Electrical question.

Graeme1198

XS650 Enthusiast
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Hello guys,

New to the forum, got myself an 81 XS650 in the UK that’s been imported from Canada.
It’s in pretty good condition and I’m slowly and methodically giving it a good go over.
She runs well, I’m getting her up to scratch for our MOT testing for use on the road.

So my question, I’ve been looking over the wiring diagrams but I can’t seem to pin point and two wire connector that the previous owner has just bridged the two wires.

The connector wires are BLUE/Yellow and Black.

I’ll add a picture of what’s been done to it, just it doesn’t at all look “correct”. Any ideas guys?

Appreciate any input
 

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Welcome to the forum!

Where does the 4 terminal connector that is in the background connect to? It looks odd to me since there are 2 wires leading to one terminal. My guess is a PO removed an old 6 or 8 terminal connector and replaced it with a four terminal and a two terminal connector.
 
Welcome to the group! Good looking bike.

Likely the jumper with those two wires was done by the previous owner to bypass the "Light Checker" (or could also be the "Reserve Lighting Unit"...can't recall on an '81 which wires went where)...obviously that's not the design, but pretty common for those "systems" to be bypassed. If you do a search for RLU or Light Checker, you'll see a lot of discussion around it, what they do and how to bypass them. :)
 
Welcome to the forum!

Where does the 4 terminal connector that is in the background connect to? It looks odd to me since there are 2 wires leading to one terminal. My guess is a PO removed an old 6 or 8 terminal connector and replaced it with a four terminal and a two terminal connector.


It goes into what I assume is some sort of relay....
puzzled me as I couldn’t seem to get anything on my bolt meter with it....
 
Thanks for the reply, I’ll have another look through the wiring diagram. See what I can come up with.

Wouldn’t happen to know if the headlight only runs when the bike is running do you? Seems I can get any voltage through the light when the ignition is just on or running....
 
I'm guessing that plug that is jumpered is on the left side of the bike. If so, it's for the sidestand switch, and that relay dangling behind it is also part of that circuit .....

Sp7Ct9O.jpg


To get rid of that contraption, there's no need to jumper that plug, but you must remove the relay too. You also remove the actual switch down on the sidestand. Here's all the stuff I removed from my '83, to the left of the spring. It got replaced with the earlier, simpler stand and spring anchor bracket on the right .....

04ypiqc.jpg


And here's what's left under the left side cover, just empty plugs .....

6a0usoz.jpg
 
Oh ya...side switch stand, that came after my '79 so I forgot that was a feature on later models.
 
I'm guessing that plug that is jumpered is on the left side of the bike. If so, it's for the sidestand switch, and that relay dangling behind it is also part of that circuit .....

Sp7Ct9O.jpg


To get rid of that contraption, there's no need to jumper that plug, but you must remove the relay too. You also remove the actual switch down on the sidestand. Here's all the stuff I removed from my '83, to the left of the spring. It got replaced with the earlier, simpler stand and spring anchor bracket on the right .....

04ypiqc.jpg


And here's what's left under the left side cover, just empty plugs .....

6a0usoz.jpg

Thats the winning comment there. Exactly what looks like on my left side.
It doesn’t have an original stand now you mention it!
so I can get rid off all that?

I shall have a good look tomorrow when I’m back in the workshop

thank you sir!
 
The reason you couldn't find that plug on an '81 wiring diagram is it didn't come along until '82, at least on the U.S. models anyway. Canadian models were different sometimes. They often got features before or after the U.S. models, sometimes not at all. The way your bike is all blacked out (engine, carbs, fork legs, fenders, etc.) was an '81 model feature in the U.S. But that sidestand switch and the choke operated by a cable to a lever on the bars didn't happen until '82. But, maybe the Canadian model got those features in '81.

Yes, you can (and should) remove the relay and the jumper wire. If you leave the relay, then you need the jumper wire or the bike will only run in neutral. It would die when you put it in gear.
 
The reason you couldn't find that plug on an '81 wiring diagram is it didn't come along until '82, at least on the U.S. models anyway. Canadian models were different sometimes. They often got features before or after the U.S. models, sometimes not at all. The way your bike is all blacked out (engine, carbs, fork legs, fenders, etc.) was an '81 model feature in the U.S. But that sidestand switch and the choke operated by a cable to a lever on the bars didn't happen until '82. But, maybe the Canadian model got those features in '81.

Yes, you can (and should) remove the relay and the jumper wire. If you leave the relay, then you need the jumper wire or the bike will only run in neutral. It would die when you put it in gear.

thanks for your comments!
I’m sure I’ll be here again picking your brains again soon!
 
Yep, bike looks like the US model '82 Heritage Special, xs650sj........wonder if it has the beauty plate with the receiver(s) for the lower side covers.

It has heritage special side covers, but the paperwork I have dates it at an 81, I’m pretty sure it’s on the neck as an 81 also.
How would I find out for sure?
 
Graeme, the Heritage Special's came with an extra lower set of sidecovers that mounted below the usual air box covers. There would be two receivers for the 'tits' on the back of the covers that would be welded to the frame, and then the lower mount of the cover was an extended tab that slipped into and behind a metal stamped beauty plate that was incorporated around the foot peg mount. That added a nice touch IMHO, though the left cover seems to be the one that disappears whilst riding.......and they're like hens teeth to find and replace. To an aficionado, the Heritage Special's are incomplete in their stock form without them.
 
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