<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-06-02</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000779919</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ZOND WINDSYSTEM PARTNERS LTD SERIES 85-A</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NONE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001262647</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LYDECKER RICHARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ZOND WINDSYSTEMS MANAGEMENT III LLC,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1221 LAMAR STREET, SUITE 1600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77010</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See Note 2</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>No securities beneficially owned</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>Note 1:  The date of the event requiring statement is the anticipated effective date of the registration statement on Form 10-12G for Zond Windsystem Partners, Ltd. Series 85-A, a California Limited Partnership (the &quot;Partnership&quot;), which is expected to occur on or about June 2, 2006.

Note 2:  Mr. Lydecker, a director of Enron Renewable Energy Corp., a Delaware corporation which indirectly holds the sole membership interest in Zond Windsystems Management III LLC,  the General Partner of the Partnership, is not a director of the Partnership, but performs certain services for the Partnership that may cause him to be deemed to be a director.  This form is not an acknowledgment by Mr. Lydecker that he is a &quot;director&quot; of the Partnership for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard Lydecker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
