Resistor question

[Bassman]

Hey all, I am not very knowledgeable on the electrical side of motorcycles and am curious what part the resistor on an XS11 plays?

I am having some issues starting my bike and am wondering if this might play a part. I have some starter button/kill switch troubleshooting to do first, but thought that I'd ask anyway.

Thanks
Andrew

[WMarshy]

My understanding is the TCI was engineered to have 3 ohm resistance from the coils. In order to meet that resistance load they ended up using a 1.5 ohm resistor as the stock coils are 1.5 ohms... If you decide to replace the stock coils you should get 3 ohm coils and ditch the resistor... its important you use 3 ohm coils or you will kill your TCI.

[Bassman]

sorry, but what is a TCI?

[crazy steve]

The ballast resistor is there for starting purposes only. As Wade said, the TCI can only drive a 3 ohm (or higher) coil steadily, a lower resistance coil will draw too much current and burn up the TCI. The resistor plus coil resistance gives that 3 ohms.

When you push the starter button, the ballast resistor is bypassed (increasing voltage to the coils) and you get a hotter spark. This momentary load won't hurt the TCI and aids starting.

The 'TCI' is your ignition control box ('transistor controlled ignition').

[Bassman]

How can I test whether the resistor is still working or not?

[crazy steve]

Bypass it temporarily by plugging the two wires that connect to it together; if the bike now starts, the resistor is bad.

[WMarshy]

You could measure its resistance by using a DMM across the two leads...