They're over 40 yrs old.... and first generation i/c electronics at that. They're a little long in the tooth. You might source another one, but who knows how long it will last.
Thanks Jim. I appreciate your opinion and expertise.They're over 40 yrs old.... and first generation i/c electronics at that. They're a little long in the tooth. You might source another one, but who knows how long it will last.
Jim amongst others convinced me to go modern cheap automotive replacements. Almost a "no-brainer" if you are not bent on a totally stock original.Thanks Jim. I appreciate your opinion and expertise.
On this bike I'm not bent on originality but rather what works and reliability! I do like sticking with stock whenever possible but I want to ride with confidence too.Jim amongst others convinced me to go modern cheap automotive replacements. Almost a "no-brainer" if you are not bent on a totally stock original.
Yeah the older mechanical regulators seem to survive the ages better than "early solid state" electronics. I've seen a fair number of the all in one stock regulators go tits up.Are these OEM reg/rect somewhat reliable? If so I'd like to just source a good used one. If they're prone to problems then I'll go the route of building one.
I would like to think that I have "riders". I have a modified 77 that had an updated ignition system when I bought it but stock regulator and rectifier. When my regulator acted up this forum helped greatly going to an automotive regulator. I am guessing it is all in the tech section. My '81 Red Bike is all stock with regards to charging and ignition. I carry a plug in GN250 ignition module in case I need it. I suppose I will face failures in the most inopprotune times in the future but in the old days, they called that "adventure".On this bike I'm not bent on originality but rather what works and reliability! I do like sticking with stock whenever possible but I want to ride with confidence too.
There are 100 ways to mount a cheap voltmeter to your XS 650 to monitor the health of the charging system and not 1 good reason not to if you ride it regularly.So far, the used original I put on my '83 is holding up OK. The actual original was fried when I got the bike because the chain had cut into the alternator harness and obviously shorted some wires together, lol. I had a spare in my stash so for the time being, it's on there. But, I have a voltmeter installed so I can closely monitor charging output. That's something you should also consider regardless of what you do with the reg/rec. You can get a cheap one off eBay for less than $10 and just "strap" it to the handlebars with cable ties, lol .....
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I do have the automotive regulator on the shelf just in case .....
Ha! We must be cut from the same mold! Put one on yesterday.That's something you should also consider regardless of what you do with the reg/rec.
The one on my XS1100 has over 100,000 miles and 45 years on it. My XS650SK has 65,000 miles on the original RR. A used one might work.Are these OEM reg/rect somewhat reliable? If so I'd like to just source a good used one. If they're prone to problems then I'll go the route of building one.
Wow! Hard to argue with that!The one on my XS1100 has over 100,000 miles and 45 years on it. My XS650SK has 65,000 miles on the original RR. A used one might work.
Understand, even with that, it’s still a crap shoot. YMMVWow! Hard to argue with that!
I get it and I agree. I've sourced a good used one and I'm going to build one of the automotive versions described by Jim as a spare. That way I can have an extra to carry around with me.Understand, even with that, it’s still a crap shoot. YMMV
I’ve been carrying a TCI and a pickup coil. I carried a rotor and puller to the last 650 Society rally. It got installed in another bike. Mine was running @Jim rewind, so I carried one as a courtesy. Since I never suffered a regulator failure, I don’t carry one. The bike will go 200 miles or more with the battery running only the ignition.I get it and I agree. I've sourced a good used one and I'm going to build one of the automotive versions described by Jim as a spare. That way I can have an extra to carry around with me.