Got a rotor on the way thanks to Gary. I also ordered two more boxes to check them out. Once rotor is installed I’ll check current box again against it, then try the other two and see where I’m at
-
Enjoy XS650.com? Consider making a donation to help support the site.
XS650.com receives a small share of sales from some links on this page, but direct donations have a much greater impact on keeping this site going.
JesseeS Build Thread
- Thread starter JesseeS
- Start date
All of this rotor discussion has me wondering about the charging system on my bike. I'm putting it out there now that I plan to take my '74 on a longer multi-day ride next season so I better have a close look and possibly rebuild some spares I have. Thanks for the kick in the pants Jesse!
An $8-$12 little DVM "digital volt meter" https://www.bing.com/shop/productpa...rue"&productpage=true&FORM=SHPPDP&browse=true tells you when your system is failing. Cheap, easy...
In 2002 I was (still am) a subscriber to @wkdenton's yam650@micapeak.com. I had a 2000 mile trip planned and posed the question, "What spare parts do I need to carry?" I got several responses, "rotor and puller." I didn't. The main fuse opened twice on the trip. I made it. The next time I rode the bike I didn't get two miles before the battery went flat due to a shorted rotor. @DonebySunday hooked me up with a rewind and it has been working fine ever since.
So what I’m hearing is @Jim is going to have such a busy winter rewinding rotors he will be able to buy multiple pairs of workshop sandals. And you thought you were retired. HA! I think once the rotor and gonzo box situation is settled on my bike I’ll be able to go on a distance shake down run. Just need to calibrate my speedometer and it should be all done
All he has to do is rewind all of them and he'll be done.
and you're far too kind to mention a Yamaha DT175 and a 440 Victor and uhm, certain paint jobs and uhm, a van and uhm . . .
and then Jim'll be done. Be able to concentrate on proper projects like Gonzo boxes then.
Last edited:
Hope you are lucky with the boxes. I ordered 6 from three different suppliers off eBay. Only two were of use.
If they are bad I’ll probably honestly grab 10 or so from all over Amazon and just return what doesn’t work.
Blimey that’s seen better days.
Going to give it the Old Yeller treatment. It still charged just fine but damn this thing has been through hell
Yup, that's a Chinese repop. Junk in other words. Is that an extra magnet glued on top of the imbedded one?
Got the new rotor in courtesy of @gggGary (thanks again) looks great and install went seamless, which is different for me. Bike started right up, still showing advanced but at least I have an identifiable marking and know it’s the box. Have 2 boxes coming tomorrow and 10 more in the cart waiting just in case they fail as well. I’m so close I can feel it.
Yep and then when you finish you can’t believe you made it.
Got both boxes in. Both idled at the same spot as the original box, at full advance. Initiated a return and ordered 8 more.
Make a suggestion, Jessee... double check your pigtail is using the retard coil on the TCI pickup and not the advance side.
40° advance from the pickup and about 15° from the gonzo box is about 55° give or take. That looks to be about where you're at.
40° advance from the pickup and about 15° from the gonzo box is about 55° give or take. That looks to be about where you're at.
Jim, on the pigtail would those be the blue and white wires? I believe when I read through the guide (information overload) I read those were the two to swap. I currently have the pigtail as is with just blue and white swapped. I’ll have to take a look at the tci side a I’m using a “chopper harness”. Maybe I got something crossed
The connector from the pickup has 3 wires.... orange, grey and black. Black is common, grey is advance and orange is retard.
You want the orange and black.
