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Lights dimming at idle.

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by tinwakr123, Jan 7, 2008.

  1. tinwakr123

    tinwakr123 Member

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    Hi Everyone,

    I have an issue with the lights on my MaximX. When I give it throttle the lights get bright, as the bike comes back to idle they get dim. Any ideas what is causing this prob? It was doing the same thing last season but not as bad as it is now.

    Thanks,
    Chuck
     
  2. RickCoMatic

    RickCoMatic Well-Known Member

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    Battery is getting too old to carry a Deep Charge ... or, ...

    As I have mentioned a few times before:

    (Chorus)

    "Check your Alternator Brushes"
     
  3. Robert

    Robert Active Member

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    (echo, in harmony)

    "Alternator Brushes, Amen"
     
  4. rescue76

    rescue76 Member

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    Hmmm....may sound stupid..but...where they at on an 82 seca 750?
     
  5. ryan_975

    ryan_975 Member

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    Inside the alternator.
     
  6. rescue76

    rescue76 Member

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    Okay..had that comming....now..wheres the alt?
     
  7. ryan_975

    ryan_975 Member

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    On top of the transmission, between the starter and cylinder block. It's a round cover with three bolts holding it on.
     
  8. rescue76

    rescue76 Member

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    Okay thanks a bunch..dont know much about these babies.
     
  9. fonz

    fonz Member

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    mine was a pain to get the cover off. took a good bit of leverage to loosen the bolts.
    have fun
     
  10. RickCoMatic

    RickCoMatic Well-Known Member

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    Look for "Wear Bars" on the two Carbon Brushes. If you don't see the lines etched into the Carbon ... you'll need to replace the Brushes.

    The Brushes are 17mm New
    Wear limit 10mm
     
  11. rescue76

    rescue76 Member

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    Gotcha...Been working on her since July...Headlights dim a bit when I hit the brake or turn sigs. so...figure thats the first place to start.

    After that..another clear coat and she will be road ready.
     
  12. blackdiscoball

    blackdiscoball Member

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    Although, and im not sure if this is normal or not but, I have a new battery, new alternator brushs, and my lights still dim alittle. I think its just normal but maybe not,
     
  13. MiCarl

    MiCarl Active Member

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    Me too, and my electrical system is in good shape. At about 1500 rpm or so the dimming is gone.
     
  14. Robert

    Robert Active Member

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    May I suggest the purchase of a manual? Chacal sells the Haynes and the factory manuals, either will provide you with loads of explainations and details.
     
  15. RickCoMatic

    RickCoMatic Well-Known Member

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    I got nothing against Haynes ... although they have captured a few XJ-er's and put them into Air~Fuel Mixture Hell with a misprint.

    If you have ONE Bike ... and you want to know EVERYTHING there is to know about that one Bike ... I suggest getting the YAMAHA Factory Service Manual specific to your Bike.

    Haynes will do the trick.
    XJCD's are good but you can't bring the computer down on the floor with you.

    The Factory Manual covers your Bike ... alone ... there's NO Confusion and theoretically it pays for itself the FIRST Time you open its pages and do some Maintenance or a Repair by YOURSELF!
     
  16. ryan_975

    ryan_975 Member

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    Laptops FTW!!!
     
  17. rescue76

    rescue76 Member

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    Thanks all...Ive went thru a few manuals and its all German to me.

    Been going by ear with most of this bike.
    Today should be the finishing day on it..then for some chilly rides the next few months.
     
  18. CharlesCollins

    CharlesCollins Member

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    Actually, I have a Lenovo X60 tablet that works great... I can even take notes in the margins. Plus, I can search the text. It's not for everyone, and if i didn't have other uses for it, i couldn't justify the cost, but if you have one, their pretty handy.
     
  19. schmuckaholic

    schmuckaholic Well-Known Member

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    ...not to mention printers.
     
  20. MiCarl

    MiCarl Active Member

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    If you young'uns don't stop pickin' on Mr. O'Matic I'll hit you with my cane!
     
  21. chacal

    chacal Moderator Moderator Supporting Vendor Premium Member

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    Well, I'll pipe in here....I use all the manuals all the time in my parts research, and my conclusion is this:

    If you plan to do a bit of wrenching (besides minor things like changing the oil and checking the fluid levels) then I would spring for BOTH the Haynes (or Clymer, if yours is a XJ550) manual and the Factory Service Manual for your bike.

    The reason being is this: the factory service manuals, although being specific for one or two models, are designed and written with the "experienced Yamaha motorcycle service tech" in mind.....in other words, you sometimes get the "assembly is the reverse of dis-assembly" type of instructions, or, critical steps are skipped in the instructions (not due to mistakes, but merely because there is an "assumption of knowledge" on the part of the manual). So, as an example, the factory service manual might say that the first step in replacing the fork oil seals is to "remove forks from bike", but with little or no instructions on HOW to perform that task.

    The Haynes & Clymer manuals, although they borrow quite a bit of material from the factory service manuals (including many of the mistakes!), both go into much greater detail in many areas of service procedures, with commentary written by someone who has obviously done the step-by-step procedure being explained, and has a non-expert reader in mind. Plus, the Haynes manuals, in particular, have quite a few more clear, up-close, and detailed photgraphs and diagrams within them.

    It's the difference between looking in a factory parts books and seeing an item described as:

    4h7-22327-01-93 Bracket, Stay

    and reading this:

    HCP7724 1982-83 XJ650 Maxim Headlight Housing Mounting Bracket (or mounting "ears")---this is the large, U-shaped "arm" bracket that the headlight housing mounts into. Chrome plated bracket comes without any mounting hardware and the mounting bolts, collars, and bushings must be ordered separately.


    You see the difference..........

    In fact, if I had a choice of JUST owning either a factory service manual, or a Haynes or Clymer manual (btw, the Haynes manuals are much better than the Clymer manual)---then I'd choose a Haynes/Clymer manual in a heartbeat.
     
  22. CharlesCollins

    CharlesCollins Member

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    Are the Clymer manuals even available electronically (and legitimately)?

    I've got an electronic version of the factory manual, and the Owner's, but I don't recall seein the Clymer.
     
  23. chacal

    chacal Moderator Moderator Supporting Vendor Premium Member

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    Not that I'm aware of. Illegaly they might be, somewhere (what isn'?) but legally, I would doubt it.
     
  24. greengoon

    greengoon Member

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