two motors, NO CONTACT BREAKER! NEED HELP!

[lgaston]

Hey,
I have two 82 XS650s this is my first build. I have to motors and today started overhauling the top end of one. i took the cam end covers off and noticed that there is no contact breaker. i decided to check out my second motor. same thing, no contact breaker! I saw this bike run the day i picked it up. I understand that the XS650 has a cam based ignition but i don't really know much about it other than that. How is it possible for there to not be a contact breaker? especially when i have seen this bike run. Is there another type of ignition that this bike may have?

 

[pamcopete]

igaston,

The '80's models did not have points. They had an electronic ignition system called a TCI (Transistor Controlled Ignition) that used a magnetic sensor on the crank shaft.

 

[5twins]

Yes, so what you're seeing is normal. There are no points in an '82.

 

[retiredgentleman]

Hey,
I have two 82 XS650s this is my first build. I have to motors and today started overhauling the top end of one. i took the cam end covers off and noticed that there is no contact breaker. i decided to check out my second motor. same thing, no contact breaker! I saw this bike run the day i picked it up. I understand that the XS650 has a cam based ignition but i don't really know much about it other than that. How is it possible for there to not be a contact breaker? especially when i have seen this bike run. Is there another type of ignition that this bike may have?

The 80 to 83 engines used a TCI. That's a transistor controlled ignition. It is controled by a small magnet on the alternator rotor and a pick-up coil on the stator housing. No points used.

 

[pamcopete]

This is like that scene from "Airplane" where everybody lines up to smack the hysterical woman. Lets get some more people in here to tell him again...LOL

 

[lgaston]

thanks guys I knew i had TCI on the crank. I guess my haynes manual got me all freaked out. Newbie mistake.

 

[lgaston]

the picture in my manual was all "take this really complicated looking thing out" and I'm all "AHHH I don't have one of those complicated looking things WTF!!!"