1983 XS650SK Points Location

[maximusrising]

Hey All
Happy 4th!
If this forum only had an App.....is it just me?
So my bone stock 83 with brand new (Old Skool Carbs!!) carbs runs like shit Like barely runs, real rough etc. Clearly electrical. So I got my Haynes and I figure its probably the coils but lets check everything. So I pull off the left side cover (it has 650 on it) and there's nothing in there. Naturally I checked the other side...
I'm stumped. This has to be the stupidest question ever.....where are the points?
God bless America.

 

[Jim]

No points. Has the first generation electronic ignition system. Look in your book or do a site search for TCI ignition system.

 

[Jan_P]

To late Mr Jim is Quick but put it here anyhow
OK i am enjoying some coca cola and vodka ..listening to Rolling Stones on headphones after a day at the Beach
Watching the latest developments in ladies Swim suits --- Life is good ......
SO not sure if there has been to many drinks
But the reason you cant find any points are most likely because there are none in the USA after 1980
on a XS 650

Check ground connection as a first -- back to the drinks

 

[650Skull]

Hey All
Happy 4th!
If this forum only had an App.....is it just me?
So my bone stock 83 with brand new (Old Skool Carbs!!) carbs runs like shit Like barely runs, real rough etc. Clearly electrical. So I got my Haynes and I figure its probably the coils but lets check everything. So I pull off the left side cover (it has 650 on it) and there's nothing in there. Naturally I checked the other side...
I'm stumped. This has to be the stupidest question ever.....where are the points?
God bless America.

Might pay to check your Haynes again, and read it............they are known to have mistakes...........mmmm

 

[XSLeo]

Is your battery fully charged? If not charge it. The TCI doesn't like low voltage. Any thing much less than about 12 volts is low enough to effect the TCI and make it run poorly. Check voltage on the red/white wires at the coil and at the TCI. WEak connections and contacts in switches can bring voltage down too.
If low you might want to check out the charging system.
Leo

 

[maximusrising]

Thanks guys as always, back to my book. Much appreciated.
Hope everyone got through the holiday (in the US of course) safely.

 

[BowlingSS]

Thanks guys as always, back to my book. Much appreciated.
Hope everyone got through the holiday (in the US of course) safely.

Good luck.

 

[maximusrising]

Ohming the coil: I'm getting 8 and 11 (proportionately) verses 2 and 10 per Haynes Anytime I troubleshoot my way to a diagnosis I generally probably did the test wrong. Are the measurements taken as is (bike not running of course, key off) from ground to each terminal of the coil (red/white & orange)?
Or disconnect the connector and measure same? anything to know about the plug wires?

of course Haynes just says to check it. I read on here primary is across the two, secondary is orange to the spark plug wire. Which plug wire? Off the plug ok? it gave me open circuit. And maybe that was on older than 83 set up?

Thanks if this makes any sense.
83 XS650SK TCI battery measures 12.75 just sitting there, so I think that's good. It's pretty new.

 

[Jim]

Checking the primary is across the 2 terminals the wires go to. Disconnect one of 'em to isolate it from the rest of the bike and measure. Should be about 2.5Ω
Secondary is checked by measuring from one sparkplug cap to the other. Should read about 13K Ω

 

[maximusrising]

Awesome, thank you
one spark plug cap to the other (both off the spark plugs) = open circuit. Bad secondary coil?
it starts (hard) and runs (rough) - would it do those things with a no-good secondary coil? Or is that like, if it's open circuit it won't even possibly run at all, something else is causing?
I checked and re-screwed-on both plug wires/caps

 

[jetmechmarty]

Just to give you my two cent opinion, I’ve had my XS650SK since new. In 38 years and 59,000 miles, I’ve had exactly two problems. The pickup coil mounted on the stator failed open and the TCI mounted under the battery box suffered degraded solder joints. The pickup coil was replaced and the TCI repaired. Based upon my own experience, the ignition system on this bike is very robust.

 

[Jim]

No, if the sec was open it wouldn't work at all. I suspect you'll need to set your meter to a higher range. Give us a pic of your meter so we can see what we're dealing with here.
Also... the plug caps should be resistor type.... about 5K Ω each, so through the caps will likely be around 23K Ω. remove the caps and you can measure true secondary resistance...13K Ω
Give us a pic of the coil and caps too.

 

[maximusrising]

you were right on many counts. Good secondary. couple pictures as requested

 

[Jim]

That sec reading is a tad high... though prolly not enough to cause your problem. The plug caps look original. Wouldn't hurt to replace 'em.
Out of curiosity, how old are the plugs? You tried new ones?

 

[maximusrising]

yes new plugs.
once I figure out what's really busted I'll replace those caps too.
Thank you-
Jetmacmarty said TCI pack and pick up coil on the stator. Next stops I guess. Jet, is the pick up coil right there under the cover or do I need to take the whole side engine housing off (luckily the non-oil side)?

 

[5twins]

Your reading looks about right because stock plug caps are higher than 5K ohm, more like 8K ohm. But, do replace them with 5K ohm NGK caps. They're the standard of the industry and it's one of the first things I do to one of these bikes. You want the LB05. I prefer the "F" type that fits on the terminal stud (nut removed). I think they grip better .....

 

[BowlingSS]

 

[jetmechmarty]

Jetmacmarty said TCI pack and pick up coil on the stator. Next stops I guess. Jet, is the pick up coil right there under the cover or do I need to take the whole side engine housing off (luckily the non-oil side)?

If your pickup coil fails, there will be no spark and the engine will not run at all. The failure mode is open circuit. To troubleshoot it, removal is not required or particularly helpful. TCI is the item of last resort. Follow what pointers others are giving you and rule all else out before getting into the TCI. It wasn’t my intent to add confusion to the issue at hand.

 

[maximusrising]

Thank you - all the advice is helping. My guess is something real simple, I just need to stumble across it.