Intermittent loss of power

[CatatonicBug]

Marshall, you did check that mid way connector in the PU coil harness for corrosion/looseness right?

I never found a mid-way connector. I looked at the connectors behind the fuse panel, but none of the wire colors match.

I noticed immediately after taking the iridium plugs out that the CB radio now gets a LOT of ticking noise that was not there before. The resistance obviously was helping to reduce that noise. If I remove the resistor wires, I'm afraid it will render my radio useless!

[BA80]

I never found a mid-way connector. I looked at the connectors behind the fuse panel, but none of the wire colors match.

Follow the harness from the left cover. it's the only 5 wire connector back there. Actually a 6 wire connector but there's only 5 in there

I noticed immediately after taking the iridium plugs out that the CB radio now gets a LOT of ticking noise that was not there before. The resistance obviously was helping to reduce that noise. If I remove the resistor wires, I'm afraid it will render my radio useless!

CB radio! 1972 called and it wants it's technology back.

[bikerphil]

I never found a mid-way connector. I looked at the connectors behind the fuse panel, but none of the wire colors match

Yep, it's the largest connector behind the fuse panel, clean/tighten that up and you may just get lucky.

Rodger 10-4 good buddy.

[CatatonicBug]

Ok, I re-looked behind the fuse panel today, and located the 6-wire connector (with 5 wires in it). I will play with that tonight. The thing that bugs me about this one though is that when I ohm'd those wires (from the TCI, through that connector, through the pickup coils, back through that connector, and back to the TCI), it all looks good.

Don't dis the CB! Though it may be tech that was invented many decades ago, they are still installed on the newest Goldwings. I have it set up so I can connect my cell to it for turn-by-turn directions or music. The CB has helped me avoid some traffic messes listening to the truckers too!

In the midst of all of this, my cage decided it needed an ATF change. Wouldn't shift past 3rd gear. That was last night's project. Now, back to the bike for tonight.

[bikerphil]

The thing that bugs me about this one though is that when I ohm'd those wires (from the TCI, through that connector, through the pickup coils, back through that connector, and back to the TCI), it all looks good

Yes, but you have an intermittent problem, it may test fine with the meter in the shop, but the connection could somehow become broken under riding conditions.

[TopCatGr58]

Still say to dump the plug wires, check the caps to see if they are resistor, keep them if they are. You could still use resistor plugs, but the resistor wires are just too much, and they don't hold up like the solid wire core type. With resistor caps and plugs, that may be enough to cut down on the RF for your CB radio/music system? CZ and Steve could probably tell you other ways you could insulate your CB from RF without hampering your ignition with so much inline resistance....like putting the CB inside a metal box to stop/capture the RF and send it to ground.

T.C.

[dbeardslee]

Still say to dump the plug wires, check the caps to see if they are resistor, keep them if they are. You could still use resistor plugs, but the resistor wires are just too much, and they don't hold up like the solid wire core type. With resistor caps and plugs, that may be enough to cut down on the RF for your CB radio/music system? CZ and Steve could probably tell you other ways you could insulate your CB from RF without hampering your ignition with so much inline resistance....like putting the CB inside a metal box to stop/capture the RF and send it to ground.

T.C.

Measured cold he had 12K ohms secondary resistance on the coils, another 10k through the wires, and another 10k from the resistor plugs. 32k ohms resistance total. His caps are automotive type zero ohm where there's a crimp on connection on the wire that clips over the "knob" on the plugs. He replaced the plugs with non-resistor type which brought the total down to 22k ohm secondary resistance, but I don't think he's checked that resistance with the coils hot and the problem exhibiting itself.

[CatatonicBug]

The plug caps are just crimped metal ends on the wires. I crimped them myself. The wires and terminals came with the coils. The "caps" are just rubber sheaths over that connection. Definitely no resistors there. Can I just go to an auto parts store and buy plug wires by the foot? The only way I've ever bought plug wires was as a pre-terminated kit.

I will do what I can to get the problem to resurface and re-check the coil resistance tonight.

The CB radio is a J&M handlebar-mounted unit. Not possible to put it in a box. I get a feeling the interference is coming through the electrical system. I know that when I plug a charger into the cig lighter in my fairing, and charge my phone, I get similar noise - though not nearly what I am getting now.

[dbeardslee]

The plug caps are just crimped metal ends on the wires. I crimped them myself. The wires and terminals came with the coils. The "caps" are just rubber sheaths over that connection. Definitely no resistors there. Can I just go to an auto parts store and buy plug wires by the foot? The only way I've ever bought plug wires was as a pre-terminated kit.

Yes, you can get it by the foot. I usually get mine in a universal plug wire set so I get the little rubber caps for a distributor that fit over the coil end of the wire as well as the crimp on terminal connectors. I get the cheapest 7mm solid core wires I can and have never had a problem out my wires.

[CatatonicBug]

7mm? Mine are 8.8mm. Does that matter?

[dbeardslee]

7mm? Mine are 8.8mm. Does that matter?

The "fat" wires usually have extra insulation, and sometimes wire wraps and other stuff under the insulation. But 7mm should work just fine. It's the inner core that's most important.

[dbeardslee]

I'll throw something else out there too - if you've got an O'Reilly around you they sell the zero ohm NGK caps with the weather boots for $1.39 ea. They screw in the end of your high tension wires, but you have to remove the little knobs on the plugs and they snap down on the plug's screw terminal.

[CatatonicBug]

Ok, looking at the Oreilly website, they have Accel Graphite wires (which I assume are just like what I have), copper core that are labeled as "for off-road use only", and Spiral core. Which one am I looking for?

[dbeardslee]

The ones I've been using are Standard Motor 2403W universal plug wire set. $14 for a set. I usually cut the spark plug boots off, but I guess you could leave them on and trim the coil end to length. That would give you an automotive type plug cap.



The wires that are labeled for "off road use only" sound like the ones you want. They're probably saying off road use because they're non-resistor wires, but if you run resistor caps or plugs it'll basically do the same thing as the resistor wires. When I bought my first set I just went through a number of universal plug wire sets at my local auto parts store and found some with a solid wire core.

O'Reilly also has an OmniSpark 9996 set for $9.99 that would probably fit the bill.



Or they sell the wires in bulk by the foot, but they don't always have the plain old solid core wire in stock.

[CatatonicBug]

Whatever I get needs to have a 90º cap on the coil end. I currently have a 90º cap on 2 of the plug ends (inside) and a less-angled (but not straight) cap on the outer plugs. I could probably get away with straight on all of the plugs, or use the 90º NGK caps you suggested on all 4.