• 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.

No spark on cylinders 1 & 4

  • Thread starter Thread starter eternal
  • Start date Start date
E

eternal

Guest
Okay guys, I'm starting to pull out my thinning hair on this one. I'm trying to get my '78 GS 550 running but there seems to be something wrong. I've replaced the coil, done the coil relay mod and still am getting no spark on 1 & 4. I've tried checking continuity from the coil to points- all seems good there. I'm getting 11.7 V input to the coils and both coils test out as functional.

Anybody out there got a bright idea about what I'm missing? :confused:
 
first questions... what are the resistance measurements of the coil primary side and the plug cap to plug cap on the secondary side of the coil?
 
eternal said:
Okay guys, I'm starting to pull out my thinning hair on this one. I'm trying to get my '78 GS 550 running but there seems to be something wrong. I've replaced the coil, done the coil relay mod and still am getting no spark on 1 & 4. I've tried checking continuity from the coil to points- all seems good there. I'm getting 11.7 V input to the coils and both coils test out as functional.

Anybody out there got a bright idea about what I'm missing? :confused:
Click to expand...

How is the battery? Fully charged? 11.7 V should be enough to make the coil fire... is the ground / mounting point clean to bare metal and free of paint? :-s
 
a shorted condenser is a factor... one step at a time...
 
I think rustybronco is on the right path. A shorted condenser would be my logical choice. Or you could have a set of points bridged due to arcing caused by a shorted condenser. Take the point cover off and put a wrench on the end of the crankshaft nut and rotate it clockwise. Observe the points opening and closing. There are various devices made to check capacitors, but you probably don't have one. Besides, it's less expensive to just purchase a new condenser and put it in the circuit to see if it fires.
 
swap the condensers... it's cheaper!

still point contamination, pitting, mal-adjusted, ect are other areas that need to be explored.
 
Swap the coils - this will effectively split the problem in half. If 1&4 continue to be the problem, it's upstream of the coil (points, condensor, etc.). If it changes to 2&3, it's the coil or the plug caps/wires.
 
If the coils test out OK and you'd like to keep the bike for a length of time, I'd suggest getting a Dyna S ignition and forget all about those points... $130 or so now but a lot less headache going forward.
 
Thanks...

Thanks...

I've had the coils bench tested, they are operating normally. I like the condensor option. Cheap enough to replace without breaking the bank. If it works, great. If it doesn't, they probably needed replacing anyway.

E
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top