Question re: Pickup Coil XJ1100

[jacksf]

I was preparing to re re re adjust my camchain tensioner, pulled the side cover off etc., etc.. I did notice that the brushes on either side of the pickup coil looked a little short, just an observation. When I looked up the parts in the Yamaha fiche it looks as if the base assembly is all one piece, no way to just replace the brushes.

Now maybe I am looking for trouble since there is nothing wrong with the way she is running other than cam chain noise and needing a carb adjustment but I just was wondering about the way it works.

Jack

[DiverRay]

There are no "brushes" on pickup coils. The coils each have two long wires going up to a connector behind the fuse block.
There is a magnet on the crank that the coils use for timing. the gap between the coil and the magnet is the only adjustment that should be made, and then only if you have pulled things apart.
Ray

[jacksf]

Thanks Ray, then best I leave well enough alone I was more curious than anything else.

(but they do look like brushes)

(if it ain't broke, don't mess with it)

[Jerry]

Very rare to replace these items on an XJ. As long as you are not experiencing ignition problems I would let it go.

The XJ (and '81 XS11s) use an electronic advance system rather than the mechanical advance used in the '78 - '80 XS11s. Result is far lower maintenance requirements, but disadvantage is that the 'black box' is unique to each year; the boxes are not interchangeable between the '81 and '82 models.

The XJ has a 'boost module' that monitors engine vacuum and sends a variable signal to the black box. (Hint: Make sure all your vacuum lines are good!) RPM is monitored by the black box through the pickup coil pulses as well, and when combined with the boost module signal, it returns the correct timing curve.

[DiverRay]

Jack;
I just had a thought (yes, that was the smell of burnig something!) what side cover did you remove? The RIGHT side cover is for the charging system, and the LEFT (shifter) side cover is ignition.
Your XJ has brushes for the alternater, and if you pulled the right cover, that is what you were looking at.

Ray

[jacksf]

It was the left, ignition side.

As an aside, decided to attack the downpipes today, just to see how many bolts I would snap off.

Once I broke the rust loose, EVERY ONE came out.

Karma is working.