Manky Monkey Motors

The Yamaha XS650 has a generally accepted a weakspot - it's charging system.
With some 650s now getting close to 50 years of age, time can take its toll.

The most common sources of replacement components (used) to upgrade the charging system are Yamaha's RD400 and LC350, but new units/components are also available

There's been chat on the forum about the PMA upgrade, but the info is spread about so I thought I'd start this thread so the info can sit in one place. Feel free to add etc

One of the "advantages" of running a PMA system is that the battery can be removed and replaced with a capacitor. Another advantage if the original regulator and rectifier get replaced with a solid-state (no moving parts) combined component.

Here's a pretty good video that explains the difference between the two systems
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTZ53GpQ15w


Threads and info from other forums and websites

http://www.xs650.com/threads/how-to-permanent-magnet-alternator-swap-also-known-as-the-banshee-swap.5536/

http://www.smedspeed.co.uk/pmakit.html

http://xs650temp.proboards.com/thread/11096



Where stuff can be bought

Heiden Tuning in Holland (see also Mikes XS in the states). Getting stuff from Holland, I think, does not involve HMRC, where as getting stuff fom the USA does.

http://www.xs650.biz/p/28/1423/home

http://www.xs650.biz/p/36/2684/mo74-cg%7C23=3/charging-system%3A-1980-84-650-rotors-stators-regulators-brushes

https://www.mikesxs.net/electrical.html

See ebay   http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-XS650-Permanent-Magnet-Alternator-Kit-PMA-Hardtail-Chopper-Bobber-xs-650-/351777110439?hash=item51e78cb9a7:g:Sh4AAOSwo0JWOY-J
which is about £300 delivered, but HMRC will require tax to be paid, so that'll prob take it to around £350 and there's still capacitor to buy.............


Hope this helps and gets the ball rolling of keeping the info in an easy-to-find location.......  ;)

Image of components taken from the Heiden Tuning website, looks like it includes the puller too

http://www.xs650.biz/p/28/2072/mo74-cg%7C23=4/%23ht-0002-12-v-powerdynamo--alternator-system-

Well, that's an awful lot of dosh just to improve your battery charging technique!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D, Mr M stick with what you have for now and await developments.......for that sort of money I would want the bike to go with it as well! :D :D :D......yeah, I know, I'm off..................

This is the system I've got for mine - haven't had it running yet so can't vouch for this particular system - but its a combined electric ignition/PMA system.

http://www.electrexworld.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?WD=xs650&PN=STK-467D_-_Stator_Kit%2ehtml#SID=770?aSTK_2d467D (http://www.electrexworld.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?WD=xs650&PN=STK-467D_-_Stator_Kit%2ehtml#SID=770?aSTK_2d467D)

At £225 its still expensive compared to replacing parts of an original charging system!

I've already got electronic ignition, which seems to work fine & fires from the old points casing, whereas yours fires from the crank using this kit doesn't it Tom? I'd rather keep a battery, especially as it's already fitted, so I may only need to replace the standard alternator or rectifier. As I said in my bike build thread though, the problem might simply be that it's wired up wrong.
Clive has already volunteered to drop by after Christmas with a multimeter to check it out, so we'll hopefully know then.
Many thanks for the info Tony.

Hurry up and get it running tomassss I need to know if it's worth the dosh!

XS650 PMA and alternator output Vs bike's requirements.

If replacing the original alternator with a PMA, it’s probably worth considering what electrical demand the bike is going to be using as different PMAs can have different outputs.

The original alternator system is specified (depending on model) at around 220W, which is for a road bike with an electric starter and battery as standard.

PMA systems on the interweb show a unit with 65W and units with 180-200W .


So what might the bike want to draw wattage-wise?

A headlight typically, what, 50W? (and 65W when high beam is used), tail light 5W (and 21W when the brake light is used). So that’s roughly anything from 55 - 76W simply for the lights, and that’s not taking into account indicators (if fitted) or the ignition system. Assuming the bike is kick start only, there’ll be no need to replenish the battery following use of the electric starter.

If the bike was adapted to run LED lights, or if the bike were to run without head/tail lights, then these numbers will be significantly reduced.

As Morrag has said “The 65w alternator is more commonly intended for 'Comp.' type bikes with direct fired ignition via a capacitor, and not reliant on a charged battery, whereas the 200w system will certainly be 3 phase, charging a battery via a combined Rectifier/Reg. unit of a type very common to  so many Japanese machines, and is more suitable where the electrical loads of modern road bikes are experienced.”