Strange Runnin's I

[mcycle-nut]

1982 Suzuki GS1100EZ
At times, for no reason, it suddenly acts like some,(1?2?3?) cylinders have shut off. In order to keep it running, you have to give it more gas, (a little), because then it will take off like a rocket when it suddenly decides it wants to run on four again! Being a "sometimes" problem, I'm thinking it's electrical as it never seems to stutter, it is either working or it's not. Anybody ever had this problem or any suggestions?

[cowboyup3371]

Mine did that occasionally when running in a strong crosswind. Finally figured out it was because I had left the chrome ends to my side covers off; once I put them on everything ran fine.

You could just be getting too much air flow from somewhere. Have you done anything different?

[mcycle-nut]

No, this bike is stock, stock, stock. Worked fine one day, then my wife came to me with the ol' "Your bike isn't working right." Great. "What have you done to it now?" I took it out and same thing. Just what DID she do to it?

[Lunchbox88]

I had a somewhat similar problem with my 850 and it turned out the bullet connectors for the primary wires that were the input to one of my coils had become loose. Kind of a shot in the dark but might be worth checking.

[tom203]

Is it surging, or does it feel like the ignition is turning off? Does it do this more at low speed-i.e., low throttle setting?

[Guest]

Lunchbox sounds like he's on the right track. Check all your wiring from the coils back. Just sounds like something is loose or not grounding properly at times. Clean em all and use some dielectric grease and see what happens.

[bccap]

Mine did that occasionally when running in a strong crosswind. Finally figured out it was because I had left the chrome ends to my side covers off; once I put them on everything ran fine.

You could just be getting too much air flow from somewhere. Have you done anything different?

I had something similar. Turns out the strap tank bag I had was at fault. Everytime I honked on it, the strap under the front of the seat got sucked across the air filter opening.

[mcycle-nut]

Is it surging, or does it feel like the ignition is turning off? Does it do this more at low speed-i.e., low throttle setting?

It does not feel like it's surging, seems like the ignition is turning off on a number of cylinders. I can still keep it running, but as I said, look out when all 4 come back on line! It does seem to happen more on the lower speed/throttle settings, then again, it's an 1100, when does one actually get to use a higher throttle setting, what with silly things like speed limits and such!
Sounds like the other guys were thinking the same as me, check the connections.

[Guest]

Check those connections on the coils. I've had trouble with those and had the same issues.

[mcycle-nut]

I replaced the 2/3 coil as the secondary resistance was not within spec. Just for yuks I also cleaned up the connections, charged the "urine" out of the battery, and put in some new plugs. Runs great! A real kick in the pants I tell you after just hopping off of a 450 Honda!!!

[earlfor]

The only time I have had those erratic symptoms was when a ignitor was on its way towards going out.