smg65
XS650 Addict
First off... my bike is a 76 XS650C. I have a PMA (appears to be the one Mike's sells, as installed by PO, part# 24-2669) and stock points ignition. The battery is a AGM installed by PO. I don't know how old it, or the PMA and it's components are.
I luckily avoided being stranded for the first time yesterday while about 10 miles from home. When the bike started stumbling, I first thought it was running out of gas. But I quickly realized that when I would turn on the headlight, it would start to die. It did die at one point, but I managed to get it kicked over and running (the electric start just clicked). I just made it home, sans lights. I put the multimeter on the battery, and it was only about 9 volts.
Perhaps this request is premature, as I haven't done anything/testing other than pull the mostly dead battery and place it on the Battery Tender. I'm hoping to get the battery to the point that I can start the bike to measure the charging (or lack thereof) with my multimeter. I do know how to do that much! I just want to be armed with as much pertinent info as possible as I dig into it, since electrical issues are my worst nightmare! I've read the "Expanded Charging System Guide", but it mostly pertains to the stock system. I understand that the "slap test" does not work with the PMA system. I did a bit of searching regarding the PMA, but most of what I found pertains to modified systems and bikes.
Is there a concise guide available for troubleshooting the PMA like the excellent aforementioned guide, preferably with the stock point system? I'm hoping it's just a bad battery... I'm very good at replacing batteries (and bulbs)! LOL Anyhow... any guidance to troubleshooting steps specific to the PMA and stock points setup are appreciated, as are links to threads I might have overlooked.
Thanks!!
I luckily avoided being stranded for the first time yesterday while about 10 miles from home. When the bike started stumbling, I first thought it was running out of gas. But I quickly realized that when I would turn on the headlight, it would start to die. It did die at one point, but I managed to get it kicked over and running (the electric start just clicked). I just made it home, sans lights. I put the multimeter on the battery, and it was only about 9 volts.
Perhaps this request is premature, as I haven't done anything/testing other than pull the mostly dead battery and place it on the Battery Tender. I'm hoping to get the battery to the point that I can start the bike to measure the charging (or lack thereof) with my multimeter. I do know how to do that much! I just want to be armed with as much pertinent info as possible as I dig into it, since electrical issues are my worst nightmare! I've read the "Expanded Charging System Guide", but it mostly pertains to the stock system. I understand that the "slap test" does not work with the PMA system. I did a bit of searching regarding the PMA, but most of what I found pertains to modified systems and bikes.
Is there a concise guide available for troubleshooting the PMA like the excellent aforementioned guide, preferably with the stock point system? I'm hoping it's just a bad battery... I'm very good at replacing batteries (and bulbs)! LOL Anyhow... any guidance to troubleshooting steps specific to the PMA and stock points setup are appreciated, as are links to threads I might have overlooked.
Thanks!!