plugs

[xsscooters]

I just put the ballist resitor on and i still have a problem both plugs on the left side are bad now . It had a brand new set of plugs before the resistor went out . I know its the plugs fouled because i have spark to the right side and tryed a known good plug in the left and had visual spark there . Could the resistor going bad cause this ?

[DiverRay]

I need a little more information.
Starting at the top, what two plugs are fouling out? please go by number 1, 2, 3, or 4. #1 is on the left side of the engine, as you sit on the bike.
If it is both plugs on the left, #1 and 2, then you probably have carb problems. The coils should be 1 and 4 on one coil, and 2 and 3 on the other.

[xsscooters]

plugs

its 1and 2 from the left side . I guess it could be a carb problem the plugs in 1and 2 are black and 3 and 4 are kinda lean . I was just wondering why they fouled when the resistor went out they were brand new too.

[TopCatGr58]

It could be the carbs? But could still be ignition?

Not sure if you've read the description that was posted a while back about the ignition coils and the plugs? With the paired wires of the coil, there is a main wire where the spark originates, goes thru the plug into the engine, then to the other plug, across the gap and back up into the wire to the coil completing the circuit. SO....the return plug can fire a little weaker.

So...depending on which plug is the return wire in your pair, cylinders 1 and 2 might be the weaker ones, and so when the resistor went bad heating up the coil, it could have caused a weaker than usual spark there leading to poor or incomplete firing and eventualy fouling?? Just a theory?
T.C.

[xsscooters]

pulled the tank

I pulled the tank and was checking the coils there was a white wire dirrectly underneath the tank burned completely in half could this be what you were talking about ?

[TopCatGr58]

Scooters,

I'm talking about the two igntion spark plug wires on one coil! The spark travels from one thru the plug, engine, plug and back up the other wire back to the coil. That's how it fires both plugs at the same time, but the other one is a wasted spark firing on the exhaust cycle of the "other" cylinder.

That white wire may be your tach lead, but nothing to do with the coils!

I also merged these two threads. When you are troubleshooting a problem, you need to keep posting WITHIN the same thread so others can see what has been suggested and tried before so they can make better recommendations without repeating info already posted which could be missed IF it's spread out over several threads on the same topic!? Thanks!
T.C.

[xsscooters]

sorry

I acidently posted in the wrong place .

[xsscooters]

wire

This wire actually plugs directly into the right hand coil . I traced into the main harness but it did'nt seem to be for the tac.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Scoots,

If you could please EDIT your profile to include the Year and MODEL of your bike, or add it to your signature, that would be very helpful in the future. It's tough for us to keep everybody's bike specs straight ...that CRS problem you know!

I don't have a wiring diagram in front of me or on my laptop right now. It could be the resistor bypass from the TCI for starting? You could put a voltmeter on it to check it!?
T.C.

[xsscooters]

profile

I put it in my profile its an 80 model special

[TopCatGr58]

Okay, thanks!

Not sure if you've seen this link , but you can get a copy of the wiring diagram. I just looked at it, and the white wire is the latching wire for the headlight relay. It doesn't belong connected to the coils. The coils should only have the red/white power lead, and the Orange and or Gray wires going to the TCI. Not sure what the PO did with your machine!?

I'd check that wire with the ignition switch on, but engine off, and then with it removed from the coil, and with engine running to see how many volts are coming thru it? If 12, then it may be what has happened to the coils, burning them out since it could have bypassed the resistor circuit? The resistor may have already been bad and not passing current, and the PO found a wire with 12 volts to power the coils, but may not have realized that they weren't supposed to get the full 12 volts!?
T.C.

[TopCatGr58]

PS,

Didn't you have a problem with your headlight not coming on?
BINGO!
T.C.

[xsscooters]

wire

after closer inspection the wire is actually a light gray color with a white stripe i just looked at it. This wire was really fried almost like it was blown in half. I'll check the volts going to it tomorrow.

[xsscooters]

headlight

Have'nt had a problem with the headlight . So far i guess thats actually about the only thing i have'nt had a problem with.

[TopCatGr58]

Re: wire

Originally posted by xsscooters
after closer inspection the wire is actually a light gray color with a white stripe i just looked at it. This wire was really fried almost like it was blown in half. I'll check the volts going to it tomorrow.

A-ha!!

It won't measure any voltage when it's pulled from the coils! It's the trigger wire for the coils for the TCI! You should be able to just splice in a good piece of wire where it's melted/broken.

However, even with it not communicating with the TCI properly should have caused problems with a matching pair of wires for a coil, either 1-4 or 2-3, but would not affect cylinders 1-2 cause they are not linked by the coils!
T.C.