Cheap source for new coils?

[Buffalo Bill]

I had my GS550T sold and on it's way, but the old bad coils problem came up.
The almost new owner was riding out of town when he got pulled over for no plates. After the Barny Fife thing was over the bike would not start, and I had to give 'em back his money. When I Got the bike back home and off the trailer it started right up. Not a short, just a weak spark when hot. I did the relay mod, so it must be weak coils.
Does anybody know an inexpensive source for NEW replacement coils?
Thanks! Bill

 

[TheCafeKid]

I had my GS550T sold and on it's way, but the old bad coils problem came up.
The almost new owner was riding out of town when he got pulled over for no plates. After the Barny Fife thing was over the bike would not start, and I had to give 'em back his money. When I Got the bike back home and off the trailer it started right up. Not a short, just a weak spark when hot. I did the relay mod, so it must be weak coils.
Does anybody know an inexpensive source for NEW replacement coils?
Thanks! Bill

Dynatech coils are gonna run you about 160 or around there for the pair if you shop around. Not exactly cheap, but thats about the best you can do. Why did you expect him to make it out of town with no plate?

 

[Buffalo Bill]

?Twenny foww'r eerwers.? (from, Mad Max)

?Twenny foww'r eerwers.? (from, Mad Max)

Dynatech coils are gonna run you about 160 or around there for the pair if you shop around. Not exactly cheap, but thats about the best you can do. Why did you expect him to make it out of town with no plate?

Thanks! Do the Dynatech bolt in easy?
What could I we do instead? Michigan law states that a new owner may drive strait home with out a plate, and he's got 24 hours to get there.
Bill

 

[almarconi]

Look for some used dyna green coils or accel coils on e-bay. I picked up a pair for around $40.

 

[TheCafeKid]

Thanks! Do the Dynatech bolt in easy?
What could I we do instead? Michigan law states that a new owner may drive strait home with out a plate, and he's got 24 hours to get there.
Bill

Then why did Barney mess with him? Just to see that he had bought the bike? Ive never heard of that law, wish they had such a law here. You are SOL in ohio. Better bring a trailer, or both of you go down to the title office and the BMV that day and get a temp tag. If an Ohio State boy pulls you with out a plate, he will impound your vehicle on the spot. If an Ohio State boy pulls you with EXPIRED TAGS he has the right to impound your vehicle on the spot (tho usually they wont, unless you get a prick one) They have no love for those of us who buy new bikes/cars on the regular.

on the dyna coils, they install just like the OEM stuff, except you will need to purchase plug wires as well. The bonus here is that they use standard plug wires, like a car, so you can actually change out the wires when they get old, unlike the OEM wires that are attached permanently to the coil. IIRC you'll need either the GREEN 3 OHM coils, or the BLACK coils, you might ask around, or call the fellas at Z1 who will know for sure. They sell many different ohm rated coils, so you better check to be sure. I have read that some of them require you to install a balast resistor as well. if you have to do that, those are only like a buck or two i think.

 

[tkent02]

Not a short, just a weak spark when hot. I did the relay mod, so it must be weak coils.

That does not sound quite right, possibly coils but possibly not.....
Did you thoroughly clean all the wiring associated with the coils and especially every ground involved? On any GS, wiring is usually neglected.

 

[salty_monk]

You can also use coils off a bandit or something...

Dan

 

[almarconi]

If your bike has points you want the 5 ohm coils, if not then you want the green 3 ohm coils.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

The ?Relay Modification?

The ?Relay Modification?

That does not sound quite right, possibly coils but possibly not.....
Did you thoroughly clean all the wiring associated with the coils and especially every ground involved? On any GS, wiring is usually neglected.

The ?relay mod? sends 12v strait to the coils from the battery, and replaces the old wiring.
Bill

 

[mike_of_bbg]

Sorry if I sound like an idiot because I'm ignorant to most of the facts about your bike Buffalo Bill, but it sounds an awful lot like an ignitor going bad to me. Particularly if it's weak spark across the board - unlikely that both coils are going bad at the same time. Could that be? Have you run any tests?

