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No spark on one cylinder
- Topper
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The latest is that I don't have any spark on the right side of the bike. I had it running and rode it around the yard last week. This weekend it wouldn't start up and it appears that I have no spark on the right cylinder.
It's not the plug, I swapped the plugs around and on the left side I've got spark and on the right none.
Is the most likely culprit a bad coil?
Permanent and perpetual noob.
1979 KZ750 Twin
2009 Kawasaki Versys
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- martin_csr
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- TeK9iNe
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the ignition systems not a very big deal...
Motorcycle Shop Owner/Operator
79 Kawie Z1000 LTD
81 Kawie Z1000 CSR
83 Honda VT750C A
85 Kawie GPZ900 A2
86 Zukie GS1150 EG
93 Yamie XV1100 E
Lucky to have rolled many old bikes through my doors
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- Topper
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I'm trying to test the primary and secondary resistance on my coils and my manual is not making any sense to me.
Primary:
- Disconnect ignition coil leads
- Set the ohmmeter to the x1 ohm range, and connect the ohmmeter leads to the leads from one of the ignition coils
Ok, first problem, my multimeter doesn't have a x1 ohm range. I've got 2k - 2000k. Where do I set it? Or do I need a better multimeter?
Second problem, when they say "leads from one of the ignition coils" I don't really know what they're talking about. For each coil I have one wire running from the wiring harness to the coil and then the spark plug wire running out the back of the coil.
When I remove the lead running to the coil, there's a little tab connector there. Where am I supposed to connect the multimeter?
Secondary:
- Disconect spark plug caps from the spark plugs, and pull the spark plug leads off the caps.
- Set the ohmmeter to the x 1k range, and connect one ohmmeter lead to the spark plug lead and the other ohmmeter lead to the yellow/red lead from the ignition coil.
Again, I don't have a x 1k range on my multimeter. Also, no yellow/red lead coming from the coil. I have leads running to the coils, but on one coil it's black/white and if memory serves the other is black/red.
I'm totally stumped on where to connect the leads in both tests and unsure if my multimeter is even up to this job.
Permanent and perpetual noob.
1979 KZ750 Twin
2009 Kawasaki Versys
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- MFolks
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On most meters, the 200 is the maximum it will read, not the mimimum. You might have to buy a meter with useable ranges to be able to do checks on your bike. Radio Shack Stores sell a good, inexpensive meter along with Home Depot(look in the electrical section) and Lowes.
Disconnect any wires going to the coils as they can affect the readings and put the meter leads on the primary(small wires side) and then read between the secondary side(where the sparklug leads go)it's usually a spike the sparkplug leads go into.
1982 GPZ1100 B2
General Dynamics/Convair 1983-1993
GLCM BGM-109 Tomahawk, AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM)
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- Motor Head
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Tell us which meter you have, Google will pull up a reference and then you may be better advised on setting the scale. Is it Digital or Analog? Etc.
U-Tube has videos on how to test the coils and other areas of your electrical as well.
1982 KZ1000LTD K2 Vance & Hines 4-1 ACCEL COILS Added Vetter fairing & Bags. FOX Racing rear Shocks, Braced Swing-arm, Fork Brace, Progressive Fork Springs RT Gold Emulators, APE Valve Springs, 1166 Big Bore kit, RS34's, GPZ cams.
1980 KZ550LTD C1 Stock SOLD Miss it
1979 MAZDA RX7 in the works, 13B...
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- Topper
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Here's a shot of the front of my multimeter. Will this do this job? If so what setting should I use and what results should I be hoping for when I test the coil?
Permanent and perpetual noob.
1979 KZ750 Twin
2009 Kawasaki Versys
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- Motor Head
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Try swapping around the 2 coils. It will be a better test, it actually will test the coil under load, that's what you really want to do. It is a "Bench Test" type of thing. Swap them and see if it gets spark on the suspected coil.
1982 KZ1000LTD K2 Vance & Hines 4-1 ACCEL COILS Added Vetter fairing & Bags. FOX Racing rear Shocks, Braced Swing-arm, Fork Brace, Progressive Fork Springs RT Gold Emulators, APE Valve Springs, 1166 Big Bore kit, RS34's, GPZ cams.
1980 KZ550LTD C1 Stock SOLD Miss it
1979 MAZDA RX7 in the works, 13B...
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- wireman
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posting from deep under a non-descript barn in an undisclosed location southwest of Omaha.
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- Topper
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wireman wrote: see if you have 12v going to the coil in question
Remember I'm a noob How would I verify I've got 12v going to the coil? Lick the lead like a 9v battery? ;p
Permanent and perpetual noob.
1979 KZ750 Twin
2009 Kawasaki Versys
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- Motor Head
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If you would swap the 2 coils around you will be testing for power at both coils, also that the ignitor and pick up coils function. If you swap, and the coil that did work now doesn't, then more trouble shooting with the meter. But first swap coils, and check for spark.
1982 KZ1000LTD K2 Vance & Hines 4-1 ACCEL COILS Added Vetter fairing & Bags. FOX Racing rear Shocks, Braced Swing-arm, Fork Brace, Progressive Fork Springs RT Gold Emulators, APE Valve Springs, 1166 Big Bore kit, RS34's, GPZ cams.
1980 KZ550LTD C1 Stock SOLD Miss it
1979 MAZDA RX7 in the works, 13B...
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- Patton
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This is a SWAG for sure, and might be incorrect, but won't hurt to try.
Am uncertain what the ohm reading should be on the particular coils at hand, but both coils should be about the same resistance.
Good Fortune!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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