Plug Wires / Coil?

[spdracer75]

Hey All,


Found the cause of  my bike only running on one cylinder.

I have a bad plug wire/coil combo.


From what I've seen, the coil and plug wire are sold as one piece.

Bikebandit.com has them listed for $75.00 each.

Any ideas or suggestions?  Anything aftermarket that is slightly less pricey?

(not looking forward to paying $150.00 to get my ride goign again)


Thanks in advance.

[dgyver]

I am sure used ones can be obtained for much less. I will be picking up another GS this Sunday to part out. I need to check everything on it first.

[spdracer75]

Drop me a PM when you get it.  
I actually have a laundry list of parts I'd want.  

[Kerry]

Found the cause of  my bike only running on one cylinder.

I have a bad plug wire/coil combo.

You know what I'm gonna ask, right?  

HOW did you make the determination?

* By following diagnostic procedures from a repair manual?
* Using a tip you picked up on

GStwin.com?  (Or both?)
* Did you need (or happen to use) any special tools?
* Looking back, can you identify certain symptoms as "tell-tale signs" that you would recognize more quickly if it happened again?[/list:u]Oh, and did you take any pictures?  

[spdracer75]

Used a few tips off here,  and something I stumbled across.

Basically  When I pulled the plug wire from one cylinder the bike would keep running.  

If I pulled the other plug wire, I could feel current running through my arm and the bike would continue running.

So that's how I knew it was only running on one cylinder.  

What I overlooked was the whole "current running through my arm"  thing on the bad cylinder.    The good cylinder didn't leak any current when I pulled the wire.  If it's "normal" to feel a jolt when pulling a motorcycle plug wire, I should have felt a small jolt even if pulling the spark plug wire on the "good" side caused the bike to die.

Also, in thinking the plug wires were umm.... well... not part of the damn coil,  I removed the "bad"  cylinders plug wire from the coil.  So I at the very least need one set anyways.

Only thing I can presume is that the spark on the "bad" cylinder is very weak.    If new wires/coil doesn't fix it, off to the shop it goes, then possibly the auction block after that.

[GRU]

If I pulled the other plug wire, I could feel current running through my arm and the bike would continue running.

well if you pull the wire off one side and the bike runs the same it did before you pulled it then that cyl isn't fireing......and if you pull the other wire off and you can feel the current but the bike runs the same then the other cyl is working because what would keep the engine running after you pull the wire from the cyl you think is working?

ok, here's a tip....DO NOT DO THAT AGAIN because that is how i broke my coil....

if you want to check the coils, pull out the sparkplugs and leave the wires conneceted to the coils and sparkplugs, then put the sparkplugs on the cyl head and press the start button (try starting the engine) if you see spark only one the left cyl then that one works.....so the sparkplug that doesn't show any spark is the one that isn't working......now, to check if it is the coil for sure.....take off the tank and switch the coils (left to right, right to left) and do the same, try starting........if the problem (no spark) follows one coil and the problem is the coil....if the problem is on the same side of the engine then it's something else

btw, by your description i'm sure that you have spark on both cylinders....unless when you said "when i pull the plug from one side the bike would keep on running" means that it runs exactly the same, so no difference......if you didn't have a spark on (let's say) left cyl then the bike would run the same way with the wire on and off......but if the bike runs when you pull the plug, but ran a little better before you pulled the plug then you have spark on that side

[Lars]

The sparkplug wires leak energy. When I touch a sparkplugwire with one hand (and I mean the isolation ) and I put my other hand close to the frame, sparks are flying of my finger  :mrgreen:

The whole ignition system works fine so I assume this is normal  

[The Buddha]

OK plug wires un screw from the coil, and you can buy generic 8mm plug wire and screw it in, and screw in the caps on that wire too. The Way to test for coil being bad, swap the coil wire combo to the other side. If the problem follows the coil/wire/plug... then its one of those. If it doesn't follow the coil plug combo its the crank trigger or black box or other. Getting electrocuted might be fun, but its no way to conclusively test the electrics of the bike. BTW coils are generic. you can buy a Accel or something off an auto parts place and use that instead. Harley's use the same damn thing, except harley paints them black so you cant see its an accel I think. I didn't get a close enough look at my neighbors coils, they were still on his bike. But they look too much like the accels.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Blueknyt]

Also keep in mind, the Spark plug boot has a resistor in it, when they go bad the spark wont travel, unscrew the boot and hold the wires end near the cyl head.  these coils push enough voltage to jump a 1/2 inch gap so be careful. you wont damage the coil by making a large gap for spark to jump.  the coils are pretty tough,i would wager its the boot.