Front cylinder

[Th3InfamousI]

Everyone should have a spark plug tester in your toolbox. They are about $5 at the parts store.

You can do it the old school and ground to fins but the spark plug tester makes it easy.

That and a multi meter

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[Dragonslave]

Redneck way to check for spark with no tools:

Pull front spark plug
Plug it back into spark plug wire
Ground spark plug to bike (fins or engine) with it plugged into spark plug wire off coil
Hit start and see if it sparks or you get shocked....

Yes, I've been drinking.....

HAH! Ive done this before. It isnt pleasant.

 

[Jersey Big Mike]

You are correct, If he had a volt/ohm meter, this would be an easier task, hence the 'redneck' check with our without the tongue....lol......I'm sure he will invest in one soon.....

You can also check voltage between the terminals with the coil still on.......

True, the manual trigger the coil really is another redneck or homebrew test I've used when the meter was in the basement and I wanted a fast test.

If you own a Big Dog, you need a Multi-meter.

 

[Herbert L. Williams]

Okay guys, I bought an ohm meter, checked the plugs, wires and coil, everything was with in tolerance. I spun the coil around and during the testing and fired the bike right up. Front cylinder working fine. Put it all back together, still worked fine. I rode it for 1.5 miles it strayed jumping and the front cylinder went out again. Thinking the problem is in the coil. Thoughts?

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Just curious is this an EFI or Carb Bike?

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[Herbert L. Williams]

Carb

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Carb

Well that helps! Makes it easier. We now know it's not going into any kind of limp mode

And just to confirm you swapped plug wires yet? Just to see if you loose the back one instead? Just to rule out its the plug wire?

You cant just swap the spark plug wires on the plugs themselves you will need to swap them on the coil since its a single fire coil front wire on coil has to go to front cylinder and vice versa

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[Herbert L. Williams]

Yes swapped the plug wires and run them on an ohm meter, no issues with the wires, it's almost as if I spin the coil over and it works fine. I reattached and runs on 1 cylinder after it spit and sputtered.

 

[Jersey Big Mike]

Yes swapped the plug wires and run them on an ohm meter, no issues with the wires, it's almost as if I spin the coil over and it works fine. I reattached and runs on 1 cylinder after it spit and sputtered.

when you say - if you spin the coil over it work, but then reinstall the coil and it fails?

SO let me get this straight - you pull the coil off the bike turn it upside down and move the wires front-back and it works.
You then re=install and it fails on the rear cylinder?

If that's the case it sounds like a broken wire/connector that makes the connection when its upside down.
If you pull the coil and turn it upside down and do not reverse the wires what happens? Try jiggling them (one at a time) and see if anything changes.

 

[BadDawg Bill]

On the verge of sounding stupid: Is the coil cover very close to or touching the coil wires?

 

[Herbert L. Williams]

When I say turn it upside down. I remove the 3 bolts and flipped the coil cover. I tightened all three coil wires, tested the ohms on coil, plugs, and wires. All three were with in tolerence. When I re-connected the coil cover and the bike ran fine for 1.5 miles the sputtered and went back to the rear cylinder only working. I am wondering if, it something inside the coil that is loose, or a kinked wire. The problem with the wire is the have an after market cover on them and I can't see. Really starting to get frustrated

 

[Jersey Big Mike]

When I say turn it ups down. I remove the 3 bolts and flipped the coil cover. I tightened all three coil wires, tested the ohms on coil, plugs, and wires. All three were with in tolerence. When I re-connected the coil cover and the bike ran fine for 1.5 miles the sputtered and went back to the rear cylinder only working. I am wondering if, it something inside the coil that is loose, or a kinked wire. The problem with the wire is the have an after market cover on them and I can't see. Really starting to get frustrated

It's down to a couple of choices.
Coil is bad or something gets loose real easy when its in the correct position.
Wire going to coil front cylinder is bad or shorting out when mounted.

If you can reach the coil terminals without pull the cover - ohm them to ground and compare the front to the back. (Disconnect + on battery while doing this) Wiggle harness while testing. Given what started this I'm leaning towards the wire being bad going to coil.

You also at this point might want to pull the tank off so you can do a visual inspection of some of the wires -- you might see the burn from the spark when pulling the LEDs off that you described as the trigger event. While its possible that its the coil, I'd bet against it and the ignition module appears to survived as well. It really sounds like a physical wire problem.

 

[Herbert L. Williams]

Sorry for the lack of info on the spark, it spark against the front cylinder head. So I'm understanding correctly, disconnect the battery and using the positive ohm meter on the center (red wire) then touch the blue and yellow wire to check resistance. Then touch each end of the wires to the coil to check resistance of these wires.

Then I do the wire inspection.

 

[Big D Florida]

HAH! Ive done this before. It isnt pleasant.

I always thought this was a prank the older guys played on the newly initiated... Akin to peeing on an electric fence.

 

[Jersey Big Mike]

Sorry for the lack of info on the spark, it spark against the front cylinder head. So I'm understanding correctly, disconnect the battery and using the positive ohm meter on the center (red wire) then touch the blue and yellow wire to check resistance. Then touch each end of the wires to the coil to check resistance of these wires.

Then I do the wire inspection.

Actually have you just swapped spark plug wires -- both ends -- pull front plug wire and make it back wire (from coil to plug) and use the old back wire for the front? Does it still fail front cylinder?

Yes measure from the red to the yellow and blue -- that will check the coil
The wire I am suspicious of is yellow wire in the harness that may have taken damage when the LEDs were pulled.

The other test I'd do is pull the coil and cover off, turn it upside down where you say it runs.
if it starts and runs on both wiggle the yellow wire a bit and see if the front cylinder drops out. (might need another pair of hands for this)

 

[Dragonslave]

I always thought this was a prank the older guys played on the newly initiated... Akin to peeing on an electric fence.

I have done that before lol! Done it to myself first cuz I was too lazy to get the checker out. Needless to say I found my answer.

 

[Big D Florida]

Unless you're running some exotic, over priced plug... Just try another one....lmao

 

[Herbert L. Williams]

Okay I appreciate all the help guys. I pulled the tank and traced the wires as suggested. I found the coil wire connector under the tank. When I pulled the LED lights off. The fat fingers I have pulled the front cylinder (yellow wire) from the connector. I re-installed everything and took it for a ride and it worked. I appreciate I ate everyone's help. Esp. Since I have never worked on a motorcycle before.

 

[chubs]

We all knew ya could do it Now wipe that embarrassed look of your face, and go enjoy the "fruits of your labors" Stay Safe Big Daddy

 

[Hirter6Pack]

Hot Digady Dog
________
That was a nail biter for awhile.
Good job people and thank for the info.