Everett's XS650 Revival Thread (1976 XS650C)

Amp clamps are kinda expensive, probably not worth buying to troubleshoot a dead short thats blowing fuses.

Certain ones are great for troubleshooting parasitic loads(slow battery drain) but even so those are sorta specialized ranges and from what I understand work particularly well with an oscilloscope metering function over time
 
Jim said:
Pretty quiet over here.... ;)
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I’m working right now! New (old) starter solenoid installed this morning, and redid the fuse. Flasher relay is the last of my browns to disconnect, and I’ll find it eventually 😂
IMG_8860.jpeg
 
I THINK I FOUND IT!!!

Brown wire testing:

The voltage regulator pops the fuse every time. As long as it’s unplugged, I can leave the key on, mess with everything, turn the key on and off, and I’m fine. Plug it in, and I pop a fuse. It’s not immediate, so I’m only like… 95% sure at this point. I went back and forth several times, and the last time I really tried to get it to pop while the regulator was disconnected.

Coincidentally, I impulse ordered a PMA kit this week, so… that should solve that problem

Also, I need stuff. I think my flasher relay is broken (I’m going to try and test it), my headlight only has high beams, and my horn is broken. Also my starter isn’t working 😂😭, despite my solenoid being good. I’m going to try and test the switch before I do anything wild (and I know most people just kick anyway).
 
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everett464 said:
The voltage regulator pops the fuse every time. As long as it’s unplugged, I can leave it on, mess with everything, turn the key on and off, and I’m fine. Plug it in, and I pop a fuse. It’s not immediate, so I’m only like… 95% sure at this point. I went back and forth several times, and the last time I really tried to get it to pop while the regulator was disconnected.
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The regulator feeds 12V to the rotor. If the rotor's bad, that'll pop the fuse too. Plug the regulator back in and disconnect the green wire at the rotor brush on the stator and see if it still pops.

everett464 said:
Coincidentally, I impulse ordered a PMA kit this week, so… that should solve that problem
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If it's Chinese MikesXS PMA... well, lets just say they don't have a stellar track record. Once the stock charging system is properly sorted, it's better than the PMA
 
Jim said:
The regulator feeds 12V to the rotor. If the rotor's bad, that'll pop the fuse too. Plug the regulator back in and disconnect the green wire at the rotor brush on the stator and see if it still pops.
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Well… I did as you said: Undid the green wire at the brush. Turned the key on, and no fuse pop. Nothing for several minutes. So I hooked green wire back up, and turned the key on, and…. Nothing. I can’t get the fuse to pop now to save my life. 😂😭 I’m going insane.

Also… my stator looks rough. Lots of the enamel coating on the core appears to have been worn (or brushed??) away
 
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Its been a long time said:
Anecdotally, I'd say there's probably more threads on the forum about issues with PMAs and their reg/recs than any other single topic. Myself, I'd ask for a refund on the PMA and sort out the original charging system. Just my 2 cents.
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Looks like a 15% restocking fee. But I still have to figure out how to replace my stator (I think), and perhaps a short in my regulator (or maybe it’s all related(?)

ARGH!
 
Likely related, yes.

There's simple troubleshooting steps to take on the stator before you think about a replacement. Detailed in the shop manual and in the forum technical section. You need a meter to test resistance of windings. Sometimes the white wires are damaged, saw that last week on a 650B.
 
Went and poked around some today. Got a new headlight, confirming my suspicion that the bulb was causing my problem. More or less confirmed that my fuse-popping short is coming from the charging system.

I still have no blinkers, but I confirmed my relay is not doing any flashing. When I power it, the test light is on constantly (despite the fact that my blinkers never come on at all).

Discovered another new anomaly: the brake light is on all the time. Lights on or off; brakes depressed or not; one of both switches entirely disconnected. AWESOME.

Waiting on filters and a few odds and ends before I attempt to kick the bike over.

Gotta admit to feeling pretty discouraged today. Learning that my PMA bright idea was not so bright; paying the restocking fee on that, leaving me with a broken stator… never ending light issues. This isn’t as much fun today.
 
 
everett464 said:
Gotta admit to feeling pretty discouraged today.
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Make a suggestion? Hearing that thing run would do wonders to encourage you... will put a shit eatin' grin on your face.
Were it me, I'd pull the brake bulb out so it's not a factor... screw the blinkers, screw the charging... I'd ignore everything except getting spark to the plugs. A little vroom vroom and some blue smoke would do wonders for your disposition.

Yes, everything needs sorting. All in good time. Let's work on putting a smile on your face.
 

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