80ST electrics

[donkeydoo]

A little boring I know but am just curious as to the electrics on my ST, mainly the coil and regulator, my knowledge of these things is quite limited although I did almost set fire to my old CCM once messing with the rectifier/regulator.

Anyway I have looked at the parts list etc and many pics on here and online of bikes of similar age and even the same models and haven't yet come across anything the same as mine. I know the coil could have been changed but it does sort of look like its been on there a while. Is the alloy one with the red base the regulator and what is the white/grey relay for?

Cheers

Mark

 

[Kenny]

That's the old regulator...completely standard

 

[Posh Pete]

Yep. That's the regulator. Sometimes replaced by after market solid state beasties. If you take off the tape and lift the lid, you'll see a couple of coils and an adjustable pick up. Mr Faraday could easily have designed it! But it works fine enough.

More info here (among other places) https://bmwmotorcycletech.info/boxerelectrics.htm

 

[Gelandestrasse]

The aluminium box with red tape is definitely the VR. The grey one is either the start relay or the light relay (it's a while since I had an ST). Other pictures show the start and light relationship side-by-side; you only appear to have one of them. If you switch the headlamp on an it clicks.....

 

[donkeydoo]

Pulled the HT leads out yesterday and there is no brass cap on the end which goes into the coil, should they have them or is there a type of coil that they don't?

Cheers again

 

[donkeydoo]

The aluminium box with red tape is definitely the VR. The grey one is either the start relay or the light relay (it's a while since I had an ST). Other pictures show the start and light relationship side-by-side; you only appear to have one of them. If you switch the headlamp on an it clicks.....

your right about missing relay, I have just found a pic online from similar bike and it shows an extra relay, is it a problem that I am missing one? Thanks again

 

[donkeydoo]

pic of relays from another ST

another st relays

 

[Gelandestrasse]

your right about missing relay, I have just found a pic online from similar bike and it shows an extra relay, is it a problem that I am missing one? Thanks again

With what's been changed on your bike it is difficult to tell. If you bike starts, you have a working starter relay somewhere. If the headlamp and main beam switches work, you have a working light relay somewhere, too.

 

[Gelandestrasse]

Pulled the HT leads out yesterday and there is no brass cap on the end which goes into the coil, should they have them or is there a type of coil that they don't?

Cheers again

Two things come to mind. The brass cap has broken off and is still in the coil. Or the old 'screw-in' type HT lead joint is used and again, it is still in the coil.

 

[donkeydoo]

With what's been changed on your bike it is difficult to tell. If you bike starts, you have a working starter relay somewhere. If the headlamp and main beam switches work, you have a working light relay somewhere, too.

Had a look and nothing seems to be missing and everything was working, that is before I started messing around.

 

[donkeydoo]

Two things come to mind. The brass cap has broken off and is still in the coil. Or the old 'screw-in' type HT lead joint is used and again, it is still in the coil.

Cheers will have a look inside coil and see if I can see anything if not shall get a couple. cheers

 

[Steptoe]

Help, everything's working OK on my bike but i'm worried when looking at electrical 'stuff'.

 

[donkeydoo]

Help, everything's working OK on my bike but i'm worried when looking at electrical 'stuff'.

Everything was working fine until I got my grubby mitts on it, but I don't think my mitts were quite as bad as the previous owners.