XS650SH left me stranded again

[JJames]

Just a thought. My '81H has only come home on the truck once. I hit a pot hole and it died immediately. Glass fuses all looked fine. I was thinking you mentioned running (NEW) glass fuse block. Confirmed voltage across all fuses? Maybe swap out with new. Cheapest, simplest first.

 

[Bob Wegman]

Sorry to hear of your bike acting up. I had a similar experience with a bike quitting suddenly, it would be running fine and then just quit sometimes while standing still and other times running down the road. There would be no spark. Turned out to be a broken wire inside the insulation that would lose contact when it got warmed up.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Just a thought. My '81H has only come home on the truck once. I hit a pot hole and it died immediately. Glass fuses all looked fine. I was thinking you mentioned running (NEW) glass fuse block. Confirmed voltage across all fuses? Maybe swap out with new. Cheapest, simplest first.

I started there with a test light. Checks good.

The failure happens when it warms up. Yesterday it idled in the garage long enough to heat up. It quit at the end of my driveway.

 

[Its been a long time]

I started there with a test light. Checks good.

The failure happens when it warms up. Yesterday it idled in the garage long enough to heat up. It quit at the end of my driveway.

Not XS650 but I have seen several ignition pick ups fail when they get hot. OK cold or warm but fail when hot. Worth a check? Easy to do with a hot air gun and a multimeter.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Yes, I considered that. It was the first thing I checked at home, but that was a cold check.

 

[Its been a long time]

Yes, I considered that. It was the first thing I checked at home, but that was a cold check.

Worth a check again with a hot air gun. The very fine wires in the pick up coils will change resistance if there's a thermal breakdown in there, probably old age related.

 

[JJames]

Alright, one more guess/question. Ignition coils, especially old, can be heat sensitive and they can short internally, if this were hapening, could it cause the kind of current drain responsible for slow cranking. Original coils?

 

[jetmechmarty]

Alright, one more guess/question. Ignition coils, especially old, can be heat sensitive and they can short internally, if this were hapening, could it cause the kind of current drain responsible for slow cranking. Original coils?

I planned to swap the coils this evening if I can. I have no clue why the cranking deteriorates as it does.

 

[Jim]

Sound to me like two problems. One's ignition related and the other's a power drain problem. Keep in mind those might (most likely) have a common source, but don't discount that it could be two individual faults.

If it were me, I'd concentrate on the ignition side... and hope that fixes the current drain problem. The coil would be a good place to start.

 

[jetmechmarty]

The coil would be a good place to start.

Hopefully, I’ve stashed a good one. Or two.

 

[Jan_P]

Not sure if mentioned but a Voltmeter on the bike can give info
A short to ground can happen at many places dumping the System Voltage .Below what is needed for Ignition
A temporary voltmeter duct tape even is good enough .
I once had a stock voltage regulator malfunction hot. ( Mechanical which perhaps not on this bike )

I would consider try run on battery only ..Disconnecting charging ... perhaps via removing fuse. se if it changes anything

 

[jetmechmarty]

As expected, I got home, went in the garage and started it with a single kick.

I’m going to dig out some coils and start there.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Original coils?

Yes they are.

 

[Ben1]

Yes they are

Marty, is it humid there? Years ago on my Panhead I was having intermittent issues in rain/ high humidity I discovered a hairline crack on the coil , fingernail polish on the crack fixed it until I got home. just a thought

 

[jetmechmarty]

Marty, is it humid there?

In Mississippi? Humid? Definitely, yes.

 

[jetmechmarty]

And the winner is? ………………..

 

[jetmechmarty]

Worth a check again with a hot air gun. The very fine wires in the pick up coils will change resistance if there's a thermal breakdown in there, probably old age related.

Pickup coil. A little heat and its open circuit.

I’ve been carrying one with me. Now, what did I do with it?

 

[Jim]

Pickup coil. A little heat and its open circuit.

Well that would explain the iggy problems.
What about the current drain when you use the starter?

 

[GLJ]

I’ve been carrying one with me. Now, what did I do with it?

Check your pockets.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Well that would explain the iggy problems.
What about the current drain when you use the starter?

I checked amp draw with the key on. 3.08 amps. I’ll kick it all weekend. This is going to take me until bedtime.

I found my spare. I’m going to be looking for another.