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Dfaust

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I had a 1974 TX650A back in the early eighties which I bought from a used bike shop in Atsugi Japan while I was stationed there in the Navy. It was one of the best bikes I ever had, and I've since regretted every day that I let it get away from me. Well...I just found the exact bike for sale and went and bought it - it's the exact same year and model and is even the same color (brown) as the one I had almost forty years ago. This new (to me) bike runs quite well and the tranny is quiet, but it's gunna need some restoration. The handlebars are not stock and neither are the clutch and brake lever assys, it has a prodigious gas leak from somewhere as soon as the petcock is opened, and - the most daunting task to me - it will need fairly extensive rewiring. The headlight don't come on (could be the bulb but I wager the wiring has been hacked), no horn, no taillights. I understand a bit about wiring but this might be a bit more than I expected. Does anyone sell a fairly complete wiring harness that will essential plug'n play - replace the old hacked-up harness? Here's a coupla pics I snapped this morning after getting it off the trailer. Any restoration or wiring advice y'all could share will be greatly appreciated! ~ Dave
 

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I had a 1974 TX650A back in the early eighties which I bought from a used bike shop in Atsugi Japan while I was stationed there in the Navy. It was one of the best bikes I ever had, and I've since regretted every day that I let it get away from me. Well...I just found the exact bike for sale and went and bought it - it's the exact same year and model and is even the same color (brown) as the one I had almost forty years ago. This new (to me) bike runs quite well and the tranny is quiet, but it's gunna need some restoration. The handlebars are not stock and neither are the clutch and brake lever assys, it has a prodigious gas leak from somewhere as soon as the petcock is opened, and - the most daunting task to me - it will need fairly extensive rewiring. The headlight don't come on (could be the bulb but I wager the wiring has been hacked), no horn, no taillights. I understand a bit about wiring but this might be a bit more than I expected. Does anyone sell a fairly complete wiring harness that will essential plug'n play - replace the old hacked-up harness? Here's a coupla pics I snapped this morning after getting it off the trailer. Any restoration or wiring advice y'all could share will be greatly appreciated! ~ Dave


Hi Dfaust and welcome,
congratulations on your recant bargain!
Unlike Downeaster, I prefer the post '76 models but hey! those later model thicker forks will bolt right on.
And sorry but sewage effluent brown is not my favorite bike color.
Resto? Do the least you can to get it running then ride it for a season before doing anything permanent.
Re-wiring? If you bike's dreaded PO has seriously klutzed the wiring MikesXS will sell you a year-specific wiring harness..
Or there's full and simplified scratch-build wiring diagrams on this site.
Non-stock 'bars? .Bars is like shoes, if they suit you they're OK. If they don't, they ain't
Non-stock levers? Same deal as 'bars except the brake lever's piston diameter has to be right (3M's Vintage Brake site has those details)
And check the tires' age stamp, Older than 6 years don't grip too well.
 
Welcome to the forum!!
Yea, MikesXS sells a wiring harness that's (supposed to be) plug and play. Few people here have found that to be the case. There's a vast amount of info in the Tech section on the electrical dark arts. I'd suggest you give repairing it the good ol' college try before replacing it.
You might start with all new bulbs and go from there.
 
" Non-stock 'bars? .Bars is like shoes, if they suit you they're OK..... unless they're buckhorns.... damned Devil bars. If they don't, they ain't."
There ya go Fred.... fixed that for ya. :rolleyes:
 
Welcome to the site! Always nice to see factory paint, no matter what colour it is. Root beer, cinnamon, brown....
I am a proponent of the wiring harnesses from Mikes, all colour coded and a good start for the sparky challenged.
There is a good list of jobs in the tech section to wake up the old motor, seek it out.
 
I’m with Jim regarding the wiring, when I bought my ‘77 most of the lights didn’t work. I replaced every bulb on the bike, they’re damn near 50 years old, and go through the whole wiring harness connection by connection, pull them apart and clean them. Anywhere wiring is grounded to the frame pull the wire off and shine that connection spot.
Look for wiring that has rubbed bare spots or has broken , look for electrical tape and uncover it to see what’s doin in there. Pull your tank off and your sidecovers, crank up some Rolling Stones, pull up a stool and just make a day of it. You’ll be glad you did.
My guess as to your serious gas leak, stuck float.
Welcome to the madhouse Dave, nice bike, now let the fun begin!
 
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Get a 12v test light. Best E troubleshooting tool there is. The kind with a wire & alligator clip And a pokey probe. This will show you if light sockets and anything else (horn, coils, turn signal relay) are getting power. Clip it to battery + and check if things are properly grounded too. The best tool for static timing on your points too.

As your going through your connections use dialectric grease when you reconnect them too. Auto parts places sell it in a cheez wiz can. Makes it easy to pack it in to your multi connectors. Good stuff, keeps water out, stops corrosion and makes it way easier to get those connections apart the next time.
 
1974 was my first bike loved that color :heart:
Welcome aboard !
It takes time and patience for these old bikes but there worth it
Beside where the hell can you go now a days
Might as well settle in and do a little putzin on the bike
 
" Non-stock 'bars? .Bars is like shoes, if they suit you they're OK..... unless they're buckhorns.... damned Devil bars. If they don't, they ain't."
There ya go Fred.... fixed that for ya. :rolleyes:

Hi Jim,
thanks for the backup.
Although if Nature has given a rider a body shape that makes buckhorns feel comfortable
( over 6' 6" tall with ape-length arms and wrists at 90º to most folks)
that rider should ignore my comments and use them, eh?
 
FWIW - the MikesXS wiring harness seem to be pretty decent in my experience.

My '76 C-model came with a harness that was SO messed up that after blowing about 25 fuses and expending several yards of tape, I gave up and now, the electrical system on good ole' Lucille is solid.
 
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