Since you're obviously trying to sell the bike you probably don't want to drop coin for new Dyna coils. I've heard that Bandit coils work well. Maybe you can pick these up real cheap:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/96-9...6027674QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Many bike coils must be alike.

Many bike coils must be alike.

You can also use coils off a bandit or something...

Dan

I saw some used, but guaranteed coils from a '81 750E and I think they'll bolt right in. Still they're just as old as my coils ('81 GS550T).
I'll have a look at Bandit coils in the schematics at bikebandit.
Thanks! Bill

 

[Guest]

I have a pair of good coils. Just need a couple of plug caps.

 

[TheCafeKid]

Sorry if I sound like an idiot because I'm ignorant to most of the facts about your bike Buffalo Bill, but it sounds an awful lot like an ignitor going bad to me. Particularly if it's weak spark across the board - unlikely that both coils are going bad at the same time. Could that be? Have you run any tests?

Since you're obviously trying to sell the bike you probably don't want to drop coin for new Dyna coils. I've heard that Bandit coils work well. Maybe you can pick these up real cheap:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/96-9...6027674QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Ive only seen ignitors be bad and NOT WORK. ive never heard of one that partly works. I know that some of the later bikes with electronic advance can have ADVANCE problems crop up, but I was always under the understanding that the ignitor either works or it doesnt work...you can also talk to Griffin. He had a coil or set of coils that acted fine untill they got HOT, and then started crapping out. Took him a while to track it down, but finally he took the bike out, got it nice and hot then quickly shut it off, pulled the tank and tested them before they cooled off and sure enough they were crapped out when hot.

 

[tkent02]

After the Barny Fife thing was over the bike would not start, and I had to give 'em back his money.

Wait a minute, isn't the warranty up at the end of your driveway?

 

[rapidray]

Bill, all of the late 80s/early 90s Katana & GSX-R coils are good replacements & they are CHEAP used on ebay. Ray.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Bikes lag behind car engineering.

Bikes lag behind car engineering.

Ive only seen ignitors be bad and NOT WORK. ive never heard of one that partly works. I know that some of the later bikes with electronic advance can have ADVANCE problems crop up, but I was always under the understanding that the ignitor either works or it doesnt work...you can also talk to Griffin. He had a coil or set of coils that acted fine untill they got HOT, and then started crapping out. Took him a while to track it down, but finally he took the bike out, got it nice and hot then quickly shut it off, pulled the tank and tested them before they cooled off and sure enough they were crapped out when hot.

All that you've written I've read before in other posts. I did a search on the issue earlier this summer and read up on it all. Also cars have coils too, so in that regard I have plenty of same experience.
The bummer for me is: How come very good car coils sell for lot$ cheaper? I remember some cars having a mini coil on and for each plug since the '90s. That would be cool mod!
Bill

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Suzuki coils.

Suzuki coils.

Bill, all of the late 80s/early 90s Katana & GSX-R coils are good replacements & they are CHEAP used on ebay. Ray.

thanks a bunch! In the schematic for the GSXF600 Katana I saw on bikebandit, they look like GS coils.
Bill

 

[Guest]

Ive only seen ignitors be bad and NOT WORK. ive never heard of one that partly works. I know that some of the later bikes with electronic advance can have ADVANCE problems crop up, but I was always under the understanding that the ignitor either works or it doesnt work...you can also talk to Griffin. He had a coil or set of coils that acted fine untill they got HOT, and then started crapping out. Took him a while to track it down, but finally he took the bike out, got it nice and hot then quickly shut it off, pulled the tank and tested them before they cooled off and sure enough they were crapped out when hot.

I've seen them work but not well.
Hit a brick wall at 5k.

 

[mike_of_bbg]

I've seen several reports on this board of ignitors overheating, and thus stop sparking causing the engine to die, on long rides. That was my own personal experience as well.

 

[Roger P.]

Pins and sockets in the connectors start to get loose, work sometimes, don't work other times. PITA to diagnose. Pull the plug apart, clean both pins and sockets, crimp the sockets a bit tighter to provide a good grip on the pins, apply a bit of never seize to both and away you go.