PMA and electronic ignition or TCI(CDI) for 1980 xs650

[Username]

Hello,
I have a 1980 xs650 I'm working on to make it somewhat custom. I bought it non running sort of a basket case. It has the stock tci or cdi and the motor is complete with the stator and what I believe on the 1980 model is a regulator rectifier combo?
Anyways looking to make a custom wire harness for what I hope will be a non hardtailed "chopper" removing excess from the wire harness (head light break light and turn signals) hence wanting to switch to the hughs handbuilt pma system.

However the cost of this is adding up and was wondering if I should even be spending the money to switch for what would just eliminate the battery? Any opinions on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[nj1639]

TCI is a good system, l converted my points '77D over to it after cutting my xs650 teeth on a TCI '83SK.
I'd get her going with what you have before stripping any wiring and such out, narrows problems down when you knew it ran before you did X........
If you go with a PMA, send me your junk TCI components......

 

[Username]

this bike was not running and was in parts hence me wanting to put a Hugh's Pma on it. But like I said budget is getting tight so that's why I'm asking if it's worth it or not. The bike is stripped right now with the wire harness off the bike. Going to try and make a custom harness from scratch. Really want to simply the harness to only have headlight, taillight, turn signals and a kill switch(ignition switch?)

 

[Username]

Also is that a regulator rectifier combo unit on the 1980 model?

 

[Adamc]

I have a 1980 custom tracker which came with standard (butchered) wiring TCI system. When I eventually got it running it was running very poorly. I dismantled the whole electrical system; reg/rec, rotor & stator were good, everything else was stripped and trashed. I rebuilt a complete new loom from scratch and replaced everything else. It still ran badly so I suspected the TCI box. Changed to a Gonzo set up, and still ran poorly. Methodical tracing found a batch of brand new genuine spark plugs were the fault!
All on my build thread if you’re interested.

 

[Username]

Yes sounds like I'm in the same boat as you. That's crazy that the plugs were bad tho haha. I'll check it out. Wiring is not my strong suit tho. I'm better with points but stuck with the tci here. Do you know what's involved in the tci set up? I'm assuming it's just the regulator rectifier, stator and coil all connected for the system to be complete?

 

[Username]

Do you have a link to that thread?

 

[Adamc]

Here is my build thread:

https://www.xs650.com/threads/xs650-23-year-bike-chase.60202/

https://www.xs650.com/threads/welsh-flat-track-revival.60449/

Electrics start here:
https://www.xs650.com/threads/welsh-flat-track-revival.60449/page-6
Post No 116

Cheers Adam

 

[nj1639]

Here's a simplified wiring diagram from the tech section, shows points or TCI.
Probably shows a schematic for PMA in that extensive thread.