• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Fun with a timing light

Jethro

Jethro

Forum Sage
Past Site Supporter
TGSR Superstar
Charter Member
Well, after 15 years of doing my own service on my GS's, I finally bought a timing light. Trying to overcome my fear of electrical issues. What I discovered was that my timing on the 83 1100E was WAY off. I adjusted that, and it seems the bike runs smoother, but I noticed something that may be odd. When on the 1/4 coil wires, the flashing is super consistant. But on the right coil, cyls 2/3, the flashing seems a little iffy, like it skips a beat every now and then. What should I do? I checked voltage to the coils, it is ok, and cleaned all the connectors as best I can. Would this be a faulty coil or maybe the ignition? Or maybe it's not really a problem? The bike hesitates just off the line a little bit.
 
I doubt its a problem. Unless you have a super expensive timing light, they'll miss a beat every now and then, that's my experience.
 
I don't know Geoff, but could it be spark plug wires???
You know the age of them.
 
crag antler said:
I don't know Geoff, but could it be spark plug wires???
You know the age of them.
Click to expand...

Yeah, sure could. They look perfect, but looks aren't everything!:-D
 
Don't be conserned about it MY 850 does it too. It's just getting a false signal
 
When I saw this thread title I thought it was those two madmen from the Mythbusters about to do something.

Disappointed now. :|

Kim
 
SqDancerLynn1 said:
MY 850 does it too.
Click to expand...

My 750 also does it. I've wondered whether it's an indication of a problem with the coils, wires, or something else. The bike runs beautifully - even at high revs - and the plugs all look good, so I'm assuming there's nothing really wrong, but...
 
83'GK said:
How did you adjust it? I thought they were non-adjustable..??
Click to expand...

Timing is adjusted by rotating the signal generator plate.
 
I'd say definitely keep an eye on it. My 78 550 did this same thing when I was setting the timing, and about a month later it started sputtering and started to run on just two cylinders. Points were good, coils were good.... turned out to be a fried condenser.

I realize your 83 doesn't have points/condensers, but maybe your coil is starting to go bad...... or plug wires, as previously suggested.

Glad to hear you got a timing light though - very good investment.

Chad
 
My 79gs1000l does it when connected to the #4 but not on the #1. Did you try to set advanced timing. I found that I was right on when idling, but when I reved it to check advance timing I couldn't get it to line up no matter which way I turned the plate. According to clymer's I need to pull the plate and check to make sure the advance weights move freely.
 
Wish I would've thought about this in my previous post...... if you're anal like me, and just want peace of mind........

Swap the wiring going to your coils, and swap the plug wires. As you probably now, both wires coming from a coil fire at the same time, so it doesn't really matter which wire goes to the 2 or 3 cylinder, that was previously on the 1 or 4 cylinder. Just be sure the wiring to the coils themselves are switched as well - else you'll run like a Harley, and maybe cause engine damage.
If your light now skips when testing the 1/4 cylinders, it may be the coil or plug wires at fault. If your light still skips only when testing the 2/3 cylinders, the problem my lie in the ignition unit itself, or wiring leading to the coils. This would be simple to do and corrective action could be taken. You don't want to be at the rally and have to ride the Dragon on 2 cylinders man!

I'm assuming you have a light that wraps around the plug wires correct?

OH - and also... make sure the ground cable from the timing light is actually connected to a good ground on the bike..... not the battery - terminal. I read that once and I always followed it...... not sure exactly why....

Chad
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top