First off, I'm a new member here and this looks like a great resource. I hope to benefit from your advise and I hope that I can contribute some too.
I just bought a '75 XLS-1000. The title says it was rebuilt in around 1988. I'm pretty sure the engine is a 1975. I photo is below. I assume the frame is of about the same vintage. I haven't started it yet. Today, I am going to put oil in the oil can and the primary, adjust the points, static set the timing and install a new battery.

My question is this. It came with a small box of parts. It seems the PO was having someone do some work on it. There were two parts in the box that I could not identify. They look work and broken. I assume they were replaced at some point but I would like to know what they are. Photo below. Any ideas?

 

Trying again with smaller files.

 

Sorry about the photos. Trying again with smaller files. I guess I should read the rules.

 

The part on the left is a motorcycle. The stuff on the right are parts of the ignition (advance weight, base plate).

For the stuff on the right - throw it in a bag, and put it far, far away from the stuff on the left (along with the other stuff that's in the round hole in the middle of the cam cover).

Spend $200 and buy an electronic ignition and matching coil, and you'll be very happy that you're not spending lots of time and aggravation trying to keep the stuff on the right working properly. Some popular ignition choices are Ultima, Crane Hi4E, Daytona Twin Tek. Even a late model stock XL ignition (96+ were all self contained in the nose cone, if I remember correctly) will be a vast improvement over the old mechanical-advance points ignition that's partially in your bike now.

 

Thanks for the help and the good advise. I'll definitely add electronic ignition to my wish list. For now, I'm going to have suffer through using the points and condenser. I think the PO must have had those parts replaced already.

 

The mechanical advance mechanisms are a serious pain in the butt - as I mentioned, even a stock ignition from an 883 will give you a MUCH better performing ignition than your mech advance unit. Scour eBay - ask here - guys that have gone aftermarket may give the stock unit away for shipping costs.

 

Before you buy a new electronic ignition and matching coil, check to see if the previous owner has already fitted one

 

Looking at the top pic of the left side of the bike, it *looks* like a condensor/points breaker plate are in the bike....

 

Looks like you're right about that,I only look at the parts,lesson learnt