SPARX Permanent Magnet Alternator w/ Solid State Regulator

ted650chopper · Full Member Joined: Aug 25, 2008 Posts: 25

My name is Ted. I've been poke around the site for a while. This is my first post.-having troubles with my charging system and I am considering buying the Permanent Magnet Alternator from 650 Central.com. I talked to Mike over at 650 Central he was helpful in answering some of my question.

Has anyone here used the SPARX Permanent Magnet Alternator? if you have are you running it with a battery? what do you think about the setup.

Does anyone have the e-mail address for Ken Maxwell, XS electrical guru. I want to buy his cd for the 650 electronics but his website is no longer up... if anyone has his e-mail or phone number could you post informing.

BiffTirkle

jimmythetrucker asked about the sparx alternator a few months ago. here, i dont know that it was much help. but i plan on putting one in my project engine. i dont care what anyone else says about it. seems like a damn good piece of equipment. on top of that 650central puts the tdc marks on it. it doesnt come marked for the xs650. check out the link. may help a bit.

650rider.com/index.php...ight=sparx

ted650chopper · Full Member Joined: Aug 25, 2008 Posts: 25

I want to get back on the road but wanted to fix it right. the SPARX Permanent Magnet Alternator looks good but it's kind of spendey. I'm looking at the other magneto systems other guys have been running.. have you looked into using our modifying Yamaha Banshee magneto. it looks like it might be a cheaper and better system.

jimdi · 650Rider Supporter Joined: Oct 27, 2005 Posts: 512

I replaced my rotor once ($100) - then cracked the cover open with washers to let fresh air in when I ride (to help keep it cool) haven't had a problem since.

jimmythetrucker · Full Member Joined: Mar 12, 2008 Posts: 1283

I plan to install a Sparx after I get my putter up to where it's roadworthy. That'll be a few months, yet -- after the new exhaust system gets here and after the new carbs get here and after I get breaker-point ignition installed and working. . . . But yeah, I'm gonna go with a Sparx --

Unless Mr. Biff's Sparx installation blows up into a puff of smoke and then rains down from the sky as little, Sparxy, ashen flakes of what used to be his life savings. Then I'll try to get jayel to try one first.

BiffTirkle

HA! thats funny, im sure it will work just fine. only unknown is me, i may eff it up. but right now. im getting the last bit of welding done on my bike, and dont have a spare dime to my name, wifes birthday, anniversary, and on top of all that, we are renovating our kitchen!

im in over my head

the bike will take back seat for a couple of weeks

jimmythetrucker · Full Member Joined: Mar 12, 2008 Posts: 1283

Yeah, I know the feeling, Biff. We had the flood here in June. We didn't get any water in the house, but water came up from the ground into our basement. It wrecked our plumbing and our wiring and destroyed our well. Total bill around $11,000. And the county says we gotta have it all fixed within six months or they're gonna condemn our house.

Yeesh.

y bike is on the back burner, too.

jimmythetrucker · Full Member Joined: Mar 12, 2008 Posts: 1283

About that question -- Is the Sparx alternator worth the $400 investment? -- I gotta say it plainly IS worth the money.

Go to Mikes XS, add up the price of a NEW rotor and a NEW Stator and you get close to $400 just to replace your burned out, underpowered, factory juicemaker. Then you still got the hassle with brushes and the low-wattage output that denies you the power to load on auxiliary lights and other accessories.

Spend $400 for a Sparx, you're out a few more bucks initially, but then you figure you got all the power you need to load on all the lighting and accessories you want. Plus your wiring is simplified, you don't have to worry about brushes any more, I don't think there's any way to justify going with the stock replacement considering how little you actually save.

What Happened to 650rider.com?

Yamaha xs650