GS850G Won't Start, Electrical Issue, No Spark

[chuck hahn]

Dandypop.. heres my angle. WHY spend 100 on anything off ebay and have it be bad or not solve anything when for another 60 or 70 bucks just go dyna and know absolutely youll never have to deal with obsolete ignition crap again. Now if you just wat to spend double eventually them go for it. And i have never bought dyna coils just because i went to dyna ignition..EVER!!! I use the stock coils and havent had an issue so dont buy into the you must use dyna coils bullcrap.

[dandypop]

Dandypop.. heres my angle. WHY spend 100 on anything off ebay and have it be bad or not solve anything when for another 60 or 70 bucks just go dyna and know absolutely youll never have to deal with obsolete ignition crap again. Now if you just wat to spend double eventually them go for it. And i have never bought dyna coils just because i went to dyna ignition..EVER!!! I use the stock coils and havent had an issue so dont buy into the you must use dyna coils bullcrap.

You convinced me. It's on the way.

[Nessism]

Is your bike an 850G or 850GL? Reason for asking, the G model has the ignition advance built into the ignitor, while the GL uses the older style ignitor with a centrifugal advance unit. The Dyna S requires a mechanical advance unit. You can retrofit one from a different bike even if you have a G model bike. The advance units are fairly common, and fit a bunch of different bikes, so finding one shouldn't be overly difficult.

[dandypop]

It is a G. I guess I’m going to have to wait a little longer to get this thing back on the road! do you know what years or models have an interchangeable part? If you don’t off the top of your head I’ll do some research and find it. I sure appreciate your help!

[chuck hahn]

what year is it. one post stated it has the mechanical advance..yes? IF SO, you just put their rotor on . Set the F mark on the 1-4 marks on the timing indicator and the rotor should be pointing to the left. If its pointing right refit the rotor on the advance. Then line up the rotor flat metal tab to the pickup to static time it. I use a sharpie to mark the pick up to make it easy to line them up. You start it and use timing light to fine set timing on 1-4 mark first. Then check 2-3 but theyre usually spot on and theb 2-3 pick up doesnt need adjusted. Do you have part 5 here already? if yes youre all set.

1980 Suzuki GS850G Signal Generator | Part Shark

[chuck hahn]

As for your question about replacing the signal generator. Yes the stock rotor and pick ups go away along with the igniter box. Wire it like i said above. RED to any switched 12 volt wire. I splice into one of the hot leads going to one of the coils. The black and white wires are the signal wires going directly to the coils. I dont remember which color goes to which coil but as i said if it sputters and pops trying to start or wont do anything then switch the black and white wires around.

EDIT.. Look at the color wire going to each pickup. That will probably tell which color goes to which coil

[Nessism]

Maybe, maybe, this one? Looks like there will be a tariff fee, but it shouldn't be too much considering the cost.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/266942749529

[chuck hahn]

His one posts says something about leaving the advance mechanism that there so i asked for clarification.

[Nessism]

His one posts says something about leaving the advance mechanism that there so i asked for clarification.

Look at his signature.

[chuck hahn]

What are you seeing that im not. Other than post 4 talking about the manual years and post 15 asking about keeping the existing advance mechanism are contradictory. So i also asked what year it is. What im reading isnt conclusive one way or the other to me.
So what i want clarified is it an 83 as mentioned in post 4 or does it have a existing mechanical advance. It cat be goth.

[Nessism]

Screenshot 2025-09-14 073205 by nessism, on Flickr

[chuck hahn]

Im not seeing any of that on any of his posts or by clicking his name and viewing the user profile. Oh well.......this is all i see, not fighting about it. I just cant see what your posting .


dandypop
Forum Apprentice

• Join Date: Jan 2025
• Posts: 26
• Location: Mt. Pleasant, Utah

[Nessism]

Im not seeing any of that on any of his posts or by clicking his name and viewing the user profile. Oh well.......this is all i see, not fighting about it. I just cant see what your posting .

Go into your profile, and turn ON, signature viewing. You may have the feature turned off in your profile.

Screenshot 2025-09-14 091943 by nessism, on Flickr

[chuck hahn]

It was off. Good thing im an excellent wrench because tech stuff is beyond me. Thanks Ed

[dandypop]

Thanks, guys. You are both awesome for even taking the time to talk about my problems.

Mine's an '83 850G, which does not have the mechanical advance. I spent some time last night trying to learn which might be compatible. Looks like the '83 GL, as well as a few older bikes like the '80 GS1000E used the same part (#33120-45110). So, I'm back to spending @$100 (maybe a little less, depending on customs) for a 40-year-old part so I can modernize it.