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  • ? about ballast resistor

    Hey Guys,

    I have a 1980 XS1100SG and found out the ballast resistor is being by-passed. What problems will this cause to the bike?? Right now that bike runs great.


    Thanks,

    Steve
    1980 XS100 SG Gone but not Forgotten really wish I could have kept it
    1998 Suzuki VS1400 Intruder

  • #2
    Re: ? about ballast resistor

    Originally posted by freebird01752

    I have a 1980 XS1100SG and found out the ballast resistor is being by-passed. What problems will this cause to the bike??
    The ballast resistor is there to stop the coils from burning out, and you should take steps to put it back into the circuit.

    The coils don't require full voltage to run the engine. When you hit the starter button, full voltage is applied to the coils to give a hotter spark for startup. Once the engine has started, and you release the starter button, the circuit switches over so the current passes thru the ballast resistor, which reduces the voltage to the coils. Not sure by how much, I have heard by as much as half.
    Brian
    1978E Midlife Crisis - A work in progress
    1984 Kawasaki 550 Ltd - Gone, but not forgotten

    A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people
    remembering the same thing!

    Comment


    • #3
      Xssiveone,

      thanks. I have a new one ordered and should be here soon. Just wanted to know what problems this could cause. The PO had done this for what reason I do not know. And for how long it has been that way. I found out about it because I dropped a nut down on the heads and the cover to the resistor was laying next to the spark plug. When I took the screw out of it. It fell off and the wires were connected back to it self.

      Hopefully no damage to the coils have been done as of yet.


      Steve
      1980 XS100 SG Gone but not Forgotten really wish I could have kept it
      1998 Suzuki VS1400 Intruder

      Comment


      • #4
        There may be a different than stock set of coils in it and maybe he didn't feel he needed it anymore? Who knows.
        Gary Granger
        Remember, we are the caretakers of mechanical art.
        2013 Suzuki DR650SE, 2009 Kawasaki Concours 1400, 2003 Aprilia RSV Mille Tuono

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        • #5
          Sixtysix,

          Is there any way to tell if the coils are stock. And if they are different would putting the resister back in.

          Thanks,

          Steve

          1980 XS1100SG
          1980 XS100 SG Gone but not Forgotten really wish I could have kept it
          1998 Suzuki VS1400 Intruder

          Comment


          • #6
            This thred on repairing coils shows the stock coils. After markets are usually bright green, red or yellow. I think the coils with higher ohm primaries (like 2.5 to 3.0 ohms) are good without the resistor, but the stock ones with 0.7 ohms (?) probably need it. I am not real an expert though.....
            Gary Granger
            Remember, we are the caretakers of mechanical art.
            2013 Suzuki DR650SE, 2009 Kawasaki Concours 1400, 2003 Aprilia RSV Mille Tuono

            Comment

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