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  • #1

    No Spark

    Well I decided to reinstall my air box, got the carbs back on put new fuel lines on and filters on the rear petcock to the octopuss on each side. It started up. I took it out and was amazed at how well it ran. I rode to a gas station about five miles from my house that has non ethanol premium gas, I filled it up and rode home. I'm all happy because I'm planning to wash it and go out for a Sunday afternoon ride, first one of the year. After I changed and was going to pull it out of the garage to wash it. Won't start, I believe I have no spark. It was running so smooth no sputtering. I repaired the 4 pickup wires, put in née coils from Mikes xs, new wires and plugs. I checked the fuses they are good. I pulled a plug and turned it over but no spark. Any suggestions? I am so frustrated.
    Thank You,
    79 XS1100SF
    79 XS1100SF parts
    79 RD400F Daytona Special
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Might check the handlebar kill switch.

    On second thought, I don't think it would turn over at all if it was the kill switch. Might be time to get out the multitester. And you might try tracing the red wire with the white stripe - it supplies the juice to the coils.
    I think I have a loose screw behind the handlebars.

    '79 XS11 Standard, Jardine 4/1, Dyna DC1-1 Coils, 145 mains, 45 pilots, plastic floats - 25.7mm, XV920 fuel valves, inline fuel filters, speed bleeders, Mikes XS pods, spade-type fuse block, fork brace, progressive fork springs/shocks, manual petcocks, 750 FD, Venture cam chain tensioner, SS brake lines

    Comment

    • #3
      Thanks I guess I have to get out the meter. I just don't inderstand it was running amazingly, it was like riding a brand new bike, then I park it in the garage shut it off, change my clothes come back out won't start. Not making sense to me.
      79 XS1100SF
      79 XS1100SF parts
      79 RD400F Daytona Special

      Comment

      • #4
        If you still have the OEM glass tube type fuse panel I would bet you either have a bad fuse or a bad fuse connection.
        Greg

        Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

        ― Albert Einstein

        80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

        The list changes.

        Comment

        • #5
          Hey Ron,

          We are also wondering why you would put on MikesXS coils? We editted the original MikeXS coils tip and gave it a THUMBS DOWN later due to them using cheap chinese crap coils that they won't even warranty!

          Also, which coils did you get....3 ohm or 1.5 ohm? If 3 ohm type, then did you bypass the Ballast Resistor?

          As other have already alluded to, the kill switch on the handlebar, glass fuses, but also the main key switch/contacts are another source. Need to use the multimeter and trace the ignition circuit to verify power to the components.

          You say you fixed the PU coils.... did you use TEST METER leads for the wires? Did you solder the connections or crimp? Regular wire and solder joints fail quickly with this repair!

          T.C.
          T. C. Gresham
          81SH "Godzilla" . . .1179cc super-rat.
          79SF "The Teacher" . . .basket case!
          History shows again and again,
          How nature points out the folly of men!

          Comment

          • #6
            Originally posted by Roncoach70 View Post
            Well I decided to reinstall my air box, got the carbs back on put new fuel lines on and filters on the rear petcock to the octopuss on each side. It started up. I took it out and was amazed at how well it ran. I rode to a gas station about five miles from my house that has non ethanol premium gas, I filled it up and rode home. I'm all happy because I'm planning to wash it and go out for a Sunday afternoon ride, first one of the year. After I changed and was going to pull it out of the garage to wash it. Won't start, I believe I have no spark. It was running so smooth no sputtering. I repaired the 4 pickup wires, put in née coils from Mikes xs, new wires and plugs. I checked the fuses they are good. I pulled a plug and turned it over but no spark. Any suggestions? I am so frustrated.
            Thank You,
            EASY.......you've also lost some important grounding connections.
            Motoman's Better Half ! & Southwest Rally Den Mother

            Comment

            • #7
              I bought the coils from Mikes before I found you guys. My bad I asked them which coils to use 17-6803 2.5 ohm coils. I did not bypass the ballast resistor, where is it? I bought a replacement fuse panel from Mikes. When I was doing the pickup coil repairs i soldered in 16 gauge automotive wire and then put shrinks wrap over them.
              Where do I go from here guys
              Thanks guys I appreciate your continued help. I can't believe how great it was running.
              Thank you
              79 XS1100SF
              79 XS1100SF parts
              79 RD400F Daytona Special

              Comment

              • #8
                Originally posted by Roncoach70 View Post
                I bought the coils from Mikes before I found you guys. My bad I asked them which coils to use 17-6803 2.5 ohm coils. I did not bypass the ballast resistor, where is it? I bought a replacement fuse panel from Mikes. When I was doing the pickup coil repairs i soldered in 16 gauge automotive wire and then put shrinks wrap over them.
                Where do I go from here guys
                Thanks guys I appreciate your continued help. I can't believe how great it was running.
                Thank you
                The ballast resistor is bolted to the left-hand side of the frame under the gas tank. You can unplug it, remove it, and just plug the remaining wires into themselves. Dunno about 2.5 ohm coils, though - supposed to be 1.5 with the BR, and 3 without it.

