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Electrical
Ok, I posted something earlier about my electric troubles, but it was long and confusing, and now I have better information.
Reading through the 'Tech Tips' section (http://www.xs11.com/tips/repair/repair32.shtml), I measured the resistance between the green and brown wires. It came to about 4.5 ohms. This was the same with the ignition on and off. The wires I did the test on were behind the right side panel of the bike, and it was the side of the connection which ran to the alternator assembly. The other side of the connector did not show any readout. Then, with the ignition on, the voltage across the brown wire to ground was around 10.8, while the green wire was 0.6-0.8. With the engine running, these voltages were the same. Does that mean the reg/rec is working correctly (readings are less than expected)?
I brought my current battery, which was purchased less than a month ago, up to a place to charge it, and once charged, it tested as bad. I don't know if this would affect the aforementioned readings, but the voltage across the battery was 12V at the time. When I bought the battery, I only charged it for about 2 hours before riding about 100 miles on the bike, which is what might have ruined the battery.
This electrical problem (not enough voltage across the battery) is my greatest concern, but I have 2 other general questions about my bike:
1)The fuel gauge. When I fill the tank, it goes all the way to the left past empty, and eventually works its way up to full, then back down to empty. Is this normal? I don't know if I can trust it.
2)If you were to look at the engine directly below the seat, below the battery and slightly forward, there is a component I cannot identify. It looks almost like an oil filter for a car standing up and has a black tube that runs out of the side of it which just goes under the frame of the bike. After the engine has warmed up, smoke will sometimes come out of this tube. What is that thing?
-Thanks to all the people on this board, who have already given me a warm welcome.
Eric
1979 XS1100 Standard
Reading through the 'Tech Tips' section (http://www.xs11.com/tips/repair/repair32.shtml), I measured the resistance between the green and brown wires. It came to about 4.5 ohms. This was the same with the ignition on and off. The wires I did the test on were behind the right side panel of the bike, and it was the side of the connection which ran to the alternator assembly. The other side of the connector did not show any readout. Then, with the ignition on, the voltage across the brown wire to ground was around 10.8, while the green wire was 0.6-0.8. With the engine running, these voltages were the same. Does that mean the reg/rec is working correctly (readings are less than expected)?
I brought my current battery, which was purchased less than a month ago, up to a place to charge it, and once charged, it tested as bad. I don't know if this would affect the aforementioned readings, but the voltage across the battery was 12V at the time. When I bought the battery, I only charged it for about 2 hours before riding about 100 miles on the bike, which is what might have ruined the battery.
This electrical problem (not enough voltage across the battery) is my greatest concern, but I have 2 other general questions about my bike:
1)The fuel gauge. When I fill the tank, it goes all the way to the left past empty, and eventually works its way up to full, then back down to empty. Is this normal? I don't know if I can trust it.
2)If you were to look at the engine directly below the seat, below the battery and slightly forward, there is a component I cannot identify. It looks almost like an oil filter for a car standing up and has a black tube that runs out of the side of it which just goes under the frame of the bike. After the engine has warmed up, smoke will sometimes come out of this tube. What is that thing?
-Thanks to all the people on this board, who have already given me a warm welcome.
Eric
1979 XS1100 Standard
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