coils interchangeable??? just need a quick answer!

[Guest]

so ive got a 79' gs850 and i got these coils for it that are off of an 83. i know the 79 models use a breaker point system and the 83's use a breakerless ignition system.

my question is can i use the 83' coils on my 79' or do they function in a way that is not compatible?

Thanks!

[kingofvenus]

Yes, they will work.

[Steve]

Yes, they will work, but it would help if you could measure the resistance of the coils. The newer coils had less resistance, which allowed more current to flow through the coil. (More current = more spark.) If your bike still has points, that might be too much current for the points to handle, so you might need to add what is known as a "ballast resistor" of about 2 ohms to keep the current down to a level that the points can handle. If, however, you have converted to electronic ignition, there is no problem at all.

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