Ignition question

[choppers6969]

Hi i have a question,I need to put a ignition on my 82 xj1100,but the only one i can find is for a 80 xs1100.My question is will this ignition work on my bike,the number on my ignition is Tid14-10 and the number on the one im looking at is tid14-01 what is the differance.

[randy]

Don't. It will run, but you won't have any ignition advance and you won't be pleased with the performance. The early bikes (78-80) used mechanical advance under the timing plate. The later bikes (81-up) used electronic advance built into the TCI box. Some of the XJ's also used a vacuum controlled 'boost sensor' electrically connected to the TCI box. You COULD swap everything form an early bike onto your XJ (timing plate, advance mechanism, TCI) and dump the boost sensor and it will be right as rain, but mix and match is a disaster.

[choppers6969]

another ignition question

I have another question,if the ignition is bad will cause one of the coils not to fire. I thought it was the coils so i bought some coils and still have the same truble only getting fire on #1 and # 4 cylinders no fire on #2 and #3 any sugestions>

[bikerphil]

no fire on #2 and #3 any sugestions>

Might want to check the pick-up coil wires under the left ignition cover. They tend to break inside the insulation. They break more often on the XS models, but have been known to fail on the XJ's also. If you can keep the bike running, try lightly tugging on them and see if 2-3 will fire.

[choppers6969]

ignition needed!!!

Hi, I am looking for an cdi ignition box for a 82 xj1100 maxim,if anyone has one for sale you can email me at jettchoppers@yahoo.com or call me at 903-462-4554

[randy]

Coppers,

Before you shell out $$ for another USED box, try the solder fix. If you know how to use a soldering iron you can do it. The detais are on my website, link is in my profile.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Choppers,

It sounds like you may not have done enough diagnostics to truly determine if the TCI is bad, vs. another component of the ignition system!? As has been mentioned, the pickup coils on the left lower crank cover send the triggering signals TO the TCI. You can first try swapping the the ignition coil connections, IF the problem stays with the same pair of plug wires/coil, then you know it's not the ignition coils. You say you swapped out wome other ignition coils, and still have no spark on 2-3 coil. The next thing is to swap the PICKUP COIL wire connectors/inputs going to the TCI, IF the problem moves to the other igntion coil, then there is a problem with the Pickup coil, either the wires, or even a coil going bad. But if the problem stays with 2-3, then you've isolated it to the TCI. But as Randy said, corrosion and poor soldering is a common problem that can cause the TCI to not function right, and resweating the solder joints where the connect to the in/out pins on the circuit board will OFTEN fix the problem. The TCI's are fairly robust, and don't fry too often, vs. the solder joints going bad!

These TCI's are very RARE due to only 1 year of production run in USA, 3 years in Canada, but many less machines there. They have both the centrifugal and vacuum advance curves programmed into them, so that's why you can't use any other TCI without swapping in the older mechanical centrifugal and vacuum advance parts.

A fellow XJer did get a TCI from an 81 which uses a 4RO unit, which has the same internally programmed Cent. Adv. curves, but still uses the mechanical vac. adv., but just set the base timing a bit more advanced, and has reported that he has plenty of power and such, it just "may" not have as much smooth driveability without the vac. adv/retard function, and also a little less mileage. However the 4RO boxes are also from a 1 year production run as well, so also fairly rare and almost as $$!
T.C.