Plugs fouling, engine just not running right

[freki]

1980 GS 850L with 15k miles

I've got this bike and I've been struggling with it since I got it. I replaced the coils with Katana coils. This still doesn't seem to have fixed my problem with the engine not running. When I pulled the plugs, the 1st and 4th plugs are almost straight black.

Just a dumb question while I'm at it. If I'm standing facing the front of the bike, the cylinder on my left should be cylinder #1 correct?

Also, is there anyone on here that lives anywhere near the Idaho Falls area? I would love a garage/riding buddy.

Thanks all! :-D

[Dave8338]

1980 GS 850L with 15k miles

I've got this bike and I've been struggling with it since I got it. I replaced the coils with Katana coils. This still doesn't seem to have fixed my problem with the engine not running. When I pulled the plugs, the 1st and 4th plugs are almost straight black.

Just a dumb question while I'm at it. If I'm standing facing the front of the bike, the cylinder on my left should be cylinder #1 correct?

Also, is there anyone on here that lives anywhere near the Idaho Falls area? I would love a garage/riding buddy.

Thanks all! :-D

Have you run a compression test on it yet? Adjusted the valves? Gone through the carbs? Why different coils? Where are you at on this project? 8-[

NOPE...the cylinder on the right (in this particular case) is the #1 hole.

(sit on bike...put left hand down at side...tis the #1)

[freki]

Have you run a compression test on it yet? Adjusted the valves? Gone through the carbs? Why different coils? Where are you at on this project? 8-[

NOPE...the cylinder on the right (in this particular case) is the #1 hole.

(sit on bike...put left hand down at side...tis the #1)

Well that probably explains why the bike isn't running right in the first place

I did the redneck compression test earlier (finger in spark plug hole) and all had good compression. The carbs are rebuilt about a year ago. I haven't adjusted the valves, just waiting for a head gasket to come in. The original coils didn't produce spark which is why I replaced them. At the moment I have the gas tank and air box off and am prettying up the engine and replacing the oem bolts.

[earlfor]

When sitting on the bike, the outboard cylinder on your LEFT is #1. They number left to right 1 through 4. The 1 and 4 cylinders operate off of the left coil and the 2 and 3 cylinders run off the right coil (normally), so if you have black plugs on the 1 and 4 that is an ignition side. The problem could be carbs, but it is unlikely the 1 and 4 carbs would act up at the same time in the same way. Its most probably an ignition problem which could be one side of the crank trigger, one side of the ignitor or one coil that is at fault.

Earl

[chef1366]

If you need an igniter I have one.

[freki]

If you need an igniter I have one.

At the risk of sounding stupid....what's an igniter?

[chef1366]

It's part of the ignition system. The crank trigger which is under the round crankcase cover on the right side of the bike, the igniter and the coils. Since new coils did not fix the problem maybe the igniter is bad.