I have an old thread on this forum on my '79 Goldwing that I rescued from a garage 14 months ago. Rather than regurgitate that odessy on this thread, here is a link to it: https://www.xs650.com/threads/oh-no-i-did-it-again-final-update-post-43.68658/
After a looong wait (and quite a bit of money) I finally got the carbs back from Bears Cycle a couple of weeks ago. I had some delays in riding it due to having to go back to Reno and arrainging the sale of a house I have there.
Even after the carbs were mounted the old girl had another trick up here sleeve as it still had lackluster acceration and while it would start okay, it was reluctent to idle. Turned out I was the cause of the probelm.
Since these early bikes had point ignitions, there is a ballast resistor wired into the coils and while fighting the induction problem I had put the points back in and reconnected the resistor. For those that aren't familiar with point ignitions, there is a ballast resistor in the ignition circut that reduces the voltage going to the points to keep the points from pitting. When the starter button is activated, the coil gets full battery voltage and when the button is released, the resistor is supplying the running electricity, typically 8-9 volts.
When I switched back over to the Dyna S system, I was in a hurry and forgot to disconnect the resistor and darned if the electronic system didn't like the low voltage that the resistor was supplying after the start button was released. Whoda thunk?
I guess you are never too old to be a dolt. Anyway, I have been riding it around on ever longer shakedown trips and it has been running very well. I still don't trust it to go too far as it needs new tires, but so far I am gaining more confidence that it won't leave me stranded.
Beauty shots taken today after I returned from coffee at the Liars' Club and a couple of errands:
After a looong wait (and quite a bit of money) I finally got the carbs back from Bears Cycle a couple of weeks ago. I had some delays in riding it due to having to go back to Reno and arrainging the sale of a house I have there.
Even after the carbs were mounted the old girl had another trick up here sleeve as it still had lackluster acceration and while it would start okay, it was reluctent to idle. Turned out I was the cause of the probelm.
Since these early bikes had point ignitions, there is a ballast resistor wired into the coils and while fighting the induction problem I had put the points back in and reconnected the resistor. For those that aren't familiar with point ignitions, there is a ballast resistor in the ignition circut that reduces the voltage going to the points to keep the points from pitting. When the starter button is activated, the coil gets full battery voltage and when the button is released, the resistor is supplying the running electricity, typically 8-9 volts.
When I switched back over to the Dyna S system, I was in a hurry and forgot to disconnect the resistor and darned if the electronic system didn't like the low voltage that the resistor was supplying after the start button was released. Whoda thunk?
I guess you are never too old to be a dolt. Anyway, I have been riding it around on ever longer shakedown trips and it has been running very well. I still don't trust it to go too far as it needs new tires, but so far I am gaining more confidence that it won't leave me stranded.
Beauty shots taken today after I returned from coffee at the Liars' Club and a couple of errands:
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