                I had the Mikes XS 3 ohm black coils - they lasted for seven thousand miles. The Green Mikes coils drew too much voltage and acted like a rev limiter. Got Dyna DC1-1 on it now, and everything is copacetic.

                The ballast resistor looks like this -

                I think I have a loose screw behind the handlebars.

                '79 XS11 Standard, Jardine 4/1, Dyna DC1-1 Coils, 145 mains, 45 pilots, plastic floats - 25.7mm, XV920 fuel valves, inline fuel filters, speed bleeders, Mikes XS pods, spade-type fuse block, fork brace, progressive fork springs/shocks, manual petcocks, 750 FD, Venture cam chain tensioner, SS brake lines

                Comment

                • #9
                  TC
                  Should I get dyna coils do you know part number?
                  When you say test meter lead wire. Do you mean use the leads off a meter or do they sell test meter wire? Should I have just used crimped butt connectors at the pickup wires?
                  Lastly is the ballast resistor on the left side under the tank. Should I have eliminated this?
                  Have I killed my beloved xs? I'm felling very stupid now.
                  Thanks for the help.
                  79 XS1100SF
                  79 XS1100SF parts
                  79 RD400F Daytona Special

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    DB
                    Thanks I was wondering what that was. The coils are mikes part no. 17-6803. Their web site says 2.5 ohms. Thanks again.
                    79 XS1100SF
                    79 XS1100SF parts
                    79 RD400F Daytona Special

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Hey Ron,

                      No sweat, you're not the first one. I got them also, and others got the more $$ green ones, but for the other folks, they found them burning up around 10K miles or about 1 years worth of riding. I only put about 2500 miles a year, so it took 4 years before mine failed!!! SO...they will work for a while, but most likely will burn up also....but you'll have some time before you'll need to invest in the better DynaTek or Accel ones....OR...you can get some from a Honda VF1000 bike...they work also but you will be dealing with used coils, and I don't recall how many KV they are. The OEM are ~15Kv, the Green MikesXs ones are suppose to be 30Kv. I KNOW my DynaTek are 30Kv, and they came with a 1 year warranty!

                      How did you learn about doing the PU coil wire repair??

                      Here's the Tech Tip on how to do it "right"!
                      http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=543

                      Here's the ballast Resistor....on the frame just under the left tank rubber mount! There's a 2 wire connector, you just need to connect the 2 wires on the HARNESS together when you unplug it.


                      Yes, you can find ~2.5 to 3 ohms on the new coils.

                      T.C.
                      T. C. Gresham
                      81SH "Godzilla" . . .1179cc super-rat.
                      79SF "The Teacher" . . .basket case!
                      History shows again and again,
                      How nature points out the folly of men!

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        T.C. That is the post I used for the pickup wire repair. They soldiered the wire that's why I did it and I don't remember it saying anything about using test lead wire. So should I redo what I did with crimped connectors and test lead wire.
                        Thanks .
                        79 XS1100SF
                        79 XS1100SF parts
                        79 RD400F Daytona Special

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          I will also disconnect the ballast resistor now and see if it helps.
                          79 XS1100SF
                          79 XS1100SF parts
                          79 RD400F Daytona Special

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            the Green MikesXs ones are suppose to be 30Kv
                            The Green Mikes coils I've got are 45Kv, and they said they could go as high as 75Kv. There's hot, and then there's too hot - I think they just suck too much electricity. The 30Kv Dyna's work a lot better on Betsy.
                            I think I have a loose screw behind the handlebars.

                            '79 XS11 Standard, Jardine 4/1, Dyna DC1-1 Coils, 145 mains, 45 pilots, plastic floats - 25.7mm, XV920 fuel valves, inline fuel filters, speed bleeders, Mikes XS pods, spade-type fuse block, fork brace, progressive fork springs/shocks, manual petcocks, 750 FD, Venture cam chain tensioner, SS brake lines

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              TC - what burns up if you run 3 ohm coils with the ballast resistor in place - the coils or something else?
                              I think I have a loose screw behind the handlebars.

                              '79 XS11 Standard, Jardine 4/1, Dyna DC1-1 Coils, 145 mains, 45 pilots, plastic floats - 25.7mm, XV920 fuel valves, inline fuel filters, speed bleeders, Mikes XS pods, spade-type fuse block, fork brace, progressive fork springs/shocks, manual petcocks, 750 FD, Venture cam chain tensioner, SS brake lines

                              Comment

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