1981 GS450 Coil (and capacitor???)

[Guest]

Hola,

So I am attempting to replace my ignition coils on my 1981 GS450 (after about 10-15 minutes of riding I lose spark, won't start until it gets cool again). However, what I have noticed on the current (OEM?) coils is that they appear to have a little capacitor attached to them that sits on the back end of them (see first photo attached).
Capture.jpg
My issue is that, when I search for aftermarket coils for GS450s, I find coils but they don't have that little capacitor on the end.

So my questions are: Do I need to find capacitors to solder on to aftermarket coils? Or do newer coils have capacitors within the casing of the coils? Or do newer coils not need capacitors?

Any insight from people who have replaced their coils from the OEM ones to aftermarket coils would be appreciated!

Thanks

[tom203]

Very strange....not clear why they are there, but still shown as available. Understand that ignition coils are very durable- I'd blame lots of other stuff first for ignition issues.

http://www.partsoutlaw.com/oemparts/a/suz/50d3f230f8700230d8b4bd7b/electrical

[sam000lee]

Strange I've never seen that before on the GS450 (I have 3 from 1980/81). It doesn't have points so I don't know why it would have capacitors.

[Thumper88]

My 1982 GS450 didn't have those either. I did have the same issue (lost spark after a few minutes of riding), had to replace the ignitor....most likely the same issue.

[Nessism]

Does this bike have points?

[Steve]

Points were gone after the 1979 model year, so I would not think so.

Even so, the "capacitors" would be closer to the points, not at the coils.

.

[Nessism]

This bike is in South Africa.

[Steve]

Ahh, I missed that detail.

.

[Gorminrider]

Mine doesn't have that either....it'll maybe make you happier if you goto CMNSL page, click on the link for the coil, and discover it's been "superseded" by one without that doofunny..
link showing the same doofunny

https://www.cmsnl.com/suzuki-gs450ex-1981-x-usa-e03_model34205/partslist/BLCK0018.html#results

link showing the part they would provide, without the doofunny

https://www.cmsnl.com/products/coil-assy-ignition_3341044x50/

[benjo]

Thanks for the info! It has points and I think it is worth mentioning that I am in South Africa. Maybe the 1981 models here had points? So, after running it for a bit and it died, per usual, after about 10 min I felt by hand that the right coil was warm to the touch and the left coil wasn't. However, I tested the coils with a multimeter at this time and the readings seemed to be ok (4.8 to 5 ohms at 200 on both coils when testing the positive and negative wires going into the coils, and about 17 to 18 ohms at 20k when testing either the positive or negative wire and the HT lead)

[benjo]

Sorry, didn't finish before posting.

so could this be my ignitor?

coukd it be that I am running too rich?

again, the symptoms are that after about 10 - 15 minutes of riding the bike dies when I come to a stop unless I rev it like crazy. After it dies, it won't start up again. You hear the starter motor turning over but the bike just won't start. Once I was successful in push starting it after this happened, but had to rev it hard to keep it going....

i just want to ride man...

[Gorminrider]

Now I'm confused...If it has "points" it has no "ignitor"...

It has points and I think it is worth mentioning that I am in South Africa. Maybe the 1981 models here had points?

.As far as I've seen, no 81 450 had points. But maybe in S.A. because Suzuki was putting out at three variants of 2 cylinder engine in the 400-450cc range in the years 1980-1981. Maybe yours is number 4....You'd better look through the cmnsl catalogues and maybe post a picture and figure out what you have there.

But whichever, coils do burn out occasionally and usually one at a time. When the bike has "died", take the plugs out, ground them to engine and look for spark. ...

And then try swapping coils around, because no spark does not necessarily mean bad coil. IF you have ignitor-not points- you also have "pickups"...signal generators where bikes used to have points and these can be the problem. Or the wiring or the CDI ignitor itself or the plug leads....

[benjo]

My 1981 GS450 has points. I am 100% certain.

So if it gets spark after it's hot then it's not the coils that are the issue? It's something else? What would cause it to just completely bog out after 10-15 minutes of riding?