1974 T500 Not Getting Juice

Leland1 · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 2:18 pm Post subject: 1974 T500 Not Getting Juice

I picked up a 74 T500 from an OD storage shed for $50 last month. Hooked to a jump box the lights would come on when hot wired (had no key... abandoned) but no spark... need an ignition coil.

So the other day the wiring here rained on (seat was off) and now the lights don't work....

Discuss.....

KirkN · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 2:38 pm Post subject:

WAAAYYY to many variables in your very limited description of a bike that sat in an outdoor storage shed (for how long?) to make any guesses/speculations/advice at all.

Follow standard routine: check and clean all connectors, especially chassis and component ground connections. Get a good battery. Clean and set the points, including electrically testing for continuity when points are closed. On a bike that has sat outside, ALL the handlebar electrical stuff is highly suspect. In my experience, most of it won't work without some kind of intervention - clean, lube, reset.

Welcome aboard. Keep us posted with your progress. Give some more description of the bike, it's condition, what you've done to it, and yourself - what your knowledge and experience base is, etc.

Kirk

Leland1 · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:10 pm Post subject:

My experience... not too much...

I guess by points you mean the coil that goes over the stator? I cleaned them with a wire wheel dremel... I also cleaned the kill switch. I checked the points on the rectifier and they get juice. I'm thinking it may have something to do with the voltage regulator....

Put in a new set of NGK plugs, washed and shined all the pitted Chrome. De rusted tank, the neutral light came on when it felt like it when the lights did work...

Need any more info? Set the points? What's that mean?

Leland1 · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:12 pm Post subject:

And it was in the shed for at least 5 years and was last tagged in 1982

Russell · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:45 pm Post subject:

Kirk meant clean and set the ignition points.

Leland1 · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:50 pm Post subject:

Russell · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 4:27 pm Post subject:

I'd suggest you do some study of a manual, either hard copy or on-line. Important to have a general idea of what you are looking for,and what each part's function is, before you set about them with tools.

dorT500 · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 10:37 pm Post subject:

05c50 · Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:59 am Post subject:

Leland1 · Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 11:15 am Post subject:

A&b are points and c&d are condensers....... uh... right?

mixer · Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 11:45 am Post subject:

Leland1 · Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 6:41 pm Post subject:

UPDATE.

Went out today armed with a test light and jump box. Chased all the wires not getting juice to the fuse. Stripped the wire a little and it was getting juice from the rectifier but not past the fuse. The fuse was good when I checked it a few weeks ago. Still is today. I cut off the fuse housing and hard wired the two wires together. Now I have lights!

I feel stupid..... (doh!)

So if I get a new ignition coil and set of points it should get fire right?

dorT500 · Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 8:11 pm Post subject:

Leland1 · Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 5:36 pm Post subject:

Leland1 · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:05 am Post subject:

Ok. The points had corrosion on them so I took em off and cleaned em. Finally picked up a multimeter last night. I unhooked the kill switch to be sure it wasn't grounding out. On the 200 ohm setting I took a couple wires and stuck them to the points where the plug of the stator coil plugs to the ignition coil and kicked it over. No change on the multimeter in every configuration I could think of.

What's my next move? Points and condensers? Stator coil?