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    Changing spark plug wires.

    How do I change the spark plug wires on a 78 gs550? I cant see how these come off the coils. Do I need to buy new coils?

    #2
    They are glued in at the factory. It is possible to break through the glue and dig out the old wires, but be aware that there is a screw in the middle that holds the wire to the terminal.

    By the time you get done digging and cleaning out the old wires, you may wish that you had gotten new coils.

    .
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      #3
      Thanks... I'm an hour deep into digging them out and soldering new ngk ones on. Nightmare. Don't suppose you have link to some good coils by chance??

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        #4
        Soldering?

        Try taking a metal pick or a fat pin and sliding it between the wall of the coil and the wire. Once you get the pin in squirt some mineral spirits or WD-40 alongside the pin. If possible work the pin sideways or pull it out and stick in in a couple of other places and do it again. The wire should pull out much easier once you get some lube down into the cavity. That's the way golf grips are pulled off the shaft without damage and it should work for those wires.
        Ed

        To measure is to know.

        Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

        Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

        Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

        KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

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          #5
          Yeah, good luck. These things can be a real bear. You really need to know if the wires are bad 1st then decide if you need to replace or just get new coils. It's a real time consuming task. Good luck.
          Larry

          '79 GS 1000E
          '93 Honda ST 1100 SOLD-- now residing in Arizona.
          '18 Triumph Tiger 800 (gone too soon)
          '19 Triumph Tiger 800 Christmas 2018 to me from me.
          '01 BMW R1100RL project purchased from a friend, now for sale.

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            #6
            We view the need for plug wires as an opportunity to install Dyna coils....
            sigpic
            09 Kaw C14 Rocket powered Barcalounger
            1983 GS1100e
            82\83 1100e Frankenbike
            1980 GS1260
            Previous 65 Suzuki 80 Scrambler, 76 KZ900, 02 GSF1200S, 81 GS1100e, 80 GS850G

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              #7
              Originally posted by bobgroger View Post
              We view the need for plug wires as an opportunity to install Dyna coils....
              Agreed. Not worth the time and effort to replace the wires but keep the stock coils, when for just a bit more $$$ you can get aftermarket coils (Dyna or Accel). They come with wires and produce a hotter spark...
              sigpic

              Check out my rebuild thread here: https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...GS-750-Rebuild

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                #8
                Don't need a hotter spark. Just a reliable one. And the stock coils are high quality and rarely fail. Many times people change the coils needlessly hoping for some improvement that isn't realized.

                Oh, and 7mm copper core wire is about $1/foot. And NGK plug caps $4/each.
                Last edited by Nessism; 07-08-2018, 12:48 PM.
                Ed

                To measure is to know.

                Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

                Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

                Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

                KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

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                  #9
                  but...but... Accel wires are 8.8mm and yellow! That's 1.8mm more power, and everybody knows that yellow is faster than black.
                  sigpic

                  Check out my rebuild thread here: https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...GS-750-Rebuild

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