Coils

[BigRed]

Broken or grounded pick up coil wires is a really common problem, and cheap/free to fix. Have you looked under your timing cover yet?

[Edisto]

I checked the pick up coils as described in the repair section; there does not appear/feel like there is a broken wire, but I am going to put a multimeter on it just to be sure. I swapped out the 2/3 coil from my other XS, and I am getting sparks. Cranked her right up and she seems at least to be firing on all 4 cylinders. I am going to take her out for a spin in a bit to see how she runs under load and at higher rpms.

[FANNING507]

You guys are great. I've been fighting this same problem for a year. Last nite, pulled out the coils; tested them. Primary was good on both. Put the multimeter probes into the short caps (1 & 4) and got a 28 reading. Ahha, a bad coil I thinks. Took the caps off and one was loose, and corroded. Clipped off a 1/4" off each wire, stuck the probes into the wires and got a good reading. Put the old caps on, tested, and got the high reading again. Replaced with new caps, and got the lower reading.
At first, I thought it was a carb problem.
Second, I was convinced it was the pickup coil wire problem.
Third, I thought it was an ignition wire connection problem. I guess that one was right, but it was difficult to find. You never know. But fried one gremlin. And until I find the next one, it runs like a dream. No back fires now. I'm ready for a longer test ride now. Could only get about 5 miles earlier, before I was having trouble. You never know.

[Edisto]

Glad to know this thread helped someone else also!

The test ride went well. Now--to buy and install aftermarket coils on at least one of my bikes.