Charging system

[Glarusguy]

another ?

Ok I'll add a question here. Do the Xs charging systems have a history of burning out? My Honda did and sure enough I ended up being stranded.
Also I will be running accel coils and have the halogen headlight installed. Will it keep up with that?

Thanks. Might as well get as many ?'s in with this thread to make the "search" easier.

[xs650mike]

About Accel coils, they're good quality but they won't give you any better spark than a good set of stock coils and should function in every way exactly like stock Yammie coils only maybe more durable. I don't have an XS11 shop manual but the spec in both Clymer and Haynes for the XS650 coils are exactly what my Accels measured out to with an ohmmeter. All that malarkey that Accel puts in their literature about having to open up the plug gaps and rejet your carbs due to the "far more powerful spark" is just that...malarkey. I've talked to some excellent bike mechanics and found that they think the same thing. The yellow wires look cool though.

[pggg]

You wouldn't think so but a 'stronger' spark can give your motor a 'kick' for want of a better word. Not enough to boost top speed (found that out) but with Dynas the exhaust note changed on my bike when blipping the throttle and the revs seemed to respond quicker and also very cold (frosty mornings) starts are no sweat. The top aftermarket stuff kicks out 35000+ volts. Dunno what stock coils voltage is, or if higher voltages actually really mean anything. Geezer would know that stuff.

Opening up the plug gap should be an advantage to combustion, I tweak mine out to.040" - gives about a 25% larger spark eh? Also the hot coils run at 12V permanent with no resistor connected. Again, what that really means who knows? Accel/Dyna are bloody expensive and they're not gonna boost performance figures alone. Combined with other tweaks like filtered jetted piped high comp 1179/1196 flowed head cams etc.. then the hot coils have gotta be a good thing.

[Winterhawk]

You're right XS650Mike.

Accell claim of needing to open up the gaps more and re jetting richer is a bunch of bull.

While the secondaries 8.5mm wires may handle the larger gap they are not any hotter.

I use them but we compared the Accells to the stock XS1100's on a Yamaha spark tester and found that the stock XS1100 coils will jump farther. This increased spark gap is what ruins secondary plug wires. Accell have some really nice secondary wires that can handle a larger gap more than stock.

Be sure you get the accells for a TCI and not a CDI. Wrong coils will fry the ignitor. Don't ask me how I know this..

I think the TCI's might be 1103's but check and make sure.

[pggg]

Hawk, any claim of NEEDING to change gaps or NEEDING to re-jet is obvious B.S. Question time. Can you not just plug any desired diameter leads into Accels as you do with Dynas? Dynas don't actually come with leads. What are the characteristics of a 'ruined' secondary wire? Why do stock XS11 coils 'jump further' than higher voltage Accels? What's the definition of 'hot' ?

[Geezer]

Originally posted by bandet01
ok with the extra charging power if i have a aftermarket ignition system will it help it get a hotter spark at idle

Not enough to notice without expensive test equipment and then it wouldn't be enough difference to matter.

Geezer

[bandet01]

ok sounds good i just want to get the bike running like it was back when it was first made and thought maybe the extra charging power and hotter coils and exhaust and rejet the carbs would get me there

[webbcraft2150]

11's have a hard time keeping up with the basic needs of lighting, ignition ect. Add a few extra and you are looking for trouble. As mentioned before, cleaning all connections and keeping up on battery maintenace is important. I have a 1.5 amp battery "maintainer" that I usually plug in if my rig sits for more than a couple of days. I have a 2 prong plug wired into the battery that makes this about a 30 second job. The "maintainer" will not overcharge the battery and is totally automatic. Another item I have installed is a Kuryakyn battery indicator. This is a small led voltage indicator. I attached it to the handlebar with some two sided tape and it works great. It been on my bike for well over a year with no problems. It has a series of led's that light up in relation to charge voltage. Lights go from red to yellow to green depending on charge rate. It even has a sensor that dims the leds at night or low light conditions. I bought mine from Dennis Kirk for about $35. At idle, I get flashing yellow, but as soon I get to about 2k it turns green, at 3k+ I show a full charge rate. Its worth every dime since the only other way you know if your charging system isnt working is when you hear nothing when you hit the button. 11's are a real buger to bump start

[bandet01]

nice idea i might have to add a maintiner to my bike and add that gauge it sounds like it is a good investment

[Geezer]

It's not needed on a properly working charging system. The only time you should need a battery tender is when you let the bike sit over winter or if you're over taxing the charging system with accessories.

Geezer

[webbcraft2150]

The use of a battery maintainer and a charge indicater falls under preventitive maintenance. Alot of my rideing is in town at "sub charging" speeds. The charge indicator is akin to having a volt/amp meter or "charge" light in your car, somethings the 11 does not have any of. I credit my 4+ years of average battery life to both of these items. While neither of these items will make up for a poorly maintained bike or defective charging system, they offer another way to make sure everything will work when you need it to.

[Geezer]

This is where my reg/rec unit shines. There are no subcharging speeds...

Geezer