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Newbie XS 650
- Thread starter mcclellan81
- Start date
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Shiffty
Jim Wilson
Very Nice!
I'm kinda partial to the Heritage Specials too. The '82 is about the only year with stock painted fenders.
mcclellan81
XS650 Member
Thank you.
cmattina1
XS650 Addict
VERY nice
Looks like you have a Standard handlebar, replacing the "buckhorn" bar that came on Specials - a good change to make. If you have the original fuse block under the seat, check to make sure that the brass clips that hold the fuses are not brittle and cracked - a common source of electrical failure in our beloved 650's. It happened on my '82 SJ. There are several ways to fix it.
mcclellan81
XS650 Member
aldo5468. I have just started to deal with this fuse block. I will need to replace the whole thing. It died out of nowhere. So I started at the new battery and then the fuse. The main was melted down because someone used some plastic 5amp fuse holder. I cut that out and replaced it with a 30 amp standard fuse horn, keeping it as a quick fix. Should I look for a new block or just replace them all like that? Thanks.
Highside
Lord of the Flies
Agreed. Those buckhorn handlebars are an abomination against cycledom.
The person(s) responsible for those things should have to do a lifetime prison sentence with "Bubba the Booty Bandit".
pumps
XS650 Junkie
Good looking bike. Personally I think the specials are under-rated. 
Did you get a good deal on it?
Did you get a good deal on it?
mcclellan81
XS650 Member
Yes I did.....Free. My uncle bought it off the lot. Gave it to my old man to work on and then
passed down to me. I cleaned it all up but it was in pretty good shape when I got it three weeks ago.
passed down to me. I cleaned it all up but it was in pretty good shape when I got it three weeks ago.
August
XS650 Member
Always nice to get a free bike, though yours runs...where mine...well...at the moment I'm currently stuck making engine noises. One of these days.
mcclellan81
XS650 Member
August, Hell ya man. I am picking up a little project next I will be there with you.
If your original fuse block is not damaged (only the brass clips that hold the fuses need replacement), you have two basic options: (1) to replace the clips and continue using glass cartridge-type fuses, the so-called "Radio Shack" fix (which I did), or (2) to totally replace the stock fuse block by splicing in newer-type fuse holders that take the newer-type automotive fuses. Many 650 owners prefer the second, more modern approach to improve reliability; I still had a lot of older-style glass fuses lying around to use if needed in the future, so stayed with the first approach. Mike's XS used to offer a stock-type replacement fuse block, but in checking the website just now, I did not see it listed. Whichever way you go, you need high-quality fuseholders for four fused circuits: 20 amp main, 10 amp signal, 10 amp headlight, and 10 amp ignition. Hope this helps - it is difficult if not impossible to troubleshoot any downstream electrical problems if you are not getting reliable power to all four of these circuits through their respective fuses.
mcclellan81
XS650 Member
Here's a pic of what I did. The fuse clips from the Radio Shack fuse block fit into the original XS650 fuse block perfectly - a direct replacement. Bend down the tabs at the ends a bit and tin them with acid-free solder, slide them into the XS650 fuseblock, cut the old brass clips off the wires, tin all the wire ends, solder them to the new clips, put in the right-size fuses, and you're good to go. You can search on this site or on the 650Garage website for Radio Shack fuseholder and get the part number - it's only a couple of bucks.
