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  • Accel coil mounting revisited

    I just came by a pair of new Accel coils and have started installing them.

    I searched though the posts regarding this project and could not find anything to confirm my mounting position.

    I have used the original holes in the coils core to attach them directly to the original mounts in the frame. This puts the leads coming off pointing horizontally out to each side. I found that after cutting off the top of the round fuel tank mounts for the rubber bumpers (but not the bumpers) there is a good half inch minimum air space from any grounded metal objects and the outside of the coil lead boots. Is this enough?

    This results in a super clean installation with no extra brackets or fixtures.

    Also are there any other things to keep in mind with the coil upgrade? I did not get any instructions with them. I read somewhere that larger jetting may be required. Also some of the posts mentioned the ballast resistor. What's up with that?

    Thanks
    Kawasaki 74 XL400S, 83 550 GPz
    Honda 86 GL1200, 80 XL500S, 82 750 Nighthawk
    Yamaha 78 XS1100E, 80 XS1100G, 92 YZ80
    Suzuki 82 GS650L

  • #2
    The ballast resistor (if you have one) is mounted to the underside of the top frame rail, just under the left side of the tank.

    I'm sure 1/2" of space is plenty. Did you take some pictures of your mounting method? Please show us how you did it!
    1980 XS850SG - Sold
    1981 XS1100LH Midnight Special (Sold) - purchased 9/29/08
    Fully Vetterized and Dynojet Kit added, Heated Grips, Truck-Lite LED headlight, Accel Coils, Irridium plugs, TKAT Fork Brace, XS850LH Final Drive & Black SS Brake lines from Chacal.
    Here's my web page devoted to my bike! XS/XJ User's Manuals there, and the XJ1100 Service Manual and both XS1100 Service manuals (free download!).

    Whether you think you can, or you think you cannot - You're right.
    -H. Ford

    Comment


    • #3
      Your Accel coils should be 3 ohm, so if your bike is an 80 or earlier, unplug the ballast and plug the two main harness ends together bypassing it.
      2H7 (79) owned since '89
      3H3 owned since '06

      "If it ain't broke, modify it"

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by bg241ihc View Post
        ...I found that after cutting off the top of the round fuel tank mounts for the rubber bumpers (but not the bumpers) there is a good half inch minimum air space from any grounded metal objects and the outside of the coil lead boots. Is this enough?

        Also are there any other things to keep in mind with the coil upgrade? I did not get any instructions with them. I read somewhere that larger jetting may be required. Also some of the posts mentioned the ballast resistor. What's up with that?
        Should be enough room, but if you have any trouble with misfire, that's the first place I'd look. As far as jetting, you could possibly go up a jet size, but don't need to.

        Ballast resistor? What year is your bike? (This is why it's handy to have that in your sig or mentioned). If you have a '78 or '79, you should have a 1.5 ohm ballast resistor and 1.5 ohm coils if everything is stock. The '80-82 bikes have 3 ohm coils and no resistor. The early bikes bypass the resistor for starting, then switch back though it showing the ignition box a 3 ohm load. As far as I know, all the aftermarket coils are 3 ohm (but do check; running too-low ohm coils without the resistor will smoke the TCI box) so you need to take the ballast resistor out of the circuit.
        Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

        '78E original owner - resto project
        '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
        '82 XJ rebuild project
        '80SG restified, red SOLD
        '79F parts...
        '81H more parts...

        Other current bikes:
        '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
        '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
        '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
        Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
        Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

        Comment


        • #5
          Thanks for the tips.

          I will post some pictures tomorrow. The bike I have is a 1980. I did locate the resistor and will check it to be sure.
          Kawasaki 74 XL400S, 83 550 GPz
          Honda 86 GL1200, 80 XL500S, 82 750 Nighthawk
          Yamaha 78 XS1100E, 80 XS1100G, 92 YZ80
          Suzuki 82 GS650L

          Comment


          • #6
            Sorry for the lack of etiquette on the signature. I thought I had fixed that. Lets see if this works.
            Kawasaki 74 XL400S, 83 550 GPz
            Honda 86 GL1200, 80 XL500S, 82 750 Nighthawk
            Yamaha 78 XS1100E, 80 XS1100G, 92 YZ80
            Suzuki 82 GS650L

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by bg241ihc View Post
              ... The bike I have is a 1980. I did locate the resistor and will check it to be sure.
              If it's a '80, it shouldn't have the resistor (although Yamaha has been known to blur model-year changes, with things appearing after they were supposedly gone). Here's a link to a pic of it....
              http://www.benefiscal.co.uk/showpic....0-01-00 -1.jpg

              Or a PO may have swapped some parts around; that's common enough...
              Last edited by crazy steve; 01-04-2011, 12:06 PM.
              Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

              '78E original owner - resto project
              '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
              '82 XJ rebuild project
              '80SG restified, red SOLD
              '79F parts...
              '81H more parts...

