Well, went to put the bike back together today after replacing the main wiring harness and an assortment of other things. After getting the carbs fueled back up after running them dry with the tank off, I let the bike idle for a few minutes. It sounds great to begin with, just how I left it, and after about 5 minutes of idling, it sounds like I lose a cylinder or two, sounds like a weedwhacker engine thats running really rough. Thing wont rev above 3-4k, and is choppy as hell and sounds absolutely terrible.

Blah blah, pull all the plugs back out, check the gaps, clean them up, dry them off in case I fouled them cranking it to get it started, torque them all back in, fire it up, still running bad. Check the primary resistances on the coils, both good, check secondary, 2/3 is good, but keep getting intermittent readings on 1/4. I checked for spark when the plugs were out, and got it on all 4 cylinders, but oh well. Get the bike cranked back started, let it run 15-20 seconds and start feeling the downpipes on the header. Sure enough 1, 2 and 3 all hot, 4 is cold as a stone. I go in and wiggle around all the wires on the coils, and I think I got 4 to run a few cycles, as the pipe got a *little* warm, but still for the most part completely dead. It runs fine for the first minute or two after letting it sit, but once that coil starts getting hot it must drop out power to #4.

So ******* christ, I replace one part and by the time I get that in, something else dies.

Oh well, tomorrow I order 2 new coil packs and I'll put those in. If the bike needs one single more part after that, its getting parted out and put on ebay.

 

Dibs

Ignition / Electrical gremlins are a real bitch to chase out. I've experienced the same thing on my civic, messed with the plug wires and somehow fried the coil...I think new coils remedy your problem.

 

Oh, I know new coils will solve the problem, its just that I havent been able to ride for the past month because I've been chasing evil-doers in my electrical system. Now once I iron the dogshit idle and the fact its only running on 3 cylinders, I'll be good to go.
New ignition switch - check
New main wiring harness - check
New ignition coils - coming

By the time I get done there wont be a used piece on this bike besides the plastics and frame.

Oh well, I'll be able to ride it worry free next year knowing everything is new on it. Was just REALLY hoping to get out and ride this one last day, seeing as its so nice out today here in New England.


Found the OEM parts/price list on bikebandit.com
Looks like I'm eating another $80/per coil, but at least it will be done. And now that I found bike bandit, its the same price list as the dealer I go to, so I can price out parts on my own now.


Modified by jlacoy82 at 3:18 PM 11/13/2005