Just bought a 1980 xs 11 Special

[newbe]

Picked up a Sweet XS 11 last week, drove it home and then it died. It is having problems starting and then when I do get it started it will shut off on my rides and I'm stuck pushing it back to the house. When it does die, it doesn't have spark to fire up again until I let it sit over night. then it will start and on the ride the spark will die. changed plugs, sometimes wiggleing the wire coming off the engine run/off switch will cause it to fire up for me. Looking for ideas that might help me make it a reliable ride.

[DGXSER]

Electrical connections

Sounds like you need to clean that switch and check the rest of your electrical connections. Clean the connections and use some dielectric on them when you reconnect them.

[newbe]

Thanks ,I'll give that a try toight. Are there any good wiring diagrams that I can look at to be able to look at the wires/ switch I need to clean?

[CatatonicBug]

There is a wiring diagram in the back of the manual (available in my signature). However it's just a layout of the electrical circuits themselves. The switch is held on by two screws from under the handlebar on the right side. Just remove the screws, and open it up. You should be able to figure it out once you get that far. You will find that corrosion at electrical contacts is a major source of gremlins on these older bikes. The fuse block is often an issue, and many of us have replaced the glass fuses with the newer spade-type (info available in the tech tips). You can buy the new fuse block from TC here for $9 shipped, including connectors. Takes an hour to do the swap. However, for now, that's probably not your issue. Just get some dielectric grease and coat the connections with it once you get all the corrosion off. It will prevent you from having to do it all over again next season.

[Tusler]

Battery?

Hi,
If this bike sat for a long time I bet the battery is toast.
Sounds like it may not be accepting a charge-bad cells?
Might want to take it out and see what the specific grav is of each cell.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Newbe,

Tusler is on the right track. You need to make sure that the battery is holding a charge, as well as GETTING a charge! Do you have a multimeter?Do you have a battery charger?

Need to try to put a good charge on the battery overnight. Then first use the meter, test across the battery while trying to start it to see IF the volts drop below 11!? Then once started, rev to 2500, and see if you are getting close to 14.5 volts. IF still only 12, then it's not charging, and further diagnostics will be required. Most likely a burned out Reg/Rect, common failing point vs. the ALT, but still check the 3 large plugs from the ALT that connect BEHIND the main electrical fuse panel on the right side, clean, etc!!
Also, clean grounds, engine to frame behind carbs as well as battery to frame.
T.C.

[newbe]

Would the battery shut the bike down after it has already started it, and in motiion? I always was told that Once it started that was it for the battery, now the alternator started the work. I will try that if my cleaning doesn't work. I cleaned it and let it sit for a day and will try the bike tonight, when I get off of work. Thanks for all your imputs, they have been greatly appriciated.

[CatatonicBug]

Would the battery shut the bike down after it has already started it, and in motiion? I always was told that Once it started that was it for the battery, now the alternator started the work. I will try that if my cleaning doesn't work. I cleaned it and let it sit for a day and will try the bike tonight, when I get off of work. Thanks for all your imputs, they have been greatly appriciated.

The charging systems on these bikes are very weak. It's often not enough to run the bike AND heated accessories (grips/gloves, etc.). If your alternator is not charging at peak power, and the voltage drops below 10v, the bike WILL die. That's why they removed the kick-starter as a standard item on these bikes in the later years. If the battery is dead, you can't kick-start it anyway. The starter doesn't go out nearly as often as the battery does.

[newbe]

Latest update! cleaned all the connections and had the battery checked today. The battery past the test on the tester, put it back in and the bike wouldn't start up for me. Guys at the parts store said I need to check the jetting on the Carb's. what are your alls thoughts about this.

[oseaghdha]

You must have all four:
Gas
SPARKS
Air
Compression

Hint:
When it does not start, it's usually one or both of the first two.
If it runs sometimes, it's probably not the carbs so much.

From your posts, it sounds like an electrical issue.

Could be:
Loose connections
Crappy fuse panel
Tipover Switch
Bad TCI board
Bad Ignition switch
Bad E-Stop switch

[soccer4m]

Check Spark?

How do you check the spark? Do you take out a plug and ground it to the engine and look for spark or are you assuming its the spark? Let us know, because if it is the spark, and you are sure, that narrows the problems down a lot. The others have chipped in their ideas, if it isnt the spark then the problems narrow down to the carbs. I suggest, first put in a fuel filter, inline, so you can see if there is crud going through the tank. You should put one on each line anyway. Second, though its a hassle, pull off the carbs, take off the bowls and see how crudded up they are. Then follow the cleaning carbs info. on the repair section. Also,,,easier starting can be done with spraying some starting fluid in the intake. THis can help stubborn bikes tremendously to at least kick over much better. I am guessing its the carbs are crudded up, but let us know if its definately the spark at the plugs and it will help.....Mike in S.Diego

[newbe]

Pulled the plugs last night and grounded them to the engine, NO Spark on any of the plugs.

[bikerphil]

With the key on, check for 12V at the red/wht double connector under the tank. This would be the + wire for the 2 coils.

[DiverRay]

If you still have the original fuse panel, with glass fuses, REPLACE IT. You CAN use a VOM to track down the ignition side of the wires. If you have power in the WIRE on one side of the fuse panel, but no power in the WIRE on the other side, it's probably a bad fuse or fuse holder. The other common problem is the kill switch, but that should keep the starter from turning if it's bad.

[newbe]

Pulse Coils

I finally broke down and took my baby to a mechanic. He found the problem and now needs help finding parts for it. He said it is the Pulse coils, part number 3H5-81671-10-00. Can anyone help get us back on the road where we belong?