1979 xs1100s ignition issue

[dondons1984]

So newbie here. I got a pristine 1979 xs1100 that the owner wanted to just get rid of. After goi g through it. (Sat for 17 years but maintained also as in carbs rebuilt and drained and heated storage). I have tried to start it. I am not getting a spark with the grounding tried k of spark plug to the block and screw driver to the block. So do I have bad coils? Cause everything else works minus the headlight. Cause I can go buy new plugs if I need to. I just need to know if I need new coils or not.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Don,

Glad you got the registration confirmation email and have already posted!! WELCOME!

Do you have a multimeter?? Secondly, do you still have the OEM fuseblock with glass fuses? They can look good, but be bad, and the thin brass clips corrode, weaken and don't hold the fuse well causing loss of current flow.

With the bike sitting for 17 years, I'm pretty sure you got a NEW BATTERY for it, so you should have good voltage...the ignition system needs at least 11 volts during cranking/starting. Electrical gremlins are a big problem to getting the bike running, but the coils should not have gone bad just sitting. There are techniques for testing them with the multimeter. See the tech tips, along with downloading manuals from Catatonic Bug's website linked through his profile page here!!

Also use the multimeter/voltmeter to check for voltage on both sides of the fuses on the fuseblock...suspecting glass fuses!

That will get you started.

T.C.

[motoman]

Hey Don,

Glad you got the registration confirmation email and have already posted!! WELCOME!

Do you have a multimeter?? Secondly, do you still have the OEM fuseblock with glass fuses? They can look good, but be bad, and the thin brass clips corrode, weaken and don't hold the fuse well causing loss of current flow.

With the bike sitting for 17 years, I'm pretty sure you got a NEW BATTERY for it, so you should have good voltage...the ignition system needs at least 11 volts during cranking/starting. Electrical gremlins are a big problem to getting the bike running, but the coils should not have gone bad just sitting. There are techniques for testing them with the multimeter. See the tech tips, along with downloading manuals from Catatonic Bug's website linked through his profile page here!!

Also use the multimeter/voltmeter to check for voltage on both sides of the fuses on the fuseblock...suspecting glass fuses!

That will get you started.

T.C.

........and don't look for spark against motor without plugs in caps and grounded to motor. Apparently it can 'kill' the coils.

[dondons1984]

thanks guys for the advice. I am going to be looking into the fuses that are still factory. If it is just as simple as that then I am going to be riding in no time. I still cant believe I got this bike for 250.00 and it looks like it just came off the show room floor

[dondons1984]

also before I forget to mention I guess I am going to have to order a rebuild kit for my left side (sitting on bike) petcock cause I got a small drip that turns into a leak when I turn it to prime.

[dondons1984]

ok so cleaned all the electrical fuses (12v each one). I do have the tank off so I decided to put a little gas in were each spark plug goes. I hit the start button and it took a little but man it coughed like no other and seemed like it tried to turn over. Plus then the headlight kicked on.

[dondons1984]

ok so update. went to go start it after putting a little premium gas in the cylinders then put the spark plugs back on. went to go start it without the tank on since i have a leaky petcock and it almost turned over. now when I try sometimes I get a backfire that sounds like a damn tank went off and makes me jump every time. So here are the questions

Am I getting spark then?
Is there something clogging the exhaust?

I know I am not getting fuel so I am going to focus on the petcock but what does this sound like to everyone else? Do I need to focus on other stuff also? timing?

[dondons1984]

here is a link to the bike when it was in the back of my truck

http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/do...?sort=3&page=1

[bikerphil]

If it sat for 17 years, the carbs most definitely will need cleaning, have you done that?

Edit: I see that they have been drained, so they shouldn't be too bad. Does it run with the choke but not run with the choke off?

[dondons1984]

They have been rebuilt professionally

[oldyam80sg]

Rebuilt by who?-best thing to do is get on other parts of this site that deal with carb cleaning and do them yourself.Don't trust anyone to rebuild them as many have seen broken float bowl posts,broken tips of needles and wrong parts put on.For years i relied on a guy by me who had a shop-long story but that shop closed up,and there is not too many places around that have people that can actually work on them that know these bikes.Most shops wont even touch a bike this old.This site is the best for knowledge.

[dondons1984]

old plugs

So my 791100s sat for 17 years. Spark plugs look black and I am wondering can they go bad after time? Is that why my bike tries to start but wont ?

[motoman]

So my 791100s sat for 17 years. Spark plugs look black and I am wondering can they go bad after time? Is that why my bike tries to start but wont ?

That and carbs plugged up tighter than a drum after 17yrs. sitting........

[BA80]

So my 791100s sat for 17 years. Spark plugs look black and I am wondering can they go bad after time? Is that why my bike tries to start but wont ?

Triple clean on the carbs and new plugs are in your future.

How does that fuel tank look after 17 years? That'll be how those carbs look inside. Clean 'em both GOOD.

[dondons1984]

Carbs have been rebuilt. So spark plugs are probably my problem?