First off, HELLO. I've been on the forum in the past for help, but it's been years. Sadly XS650 has been neglected in a garage cocoon for the past several years, but I'm looking to get it back into shape. This is probably the first of many basic questions I'll have, and I tend to be long winded, so apologies in advance.
For the impatient: On my '79 with points, If I do the VR115 regulator swap, and retain the stock alternator, do I need to add nylon screws to one of my brushes?
Details for the patient readers: Bike is a '79 650 special. Mostly stock, other than items I've been forced to replace. Charging system has always been the part of the bike that gave me the most headaches...seems common. I probably should just pony up for a PMA kit, but not quite ready to, so here's where I'm at.
Just put in new battery. Checked wiring and ended up replacing both battery cables, as they were corroded, and I rewired my fuses (in line auto fuses added yrs ago) because the connections were suspect. Getting good pull out of rotor with the slap test, not surprising as my rotor is a rewind I picked up sometime in the past decade and has little use. Rotor, points, brushes, plug wires, plug caps have all Ben replaced in the past decade and have little use.
I fired her up yesterday. Sprang to life on second kick and it's been at least a year since the last time I started it (thank you stabil). Once warm, I checked voltage, and it's high when the revs are up, peaks at about 15.6 volts. I know this voltage regulator is adjustable, but I have very little faith in it. I've adjusted it in the past, which could account for it being high, and I remember it being a hassle and seeming like a part that could easily fail. Looking for an easy "plug and play" replacement and found the thread on the VR115 replacement. However I found some of the info confusing with regards to the when the nylon screws are needed. So...
1. Do I need the nylon screws for one of my brushes if I run the stock rectifier and the VR115 regulator?
2. If at some point later on I replace the rectifier with the DIY radio shack deal, does that change whether I need the nylon screws?
For the impatient: On my '79 with points, If I do the VR115 regulator swap, and retain the stock alternator, do I need to add nylon screws to one of my brushes?
Details for the patient readers: Bike is a '79 650 special. Mostly stock, other than items I've been forced to replace. Charging system has always been the part of the bike that gave me the most headaches...seems common. I probably should just pony up for a PMA kit, but not quite ready to, so here's where I'm at.
Just put in new battery. Checked wiring and ended up replacing both battery cables, as they were corroded, and I rewired my fuses (in line auto fuses added yrs ago) because the connections were suspect. Getting good pull out of rotor with the slap test, not surprising as my rotor is a rewind I picked up sometime in the past decade and has little use. Rotor, points, brushes, plug wires, plug caps have all Ben replaced in the past decade and have little use.
I fired her up yesterday. Sprang to life on second kick and it's been at least a year since the last time I started it (thank you stabil). Once warm, I checked voltage, and it's high when the revs are up, peaks at about 15.6 volts. I know this voltage regulator is adjustable, but I have very little faith in it. I've adjusted it in the past, which could account for it being high, and I remember it being a hassle and seeming like a part that could easily fail. Looking for an easy "plug and play" replacement and found the thread on the VR115 replacement. However I found some of the info confusing with regards to the when the nylon screws are needed. So...
1. Do I need the nylon screws for one of my brushes if I run the stock rectifier and the VR115 regulator?
2. If at some point later on I replace the rectifier with the DIY radio shack deal, does that change whether I need the nylon screws?