No juice to the plugs

[Sdadyo]

I am new to the XS650 adventure. I bought a 78 last week.

It was converted to electronic ignition.

It started easy (2-3 kicks) the first half dozen times then just quit. Lucky I had a friend close with a trailer to get the bike home.

I've traced the juice with a voltmeter to the coil. I tried to get a spark by kicking the start while grounding the plug. No spark.

I ordered a new coil since they are pretty cheap. I installed it today and still no juice. Apparently it wasn't the coil.

Any ideas of were to go from here aside from buying and installing a whole new ignition?

 

[Jan_P]

Hi
There should be a trigger for the ignition. . The sensor for position of engine / crank
Most likely on the camshaft end -- Boyer Branden has it on the left side
The ignition box itself needs to have power ad ground.
If you can tell us what ignition better advice can be given

 

[Sdadyo]

I don't know what kind of points but I attached some photos

 

[gggGary]

A pamco type electronic ignition.
Type because MikesXS took over, started sourcing them from overseas.
Hard to tell from these shots but looks like you still have a mechanical advance on the other end of the cam.
Tytronics one possible replacement.
Jim and a few others here are pioneering a Gonzo ignition that might replace this..

 

[Jan_P]

I don't know what kind of points but I attached some photos

Gary was quicker but
Hi again to me it looks as some version of Pamco Pete
Please verify

https://www.hughshandbuilt.com/2012/05/30/pamcopete-277-ignition-install/

I have never worked with it but believe I can sort it out
As well as others can
Once when you know exactly which system fault finding procedures most likely are out there
AS well as wiring so fault finding can be done

 

[Sdadyo]

The pamcopete looks like it has two circuit boards. The ignition on this bike only has one. I posted another photo.

 

[Sdadyo]

Would it help to identify if I opened the other side?

 

[Jim]

 

[Sdadyo]

Look at that! Good eye mate!

 

[XSLeo]

You traced power to the coil, did you alsao trace power to the ignition plate?
Power flows to the coil, the coil grounds through the ignition on the ground wire. The ignition controls the ground of the coil the same way the ;points did.
The ignition needs power to board to operate the transisters on the board. One transiter senses when the magnets in the rotor pass the transister. This transiter sends a signal to the main transister to tell it when to ground or unground the coil, causing the spark.
You might want to pull off ther rotor and the plate to look at the items on the board. If anything looks burnt you can try replacing them.
If not you might be able to buy just the plate that mikes sells and see if that works. That may get you running cheaper than a whole new ignition.
You might also want to check out some of the alternate ignition available. The Tytronics has had some good reviews. There are other optiopns out there.
Leo

 

[gggGary]

yes knowing if it has mechanical advance will narrow the iggy choices.

 

[Sdadyo]

I have found the culprit guys! Fried circuit board. Thanks for your help. I ordered a new electric ignition from Mikes.

 

[Jan_P]

Yes Sir nice to hear
A warning ..these type faults can on some bikes be caused by defective charging
components ... Regulator
So an inspection of those can save another buy of the same parts in some cases
I am not familiar with Pamco
But personally I would do a quick check of the charging components
The stock regulator does not have a first class reputation ,, but it can be checked
with a voltmeter . If such regulator is present
And if i should try to start it -- I most definitely would measure the voltage across the battery.
When / If it starts
And if that was to high i would shut down Quicker than a Cobra strikes.

 

[gggGary]

You didn't find the culprit, you found a casualty.

 

[Sdadyo]

Yes Sir nice to hear
A warning ..these type faults can on some bikes be caused by defective charging
components ... Regulator
So an inspection of those can save another buy of the same parts in some cases
I am not familiar with Pamco
But personally I would do a quick check of the charging components
The stock regulator does not have a first class reputation ,, but it can be checked
with a voltmeter . If such regulator is present
And if i should try to start it -- I most definitely would measure the voltage across the battery.
When / If it starts
And if that was to high i would shut down Quicker than a Cobra strikes.

I do have a voltmeter. Ill check it out. Thanks

 

[Sdadyo]

Yes Sir nice to hear
A warning ..these type faults can on some bikes be caused by defective charging
components ... Regulator
So an inspection of those can save another buy of the same parts in some cases
I am not familiar with Pamco
But personally I would do a quick check of the charging components
The stock regulator does not have a first class reputation ,, but it can be checked
with a voltmeter . If such regulator is present
And if i should try to start it -- I most definitely would measure the voltage across the battery.
When / If it starts
And if that was to high i would shut down Quicker than a Cobra strikes.

Would I need a new regulator?

 

[Sdadyo]

Would I need a new regulator?

(Duh, that's what you wrote. my bad)
I suppose I will have to wait till it get it running to see if the regulator is doing its thing.

 

[Sdadyo]

The bike has one of these old jalopies. Do you think I should buy a new fan dangled one?

 

[Sdadyo]

in exchange for one of these.

https://www.mikesxs.net/yamaha-xs650-xscharge-pma-rectifier-voltage-regulator-replacement.html

 

[gggGary]

The bike has one of these old jalopies. Do you think I should buy a new fan dangled one?

nice thing about mechanical regulators is that you can ADJUST the charging voltage. get it running, start testing, volt meters where you can see them while riding are popular for a reason