1970 Starfire can someone please tell me what this item is and what it does. It looks like a condenser but I have got a condenser which you can see is in the correct place fastened to the back of the tool box. This looks as though it has been there for some considerable time fastened to the rectifier bracket, the cable that comes off it is a thick cable but when it goes under the fuel tank it has been cut and a normal sized wire has been taped to it. It then connects to the coil using the same contact that connects to the points the black and white wire. Incidently as you can see it is a new condenser that I fitted but the original old condenser was fitted there behind the tool box. There is nothing like it on the wiring diagram
Ballast resistor maybe?
Just googled ballast resister non look like what is fitted to my bike and they all look like they have 2 connectors this only has 1 just like a condenser.
Bit difficult to work out from the pic.
But you only need 1 condenser and yes it can be connected to the points wire connection of the coil.
Has someone in the past, rigged up something I wonder?
Just been back out to the garage found the old condenser that I replaced with the new one as pictured and it is exactly the same as the old one, but why would some one fit 2 condensers it has obviously been there for quite some time. bracket very rusty and connector looks corroded.
As long as you only have 1 connected to the coil terminal.
The condenser only has 1 wire(the metal body of it screws to earth).
Ensure that only 1 is connected, why did you replace the original? Was it defective
The original was suspect did some tests with multimeter but results were not consistent so decided to replace it with a new one. I think I will remove the dodgy looking second one you only need one. I kow a previous owner has had the bike completely stripped down because the frame has been powder coated and the original wiring was replaced as it has a number of bits of masking tape tied to various wires with info on them as to where they go,also there is various bits of electrcal tape tied to various wires. I am considering because of the state of the harness I may do a complete rewire over the winter months.
Interference suppressor?
With intermittent test results and powder coated frame you should consider a star earth system - do not rely on chassis grounding for good connections.
I do not think it is an interference surppressor as it is identical to the original condenser. I have never heard of a star earth system could you please explain what it is please, you may be right about a powder coated frame as I have noticed that with a fully charged battery and the engine running the headlight is not as bright as I would expect from a 12volt system and when you rev the engine the headlight does not get any brighter although the ammeter shows a good charge rate.
Quote from: bikerbob on 24 Sep, 2023, 10:18
... I have never heard of a star earth system could you please explain what it is please...
A star earth system simply means running an earth wire back from each light back to a common earth point at the battery.
Thanks for that I now understand what it is
Have removed the second condenser went for a little run about 12 miles bike ran perfectly no problems.
Well done sorted