XS650SH left me stranded again

[jetmechmarty]

The bike Sat since the May Ozark rally. I think it got one short ride to top up the tank all. With a little over an hour of daylight remaining yesterday, I decided to get out on it for a bit. I found it a bit difficult to start. I had to kick it to life. It was cranking but no light off.

I drove about four miles just fine. It stopped running at 40 mph on level ground. No restart no spark. I called my wife and she brought a spare TCI and jumper cable. The jump got it going. Car running, I left it hooked up with both engines running. After a few minutes, the bike quit and no restart. No spark. I installed the spare TCI. No spark. Oh, I did replace the ignition fuse even though it looked fine. I called @desmoman900 in case I missed the obvious.

As I was running out of daylight, I summoned a tow truck. He showed in maybe 5 minutes time. My bike safely back in the garage.

I’m not sure when I can look at it next, but I’ll test the pickup coil.

Could I have damaged this thing with the car? Did I fry two TCI boxes?

 

[Kevin Werner]

These bikes are incredibly reliable when properly serviced...

 

[JJames]

Hey Marty, no doubt you"ll sort this out(without me). Just had a couple of questions. Do you have a voltage meter installed or were you able to get a reading across the terminals either before the ride or while trying to restart on the road. I'm not that knowledgeable when it comes to electronics, but it seems to me that problems like this often come back to battery.
In this case,
The bike had been dormant for a while.
A bike that won't start/spark on the button due to low voltage may spark/start with the kicker. Said bike will probably run for a few miles as yours did. A jump may start the bike but not impart enough charge to keep it running. I've always heard jump starts should be done with car off, can't remember why. Anyhow, Did you fry 2 tci boxes? Was that the root of the problem?
For your consideration. Good luck.

 

[Jim]

Could I have damaged this thing with the car? Did I fry two TCI boxes?

Highly unlikely, not from a (car) jump.
You running the stock coil or a Honda MP08?

 

[Jan_P]

Did it shut down both sides as if a switch was flipped .Or was there some backfiring or running on one cylinder only.
If it dies on level ground and no signalling It Is the same symptoms as if a fuse has opened Power supply gone.
And most electronic boxes refuse to work properly if to low power
I would check fuse holder and kill switch first.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Highly unlikely, not from a (car) jump.
You running the stock coil or a Honda MP08?

The coil is stock.

Did it shut down both sides as if a switch was flipped .Or was there some backfiring or running on one cylinder only.

It just stopped running altogether.

 

[Jan_P]

Charged battery
I am at an electric fault I would try the first TCI and expect it to start now cold.
( Heat dependent short circuit )
No start first TCI a short circuit cold also.

Is it the stock regulator ? Electronic combo ? and is there a voltmeter .On the bike . ?
Then I would remove fuses except ignition (and what is needed ) and try start

 

[MikeyDeepXS]

Let us know if it starts up after a full charge on the battery at home.

It seems unlikely to have fried two TCI boxes on the same day if you had tested and knew they were both working previously.(unless maybe the regulator is wonky and overcharging the electrical system )

My first gonzo went kaput due to lack of potting compound, causing the main transistor leads to crack from vibration(I was able to bring it back to life after repairing the cracked leads). When I went to take the gonzo apart it came apart very easily, obviously lacked potting, and weighed about 50 grams(maybe a bit less) compared to the replacement gonzo that I bought thereafter which appears to be fully potted and weighs something like 73 grams

 

[JJames]

Any luck starting the bike since you got home?

 

[jetmechmarty]

Sorry guys. I’m pulled in several directions right now. I had hoped to squeeze in a little ride. As I go to bed, I’ll get the battery on to charge.

 

[jetmechmarty]

I put the charged battery in it. It cranks fine. No light off. I read voltage through all the fuses. It will be over a week before I can look at it again.
I’m planning to be at the Vintage Yamaha Rally on the 24th. It may have to be with XS11.