Cold Running whoa's(A tale of two cylinders)

[MTaft]

Alright, I'm officially addicted to this bike. I've had Harlys, a v-max, an FZR 600, and a '73 Tx 650. This XS1100 is by far the my favorite to date, and it's thirty years old!!! Its 90% os fast as the V-Max and Handles 90% as well as the FZR, (w/ different handlebars, the original bars were like driving a tiller). Here's the problem; when I start my bike after not riding it for a couple days the 2+3 cylinders are not firing? About a mile down the road they kick in and the thing runs like a raped ape? I know that the coil is the same for these cyliders, but if its the coil than why would it all of the sudden work? Its not even that much of a problem but if there was a fix any one can think of I would love to hear it.

[randy]

Could be one of four things:

Coil

Pickup

TCI

Any connection in between

One of the above is reacting to the hot/cold cycling.

[Ken Talbot]

Here's a direct link to the pick-up coil wire repair article.

[MTaft]

Thanks for the reply, I checked the wires and I found one that was broke. I soldered the wire back together but it did the same thing. Once the bike is warm it purrs like a kitten though? I'm baffled?

[DiverRay]

check the TCI box solder joints, and then Replace the coils. You probably have the 2/3 coil with an internal open, and once it warms up and expands, it works. Just order two coils from mikexs.com, but DON'T tell them it's for an XS1100!!
If they have them, try this Part #17-6803, $34.00 each. If they are still back ordered, try this Part #17-6810, $69.00 each. They both work, and if you have a '78 or '79, just bypass the ballast resistor by unplugging it and plug the two ends of the harness into each other.

[Ken Talbot]

I found one that was broke. I soldered the wire back together but it did the same thing.

Maybe have another look. Often, there will be more than one break!

[MTaft]

So today I looked around the whole ingition system, the dang box under the seat was half unplugged! I have no idea how it got that way, but now the bike starts great. I'm glad i read the article on how to fix the pickup coil wires. Inevitably they would have fully broken at the worst time possible, so i suppose the ignition box being half unplugged was a blessing in disguise.