Bike died while running, PAMCO fried

[JoyRider]

I was out for a short cruise and my 1979 xs650 died within a mile of my house...I pulled into a parking lot thinking I would just need to swap out a fuse. I opened my fuse covering and noticed that my fuse box underneath the main fuse had melted. =( Oddly enough the fuse seems to be fine. There was a black residue left on top of my battery from this. I took my bike home and started to remove my coil to replace it with a spare..that's when I noticed my PAMCO was fried. >_< I have no idea what to do now other than to replace the ignition. I had no other problems with my bike before this. Except that once in a while my headlight would flicker out for a second or two. any suggestions?

 

[mrkil]

Sounds like a voltage spike of somekind and possibly a bad ground.

I would put the p&c back in so that you can run it and test to see what might be causing this

 

[pamcopete]

JoyRider,

When did you buy the PAMCO? Might still be under warranty. PM me for details.

 

[cros36]

yeah like mrkil said. do you warranty thing, but in the meantime find out what caused this. the flickering headlight may be a warning. do you have a wiring diagram that you based your wiring off of. what are your other electrical components? REGULATOR? rectifier? what size fuse were you using as a main? and for the pamco?

 

[JoyRider]

I can't seem to find an exposed wire anywhere. =\ I've had a hard time trying to find a wiring diagram for my '79. I have the repair manual with a couple different possibilities but none match the wiring/colors I have. Sadly, I don't think my pamco is under warranty. I bought it a year ago, before the extended 2 year warranty. I don't know what my regulator/rectifier looks like or where it's located. I have a 20 amp fuse in my main and a 10 amp for the ignition.
From what I understand I can test the voltage regulator after I replace the PAMCO, which is an expense that I'm saving for atm. In the mean time I'd like to start working on the bike but I just don't know where to start. It seems I'm kinda stuck untill I can install another ignition.

 

[pamcopete]

JoyRider,

The PAMCO had a one year warranty prior to this year. Out of warranty, you can have the PC board replaced for $45 plus shipping and continue using the same rotor. PM for details.

 

[Tomterrific]

There is a number on teh power transistor. Could he just buy a new transistor from an electronics store and solder it in? Or does the hall sensor burn up? What about using a GM module? A fellow that bought an early Pamco and I were thinking about field fixes for longer trips.

Tom

 

[JoyRider]

That's a good question...

 

[retiredgentleman]

There is a number on teh power transistor. Could he just buy a new transistor from an electronics store and solder it in? Or does the hall sensor burn up? What about using a GM module? A fellow that bought an early Pamco and I were thinking about field fixes for longer trips.

Tom

Tom, my Pamco ignition has been quite reliable the last few years. However,I always like to have a plan B in case of a failure. I carry a set of points and a points cam on the bike. If the electronic ignition fails, I can just change over to the points. The points will always get you home.