Cylinders 2 and 4 running much hotter than 1 and 3?

[Guest]

Hey everyone! So some background info.

Carbs thoroughly cleaned
New plugs
Rejetted for pods and 4 into 1 exhaust
Valves adjusted
New exhaust gaskets
New float bowl gaskets
Adjusted float bowl levels to +-1mm

Any help? Could it be the point ignition system, or maybe screwing up the valve adjustment? It's my first bike restoration!

[LAB3]

Spark plug caps are often an overlooked culprit, you could try swapping the two hot ones for the two cold ones as a quick and easy check.

[Zaos]

I don't know if I can easily do that as the wires go directly into the coils? Which do you mean to switch?

[Big T]

Swap the spark plug caps on 2 and #3
Then, swap #1 and #4

do they still heat up the same?

And, your 1980 model has points?

[LAB3]

The caps pull out of the ends of the wires. It's often suggested to pull the wires out of the caps, clip off about a 1/4 inch of the wire and clean the copper contact that goes into the cap and reassemble. On my bike that contact was a straight piece so it's a good idea to pull and reinsert them with as little twisting as possible.

[Redman]

Would not be the coils (nor pickup) since one coil services 1&4 and other coil services 2&3.

I would more suspect the carbs..... or the plugs ...... or the plug caps as mentioned.
THe caps do deteriorate over the miles.
Can get new ones for about $5 each or less.
1&4 are the same and 2&3 are the same part number, the difference is only overall length and angle.
Can also Ohm check them with a meter (resistance), should be right about 5K ohms each. When they are going bad they go way higher ohms and then go completely open (infinite ohms).

Could swap 1 with 4, and 2 with 3, as something of a test.
Like said before, hold onto wire, pull twist unscrew and pull off the cap. Look and see if all the strands of wire (not really wire) are there yet, if some are burnt-broke-missing you can trim off about 1/4-3/8th inch of the wire to get to fresher strands.

[Zaos]

So it turns out, that the guy i bought it from had the coils in the wrong way. The left side was hooked up to 1 and 2, and the right side was 3 and 4!

Who would have thought it wouldve even started from that!

Bike runs like a dream now Thanks for all the help guys!

Redman I'm going to take apart the cables and replace the caps, cables too worth it? It's a good preventative maintenance thing it seems especially because they look like they've seen better days!

[Rich82GS750TZ]

I can’t even imagine the bike even running that way. Must have sounded horrid. Glad you got that sorted.

[Redman]

Easssssch.... It will? run like that?
Guess so.

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Redman I'm going to take apart the cables and replace the caps, cables too worth it? It's a good preventative maintenance thing it seems especially because they look like they've seen better days!

Cables? Spark Plug Wire I assume.

THey would have to be real bad to be worth replacing. THe caps come off the wires easy. But the wires dont easily come out of the coils. THey are fixed in with epoxy or something. Some folks have replaced them but it isnt easy. WHat is easy is to damage the connection inside the coil while trying to replace the wire.

[Redman]

The other hard portion is finding the right size wire. I dont know the specifics but have seen such discussions here.
7mm verses 8mm verses 1/4inch or something like that.

[allojohn]

So it turns out, that the guy i bought it from had the coils in the wrong way. The left side was hooked up to 1 and 2, and the right side was 3 and 4!

Who would have thought it wouldve even started from that!

Bike runs like a dream now Thanks for all the help guys!

Redman I'm going to take apart the cables and replace the caps, cables too worth it? It's a good preventative maintenance thing it seems especially because they look like they've seen better days!

LOL, love the easy fixes! well done.

[Zaos]

Yeah the bike sounded like it was dying, but it still did rev a bit.

I'll check out the caps and take them apart, clean them up and check for any cracks in the rubber. Should clean up good enough!