1981 gs 550 igniter unit?

[nconrad5]

I have been having problems starting my 81 gs 550, and (according to clymer manual) the igniter unit is the component failing the ignition tests.

I called a couple dealers around town and pricing is between $370 and $390!!!!! :shock: Wayyy too much for this poor college kid. Any suggestions on how I could get ahold of one of these for less $??

[Steve]

What is the part number? Should be something like 32900-XXXXX.

I have one, but let's see if the numbers match. Mine is 32900-49410.


.

[ebakley]

550 ignition unit

Also, do a yahoo or google search in baltimore for Baltimore Cycle Salvage.
He has tons of parts.

[jayz]

Is there a way to test the igniter when it is off of the bike? I'm not sure I trust the Clymer test, (got no results, not sure if that means the igniter is bad or I did the test wrong).

[chef1366]

http://www.dynaonline.com/english/sportbike_dynas.htm

[jayz]

Thanks chef1366. I noticed in my searching you often recommend the Dyna S, and am considering going that route. I read that I'd also have to find a mechanical advance from an older bike. Are these hard to find, and about how much will that add to the cost?

Do the instructions that come with the Dyna S include instructions for converting from an electronic ignition? I'm assuming that I remove the signal generator and that's were the mechanical advance and the Dyna S unit go.

Also, is there a way to test my igniter with a multimeter?

[DickV]

Igniter test

The igniter swithes one side of a coil primary to ground when it gets a voltage from the signal generator. The other side of the coil primary has
+12v when the swithes are in the run position. I checked my ignitor with a digital multimeter by putting one lead on a known +12v and the other to a lead going to each coil primary, one by one, as I cranked the engine. I used the connector going from the ouput of the igniter to the coils. I got varying voltage indications that meant that the igniter was in fact switching to ground as it should. The individual readings were not important except to indicate the igniter was working. Hope this helps you check it before replacing components that might not need replacing. Dick V