TCI Replacement 2020 It Works

Hey, everybody. First time poster. Wasn't aware you guys were out here. Anyway, I have a dead box on my '81. (Two now, actually.) I ordered a cheap GN250 box and will wire up a pigtail this week. Jumping on the Gonzo bandwagon! Thanks for all the hard work, guys.

-Matt
Keep us posted. The more feedback we get, the better we can make this work.
..... and welcome to the madhouse. :D
 
It occurs to me Earth has a permanent magnet system, so who are we to argue against them?
It's actually a VERY low frequency AC setup.......:cool:
" Earth has settled in the last 20 million years into a pattern of a pole reversal about every 200,000 to 300,000 years," :D
 
It's actually a VERY low frequency AC setup.......
" Earth has settled in the last 20 million years into a pattern of a pole reversal about every 200,000 to 300,000 years," :D
.000000000000000000000000000000000007Hz to be exact. :rolleyes:
 
I've been repairing the XS650 TCI's for quite a few years. Not as many last few years as I used to.
Not posted here in several years, but Marty sent an email to "The List" that I picked up on and just started reading this thread.
Interesting read so far but only 4 pages in. Too tired to focus or retain right now so will continue when time allows.
 
I just ordered two boxes to try. My ‘83 is currently not getting spark. Out of curiosity what is the failure rate on the stock tci pick up? And is there an affordable replacement? I didn’t see anyone posting about a different pick up adapted to a TCI bike, only to a points bike.
 
I just ordered two boxes to try. My ‘83 is currently not getting spark. Out of curiosity what is the failure rate on the stock tci pick up?

I don't have any direct evidence, but I believe it is very low. The pick-up coil has not been available for many years. Yet, these bikes remain on the road and I don't hear of failures and I consider myself active in this community. As @Jim said, "They work until they don't." Two coils in the pick-up unit. All of the pins should should some resistance with an ohmmeter. A failed coil shows up as an open circuit. I believe that's the only failure mode.
 
I don't have any direct evidence, but I believe it is very low. The pick-up coil has not been available for many years. Yet, these bikes remain on the road and I don't hear of failures and I consider myself active in this community. As @Jim said, "They work until they don't." Two coils in the pick-up unit. All of the pins should should some resistance with an ohmmeter. A failed coil shows up as an open circuit. I believe that's the only failure mode.

Okay that’s good to know. Mine did show up with some resistance so it most likely isn’t bad.
 
Checking 'em is easy... there's a center tap that branches off to the two coils. 3 wires... you should get 700Ω on each coil and 1400Ω across both of 'em. It's only 3 wires...ya don't even need to know which is which.... if you can hit those numbers, you're golden.
I've got 2 here where one coil (or the other) is open. I'm not aware of any other failure modes... anyone?
Like Marty... no evidence, but I believe the failure rate is low.
 
Yes an open reading is failure mode, fairly rare but I've sold a few over the years. a pinched or damaged wire would be my first suspect in an open coil failure. Found a couple of those, typically near the sprocket. 5T and I have both found a "one strand left" pick up wire creating poor running.
A weak magnet in the rotor is reported more often. Not certain if it's actually a weak magnet or a gap issue tween rotor face and pick up coil........
 
Checking 'em is easy... there's a center tap that branches off to the two coils. 3 wires... you should get 700Ω on each coil and 1400Ω across both of 'em. It's only 3 wires...ya don't even need to know which is which.... if you can hit those numbers, you're golden.
I've got 2 here where one coil (or the other) is open. I'm not aware of any other failure modes... anyone?
Like Marty... no evidence, but I believe the failure rate is low.

not to sound dense but what exactly do you mean by across each coil and across both? If we are talking wire color, I have a grey, black, and an orange. Grey to black is one coil, orange to black is another coil, and grey to orange is across the coils? Would that be correct?
 
yup. But like Jim sez check all three possibilities if two read 700 and one reads 1400 +- 10% you're good.

awesome thank you! I’m excited to get these boxes and wire them up. I have 3 Honda mp08 coils coming from eBay as well. Hopefully my pick up isn’t bad and I can get this bike running ASAP. I will keep everyone posted on my results as well.
 
Oh! OH! Oh! ....I have a question.

Are we going to have to modify the ignitions on our XS650's when the earth poles flip the next time?
https://www.space.com/43173-earth-magnetic-field-flips-when.html#:~:text=Earth's north and south poles,underwent a full flip.))

Just wanting to be pro-active so I don't miss on any riding time when that happens!
No but you might need to reflash the generator on the farmall. :)
Oh and go around and turn all all your electric plugs upside down otherwise the electrons going backward will leak out on the floor and stain the carpet.
 
No but you might need to reflash the generator on the farmall. :)
Oh and go around and turn all all your electric plugs upside down otherwise the electrons going backward will leak out on the floor and stain the carpet.
Well I'll have you know the Farmall has been upgraded to a 10SI Delco generator so as it puts out AC current it should adapt ok. Now for the for the magneto that might be a different story! Have to consult the ouigia board on that detail!
 
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