, I don't have them in half my bikes, and it is OK, but there are times a little more light would be a good thing.

Thats actually not correct. These motor's put out 20+v when you get the RPM's up. It's all in the regulation of power. You can use a 12v regulator on there and run 12v lighting if you want. You can run a 6v regulator and run 12v bulbs...they will be dim. I would think that you'd fry a barbie truck battery pretty quick seeing it is going to get a continual dose of charging. You do not need a battery to run the lights...if properly setup, they will dim a little at idle, but will run bright completely without a battery. you can buy 6v and 12v regulators are dratv on the cheap.

[bfaith]

K do u need the rectifier thing with the two plates of metal to run lights without the batterie because I don't want to use a battery if I don't have to

[SuzukiRider250]

I looked it up, and you don't need to use a battery. You can run the lights straight from the motor without any outside power source.

[davmo]

Thats actually not correct. These motor's put out 20+v when you get the RPM's up. It's all in the regulation of power. You can use a 12v regulator on there and run 12v lighting if you want. You can run a 6v regulator and run 12v bulbs...they will be dim. I would think that you'd fry a barbie truck battery pretty quick seeing it is going to get a continual dose of charging. You do not need a battery to run the lights...if properly setup, they will dim a little at idle, but will run bright completely without a battery. you can buy 6v and 12v regulators are dratv on the cheap.

Yeah, the gel batteries are pretty well tested in these bikes. More amps, stay charged longer, no acid drip. Lots of folks using them, and widely available from moto retailers. No disrespect, @ fatcaaat, but while technically incorrect, my advice is still the same: you need to go 6volt on your light with this stator. The peak voltage is good to know, but not relevant in the actual application. A 12volt regulator and lights with this stator would give you dim lighting most of the time. If you want the kind of wattage modern engines put out, then you need the rare earth magnet flywheels that have made that possible. As far as running without a rectifier or any voltage regulation, not a good idea. as fatcaaat stated: 20+V at high RPM. That pop is your bulbs frying. There are some retailers on this site (T-Bolt, Honda TB, to name a couple) with inexpensive rectifier repops, somewhere in the 12 dollar range. Good luck.

[bfaith]

i no that but do u need the rectifier witch u probly dont no what that is lol

[bfaith]

how much would you think a jell battery would cost and does the z50 some how charge the battery on the bike or do you need a charger to

[davmo]

how much would you think a jell battery would cost and does the z50 some how charge the battery on the bike or do you need a charger to

CHPminis.com sells one for about 15 bucks, but you could probably find one closer t where you live. At the CHP site, it is on the CT70 page, way down near the bottom of the page (they have one looong page.) Put the reproduction rectifier in the harness, hook up your battery, and it will need some charging if you don't ride it much, but most sealed batteries come charged. The thing you will get out of having a battery is that the back light/brake light will still work with the engine turned off, a safety feature. It also allows things like a horn to be used.

[bronco bobby]

Since we are talking about rectifiers, what is the difference between a 2 wire and 4 wire, and say I wanted to light up a piranha yx140, would I need a 2 or 4?

[fatcaaat]

NO battery needed": 6V_AC_REGULATOR FOR HI_OUTPUT_STATORS W/_AC_LIGHT_COILS (95Q) temp out of stock YOu can find them cheaper and similiar at other places. you could go 12v but you'd be very dim except at high RPM. I have a 69 z50. As an FYI, the standard setup for the original harness uses the battery as the sink so your bulbs don't pop. If you eliminate the battery, you def need a regulator like I show.

[bfaith]

can you just wire the lights strate from the three wires that are from the ignition coils and points because i dont want to use a battery and i dont really care about a switch or any thing like that and i dont really care if there on durring the day. do i still need a rectifier or any thing like that. thanks

[Brodie]

You will NEED a 6V Regulator to run 6V lighting. Most of them just T off the lighting wire from the stator.

[bfaith]

what wire is the lighting wire like what color and how many volts comes from it at idle. thanks

[Brodie]

I would not have a clue since my '69 has one wire coming from the stator. It could be yellow. Just test with a test light or multi meter to see which lights up while the bike is running. What colours do you have to choose from? As for voltage. no idea.

[bfaith]

I am not sher they are kind of faded so I will just try the wires and see what has power for lights