you sure you got tdc?, double check by removing the spark plug and holding thumb over hole and turn engine over to the correct timing mark (its not necessarliy TDC either)
youv'e got more luck, my xs400D spring is exactly the same as yours
If you go to progressive rate springs, the springs are a bit longer and a little harder to fit as you have to compress the spring more
got nothing from the mags, although there was some mention of lesters in the aircooled RD site but nothing helpful.
I know they were standard equipment for triumphs in the seventies so it could be your asking in the wrong forum. try asking in Classic bike forum as there that has a good cross section of bike owners (jap, european and Uk bikes)
beats me and all, I think I did try to test once, but gave up and used the 14.5 DCV at 2500rpm after checking the stator, field coil and rectifier. really there's nothing else except a broken wire in the loom, but my loom was NOS
no idea what the manual is, just got it on a cd from ebay, eons ago
on my yam service manual for xs400 ( all voltage regs are the same)
1) ohmmeter (0 - 200 ohms)
one probe to black wire and one to reg base 10.5+/-2ohms @ 20'C
2) one probe to brown wire and other to green wire
140+/- 10ohm @20'C
3) 14.5 - 15 volts DC at 2500 rpm
hope that helps
if you measure the length and the width of the spring, I'll check mine and we'lll see if they are the same!!
Yamaha used parts bins across their model ranges
lester was a british aftermarket wheel supplier in the 70's, so the wheel could be for anything. being 19" I assume xs650 xs750?
I'll look at some old mags to see if i can find any info
I've had loads of probs with the tips of the adjuster snapping off by heavy handed butchers.
so i have had to drift out the needle tips thus opening up the jet.
not had a problem with slow running as the new needles can close up and compensate for the amount of widening
hope that helps
edit: i hope we are talking about the pilot system situated top front of the carb via the pilot screw!!
could be 33, 34 or 35mm which is measured out side diameter. it has nothing to do with the springs, you need to take one out to measure it
just done a google search and this came up
http://xs500.org/XS500e.htm
ignition works by providing 12v to primary and an earth, contacts/cdi then interupts the earth but the current now has nowhere to go except to secondary and then jump the gap of the spark plug as this is the easiest path.
maybe you can interupt the earth to create a spark at the plug. ( not too long as the coil heats up) i would suspect either a faulty earth on the cdi or the cdi itself.
I get a screeching noise when I start my bike up!....its usually next door neigbours complaining its 7am sunday morning
seriously, sounds like the starter gear is starting to wear, you can buy kits from granby's.
there are no tappets in an SR it uses an OHC configeration, is the rattle a tapping noise which rises with the revs? or is it a general clatter (thinking clutch basket!)
losing power could be any thing but I'm inclined to think its a fuel supply problem either tak full of crud and/or carb getting partially blocked every now and then
you need to cap the inlet stubs as it will draw too much air.
these use mikuni Constant Velocity carbs, which use diaphrams to raise or lower the main needle via the engine induction which gives a smoother response. the throttle cable merely opens a butterfly valve in the carb.
you use the stubs on the rubber inlets to balance the carbs
thats earth again, as the indicator hasn't got a proper earth it uses the +'ve on the lamp to get to earth and makes a circuit (you see it on cars where the indicators come on when the brakes are used).