              Other current bikes:
              '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
              '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
              '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
              Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
              Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

              Comment


              • #8
                My bad.... the Clymer wiring diagrams show all of the XS models have the resistor, not just the '78-79. That can't be right, is it???
                Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

                '78E original owner - resto project
                '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
                '82 XJ rebuild project
                '80SG restified, red SOLD
                '79F parts...
                '81H more parts...

                Other current bikes:
                '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
                '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
                '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
                Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
                Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by crazy steve View Post
                  My bad.... the Clymer wiring diagrams show all of the XS models have the resistor, not just the '78-79. That can't be right, is it???
                  All but the 81's have the resistor. 81 was the first year to get rid of it stock and also removed the centrifugal advance and moved that to th TCI (interesting that the 80 XS400 had the timing curve it the TCI beating the 1100 by a year)/
                  Cy

                  1980 XS1100G (Brutus) w/81H Engine
                  Duplicolor Mirage Paint Job (Purple/Green)
                  Vetter Windjammer IV
                  Vetter hard bags & Trunk
                  OEM Luggage Rack
                  Jardine Spaghetti 4-2 exhaust system
                  Spade Fuse Box
                  Turn Signal Auto Cancel Mod
                  750 FD Mod
                  TC Spin on Oil Filter Adapter (temp removed)
                  XJ1100 Front Footpegs
                  XJ1100 Shocks

                  I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Here are the pix of my coil installation. After reviewing my "Good half inch" I decided it was more like a good quarter inch, so instead of using the rear mounting hole I rested the core on top of the rear bolt with a small spacer on each side to give added support and snugged up the front mounting bolt which should hold it in place as good as necessary.
                    Last edited by bg241ihc; 01-05-2011, 08:31 AM.
                    Kawasaki 74 XL400S, 83 550 GPz
                    Honda 86 GL1200, 80 XL500S, 82 750 Nighthawk
                    Yamaha 78 XS1100E, 80 XS1100G, 92 YZ80
                    Suzuki 82 GS650L

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Can't use Facebook to post pics. Gotta use a site like Photobucket.
                      Nathan
                      KD9ARL

                      μολὼν λαβέ

                      1978 XS1100E
                      K&N Filter
                      #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
                      OEM Exhaust
                      ATK Fork Brace
                      LED Dash lights
                      Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters

                      Green Monster Coils
                      SS Brake Lines
                      Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

                      In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

                      Theodore Roosevelt

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        I see that it did not work, My image URL is

                        http://picasaweb.google.com/bg241ihc...07123530670754
                        Kawasaki 74 XL400S, 83 550 GPz
                        Honda 86 GL1200, 80 XL500S, 82 750 Nighthawk
                        Yamaha 78 XS1100E, 80 XS1100G, 92 YZ80
                        Suzuki 82 GS650L

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Once you put the boots and wires on the coils are you going to clear the actual tank by very much? It is hard to tell from the angle of the pic.
                          2-79 XS1100 SF
                          2-78 XS1100 E Best bike Ever
                          80 XS 1100 SG Big bore kit but not fully running yet.
                          Couple of more parts bikes of which 2 more will live!

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            It will be inside the metal tank mount shown by the 1/2 inch I mentioned so with the rubber bumper in place there will be plenty of clearance and insulation around the boot for the plug wire. I will try to add some shots that more clearly show the detail with the bumper in place which should indicate the clearance to the inside of the gas tank itself.

                            BTW, Changed the image to photo bucket and it now displays fine. If someone can delete the 2 posts regarding the problem, feel free.
                            Kawasaki 74 XL400S, 83 550 GPz
                            Honda 86 GL1200, 80 XL500S, 82 750 Nighthawk
                            Yamaha 78 XS1100E, 80 XS1100G, 92 YZ80
                            Suzuki 82 GS650L

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              You will need to increase the gap on your spark plugs.
                              Dave
                              1979 XS1100SF Special

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