SinisterMatti
XS650 Enthusiast
Hey all. I bought my 1978 XS650e last month and have really enjoyed working on it, but I've run into a problem that has stumped me.
First, some background. When I bought the bike, it wasn't getting any power, the cables on all the lights and blinkers were either disconnected or cut. I took the battery to a local shop and had it charged. I rode the bike a few times, and then let it sit for roughly 2 weeks while the tank was being painted and the seat reupholstered. When I went to start it after getting my parts back I discovered that the batter had gone dead again. I went out and bought a new battery. Everything seemed to be fine, until I made the mistake of pressure spraying the lower half of the bike. Immediately after the wash my electronic starter would not respond at all. It's almost as if the button isn't connected. My kick starter is hit or miss (it frequently spins free and won't turn over the motor) so I ended up run starting it to make it home. The next morning my new battery wasn't giving any power. the multimeter read it at 4 volts. I tested and charged it, but it seems I have a charging issue.
The service manual reads at 2k RPM the battery should be at 14.5v, but the highest i've been able to get it to, even going to 3k rpm is 12.7v. I did the wrench tap test with the bike running and there is a magnetic field on the alternator cover when the bike is running.
This is as far as I've been able to take it. I've been trying to research this, but frankly a lot of the how to's are simply over my head. I'd like to try replacing the regulator as that seems to be a frequent weak point in a lot of the threads i've been reading, but I've been unable to find anywhere online that sells an older style regulator. I'm very visual and i'm having a very hard time comprehending the steps for upgrading to the newer style regulator.
I'm sorry for the long rambling post, but I've run out of ideas. I'm open to any suggestions, including a source for a new/refurbished regulator in the older style, if such a beast exists.
Thanks for reading.
First, some background. When I bought the bike, it wasn't getting any power, the cables on all the lights and blinkers were either disconnected or cut. I took the battery to a local shop and had it charged. I rode the bike a few times, and then let it sit for roughly 2 weeks while the tank was being painted and the seat reupholstered. When I went to start it after getting my parts back I discovered that the batter had gone dead again. I went out and bought a new battery. Everything seemed to be fine, until I made the mistake of pressure spraying the lower half of the bike. Immediately after the wash my electronic starter would not respond at all. It's almost as if the button isn't connected. My kick starter is hit or miss (it frequently spins free and won't turn over the motor) so I ended up run starting it to make it home. The next morning my new battery wasn't giving any power. the multimeter read it at 4 volts. I tested and charged it, but it seems I have a charging issue.
The service manual reads at 2k RPM the battery should be at 14.5v, but the highest i've been able to get it to, even going to 3k rpm is 12.7v. I did the wrench tap test with the bike running and there is a magnetic field on the alternator cover when the bike is running.
This is as far as I've been able to take it. I've been trying to research this, but frankly a lot of the how to's are simply over my head. I'd like to try replacing the regulator as that seems to be a frequent weak point in a lot of the threads i've been reading, but I've been unable to find anywhere online that sells an older style regulator. I'm very visual and i'm having a very hard time comprehending the steps for upgrading to the newer style regulator.
I'm sorry for the long rambling post, but I've run out of ideas. I'm open to any suggestions, including a source for a new/refurbished regulator in the older style, if such a beast exists.
Thanks for reading.