First time XS owner with a $450 hardtail project, help me get this bike running!!!!!

S

six6six

XS650 Member
Messages
7
Reaction score
1
Points
3
Location
Illinois
So I've always wanted either a Yamaha XS or triumph to build a bike with, but just never came across the right bike at the right time, until now.

Got this 1982 Yamaha xs650 for $450 from a local guy. Guess he worked at a Harley dealership and they took this in on trade, he took it and haven't really messed with it. Anyway, enough beating around the bush, each cylinder has 165psi +, but doesn't have spark. The ignition is on a toggle switch, and I'll have to remove the tank to look into the wiring farther.... but this being my first XS I don't even know where to start so any help would be appreciated!!

%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i63.tinypic.com/2emorw2.jpg%5B/IMG%5D
 
Tried adding a picture but I guess I have to just upload it
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2358.JPG
    IMG_2358.JPG
    253.7 KB · Views: 225
... It could be a myriad of problems... type in chopper wiring in the search box on this site... I'm sure it will give you a idea..direction. Put in a good battery.. find your volt ohm meter and ck'n. Battery voltage to the toggle switch... perhaps a simple fuse.? Take time and try and solve the issues yourself.. get the correct year manual.. but if the wiring has been cut... modified ... it may take awhile... but persistence trumps perspiration.. :)
 
Brit wire's.jpg
I was at a buddies shop today.. and this is why most shops won't work on older models with electrical issues. The hours involved with shop hourly rates usually exceeds the market value of the bike. I love the fuse holder.
 
Wow that battery got hot haha... never thought of starting at the switch but I will break out the multimeter tomorrow, thanks for the reply!
 
Also judging by the wiring on my bike it's not factory, but it is also minimal, which could help with trouble shooting.

Do I need a good battery to get spark on a kick only bike? That would seem odd to me, but the battery is toast on this bike.
 
I saw motormikes picture and was totally confused thinking, this is not the same bike. Took me a while to confirm, this is not the same bike.

Scott
 
six6six said:
Do I need a good battery to get spark on a kick only bike? That would seem odd to me, but the battery is toast on this bike.
Click to expand...
Unless it's converted to a PMA setup, yes... you need a battery even for kick start.
EDIT: Come to think of it, only the PMA with a capacitor would start. But if that's the case, battery would have been removed...
 
Last edited:
I do not have any lawn mower batteries around, and don't really want to mess taking a battery out of something else I own so I guess first thing today I'll try to find a replacement battery, the one that was in the bike was very small (4l-bs) so hopefully I can find one local pretty cheap.
 
Remove the round cover on the lower LH engine cover and shoot inside. Do the same on the LH cam cover, without more info we're like deer hunters taking "sound shots" (it's opening morning here, hiding in basement)
 
gggGary said:
Remove the round cover on the lower LH engine cover and shoot inside. Do the same on the LH cam cover, without more info we're like deer hunters taking "sound shots" (it's opening morning here, hiding in basement)
Click to expand...

Is this the pictures you are looking for?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2360.JPG
    IMG_2360.JPG
    142.4 KB · Views: 162
  • IMG_2361.JPG
    IMG_2361.JPG
    180.1 KB · Views: 163
Those are the ones we needed. So it's got some sort of PMA (there's many venders) charging system and a Pamco ignition. Both are popular aftermarket setups. The pamco can be run off any 12 volt battery to see about spark. I'd have that gas tank off it's gotta come off sooner or later. The stock wiring had to be altered to make those systems work and we have no idea if it was done correctly. If done right that system should allow spark by kicking without a battery. That's different than having a dead battery in the system. Note running that way can be harmful to a PAMCO ;
This is good and useful reading. http://www.xs650.com/threads/pamco-ignition.46859/
 
test the components individually first, if they all check out, rip out all of the wiring and start fresh. It is far easier to start over than to diagnose someone else's wiring mess.
 
Okay so here's an update:

Bought a battery, after installed it did spark, so I put some gas in it and it did fire up, however one cylinder wasn't firing. So I opened the carb from that side and it had a clogged piolet jet, reinstalled and I have both cylinders firing. Now when I apply throttle one cylinder revs and it sounds like one would die... swapped carbs and the problem didn't follow, so then I start looking at the throttle cable, seems cheap and junky. However if I pulled the throttle cables up from the top of the carbs it would rev up just fine. So I adjusted the throttle cable a bit and got it running real good with the twist of a throttle.

Can anyone recommend me a good throttle cable for these mikuni carbs?

So now the next things I have to figure out: left hand cylinder leaks some oil, I'm going to try some stop leak in the spring when I get some seat time in on it, and hope it seals so I don't have to pull the motor.

Also need to make sure the bike is charging... what's the best way to do that? Just volt meter on the battery while it's running?

Thanks for all the replys so far guys
 
Hi six6six and welcome,
First, the bad:-
the bike has had most of the XS650 "don't do this or you'll be sorry" modifications (hardtail*, PMA/Pamco**, effed up wiring, etc) done to it.
Then the good:-
$450? What a deal! it'd part out for at least twice that, likely more.
You didn't eff the thing up so you can't be reviled for what the dreaded PO did to it.
You may even get kudos if you get it running.
What I'd suggest you do to it:-
First, before you spend any money or do any work on the bike, make certain sure you can get the bike's papers in your name.
Then dive into the wiring. Like they say, probably best you rip the old stuff out and start over.
Check which Pamco you have (should be the posh one with an electronic advancer but POs can't be trusted) to see if it works.
Check it carefully, Pamcos need to be treated just right or they'll die on you. Research it FIRST eh?
Check the PMA and it's Regulator/Rectifier (again, Mr Untrustworthy may have used a no-name bargain Reg/Rect instead of a good one.
Get a new battery. Capacitor/Pamco is a BAD marriage.
*I hate hardtails but if you want one, it's your spine you're damaging.
** Pamco to replace points ignition is an upgrade.
Pamco to replace a late model XS650's stock TCI is only a lateral move most likely driven by installing a PMA in place of the stock alternator.
 
I think these things need to be turn'n around 2000 rpm's to register charge'n.... ? I have these voltage gauges on two of my bikes. Come in chrome and black, sticky back.. 2 wire installation. Running normal, there's 2 green dots.. at idle it drops to one... It saved me a long walk from the Iowa boonies. When everything work'n the dial shows 2 green dots... but.. as seen in the photo... I saw it was in the yellow and at idle it'd drop into the red... being over 20 miles from the camp site.... I disconnected the headlight and the wife and I remount'd and we beat feet.. in the red upon arrival.. and the bike would not restart. Without this gauge we would have become pedestrians in the corn fields. The following weekend I replaced a faulty regulator. As for the cables.. do you have a local shop that makes them.. ? Oil leak..? maybe the God of leakage will be pleased with a engine head re-torque ? Did the PO do any top end work... head gasket leak.. ? cam cover leak..?...
Xs volt.jpg
 

Similar threads

MaxPete
The Big Sue resto-mod thread
2 3 4
Replies
72
Views
2K
MaxPete
MaxPete
Dakon
XS650 cafe first time build
2
Replies
25
Views
4K
Dakon
Dakon
M
An Adventure in Firsts: '83 XS650 Heritage Special Build/Rebuild
38 39 40
Replies
785
Views
80K
Jim
Jim
Boog
Resolved: 2006 Stratoliner starting issue.
Replies
3
Views
1K
Boog
Boog
Wordman
Wordman's Build (with questions, answers, and suggestions)
3 4 5
Replies
94
Views
10K
Wordman
Wordman
Back
Top