Cylinder 2&3 issues, ignition?

[StoneAgeVulture]

Having issues with cylinders 2&3, they appear to be misfiring, yet I do have spark. Let me start from the beginning, on Saturday, I cleaned the bike, after cleaning it I rode it a little bit, it ran for a while afterwards, than I put it away. Monday, I pull the bike out and start it, immediately was running like a misfire, so I first started with the "steam" test, sprayed some water on the manifold pipes, 1 and 4 evaporated immediately, 2 and 3 did not. Checked the spark plugs and number 2 and 3 were a little wet and smelled like unburned fuel. I then removed #2 and #3 ignition wires and cranked the engine to check for spark, and I do have spark. I remove both ignition coils (they appear original) and did a visual inspection first, both look clean, no cracks, wires look ok. ohmed out the caps, those were in spec, ohmed out the ignition wires, those were in spec, ohmed out leads and those were also in spec. Went on to the pick-up coils, ohmed out both pick-up coils at the ignition module, those were within spec, checked for normal breakage and could not find any. Ran the engine while pulling on the wires every which way and didn't change anything. Does anyone have any ideas? Could it be possible that I just have a weak coil? Any help is appreciated!

[BigRed]

To check your coils, try swapping them and see if the problem moves to cylinders 1&4.

[CaptonZap]

To check your coils, try swapping them and see if the problem moves to cylinders 1&4.

That poses a problem with stock coil/wire sets, since the factory made the #2-3 wires shorter, and they won't quite reach #1-4 plugs.
Here is a down and dirty check. Take a safety pin and stick it through the grey wire coming out of the 8 connecter plug on the TCI. Get an analog volt meter. (needle type) Set it on 20 V DC, and hook the red lead to the safety pin, and the black lead to a good ground. Turn on the ignition, watch the needle, and it should indicate some voltage. Hit the start button, and watch the needle. It should bounce.
If it doesn't, the TCI has a fault.

CZ

[DGXSER]

I swear I have gotten the 2 and 3 plug wires to reach 1 and 4 before CZ. No longer have factory coils as all mine crapped out though.

[StoneAgeVulture]

Wow, I feel kinda like an idiot, first off let me say that I was unable to stretch #2 and 3 plug wires over to 1 and 4, but didn't need to do it anyway. I, for the hell of it, swapped spark plugs over from 1 to 2 and 3 to 4 and voila!, cylinders 2 and 3 are now firing, and 1 and 4 are cold. In my years of professional auto repair I have never seen 2 spark plugs go out at the same time like that. My only guess to what happened was maybe some water pooled around the spark plugs when I was washing it and it was enough to soak through the porcelain and create a misfire. Guess I over thought that one! Thanks for the help!

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Stoneage,

Don't beat yourself up too badly. The wash could have also caused a current leak on the plug coil wires shorting to ground which allowed weak/no spark and fouled the plugs. Our coils are a wasted spark system, they both fire at the same time, and are energized from 1 coil...thru 1 plug, thru engine and then up thru other plug. IF one gets shorted or fouled it can then prevent the spark from reaching the other plug...so both can get fouled at the same time! Glad you found the problem and that it was simple.....!

T.C.