1983 GS450 GA Ignition/Coils questions

**tom203** · 10-13-2012, 05:46 AM

"I have been considering replacing this with a Dyna S ignition. But I'm unsure what I'm looking at. I THINK this is an Ignition Advance Sensor and pickup coil rotor."

You're looking at plate with signal generator coils mounted on it. These coils trigger your ignitor ( cigarette pack size box) to fire spark plugs at right time. On this year/model, the advance curve is built into ignitor. I think the dyna needs the older system with advance achieved by spinning weights under the signal generator plate.
Does your current setup work, i.e. spark at plugs?

**Guest** · 10-13-2012, 06:43 AM

I suspect you'd be better off hunting down a more modern GS500 ignition setup and coils.

I'm led to believe they are essentially the same as the 83 and onwards 450's with their electronic advance setup.

The DS3-3C kit from Dynatek requires mechanical advance, so that's a no go unless you retrofit a mechanical advance setup from the 80 - 82 450's.

**AngeloBj** · 10-13-2012, 12:20 PM

Thanks Pete!

Originally posted by tom203

"I have been considering replacing this with a Dyna S ignition. But I'm unsure what I'm looking at. I THINK this is an Ignition Advance Sensor and pickup coil rotor."

You're looking at plate with signal generator coils mounted on it. These coils trigger your ignitor ( cigarette pack size box) to fire spark plugs at right time. On this year/model, the advance curve is built into ignitor. I think the dyna needs the older system with advance achieved by spinning weights under the signal generator plate.
Does your current setup work, i.e. spark at plugs?

Yes. And I've got no issues leaving it be, except for the cois, I have to replace the coils since I F'ed em up.

**JEEPRUSTY** · 10-13-2012, 01:23 PM

Originally posted by pete

I suspect you'd be better off hunting down a more modern GS500 ignition setup and coils.

I'm led to believe they are essentially the same as the 83 and onwards 450's with their electronic advance setup.

The DS3-3C kit from Dynatek requires mechanical advance, so that's a no go unless you retrofit a mechanical advance setup from the 80 - 82 450's.

The pick up coils shown are identical to the ones used on the 83-86 550s
The Gs 500s used these also. I think they still do even now. The rotor changed over time and now only one pickup coil is used though it is again identical to the ones pictured.

Knowing this should increase your sources for used parts if nothing else.

**JEEPRUSTY** · 10-13-2012, 01:26 PM

the latter looks like this

Pardon Our Interruption...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/06-Suzuki-GS500F-GS500-500-IGNITION-PICKUP-PULSE-GENERATOR-/200824537956?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ec2134364&vxp=mtr

**Guest** · 10-13-2012, 02:57 PM

Thanks for the info Jeep, I've only gone by word of mouth so far and some part numbers, but it's good to physically see it!

A useless piece of trivia for you... that eBay seller Pinwall is where I got my later GSXR left control block to get my 'bar mounted choke lever...

**AngeloBj** · 10-14-2012, 02:51 AM

So it would seem an aftermarket ignition is unnecessary and also, out of the question, now I have to decide on coils...

Thanks everyone for all the input!

**earlfor** · 10-14-2012, 08:52 PM

Originally posted by AngeloBj

So it would seem an aftermarket ignition is unnecessary and also, out of the question, now I have to decide on coils...

Thanks everyone for all the input!

The space available for coils on the 450 is pretty small. The Accel coils are too big to fit in the space. The Dyna 3 ohm coils are quite a bit smaller than the Accel and still a tight fit.

**AngeloBj** · 10-15-2012, 01:37 AM

Originally posted by earlfor

The space available for coils on the 450 is pretty small. The Accel coils are too big to fit in the space. The Dyna 3 ohm coils are quite a bit smaller than the Accel and still a tight fit.

Thanks for the heads up!

I got rid of the airbox for some pods...Ya I'm that guy.

So I have some space to relocate them but I don't want to add TOO much length to the plug cables.

Are the Dyna coils a decent buy? I've hears that they don't last. But I'm a newbie at this game.

**barnbiketom** · 10-15-2012, 06:16 AM

find some stock coils.

it will run forever

**SchoolDaGeek** · 10-24-2012, 02:01 PM

Was going to start my own thread but found this one so I will just piggyback.

I recently bought a 1983 GS450GA that was fried electrically. The stupid design of the third leg of the A/C generator lead going up all the way into the headlight and then turning around and traveling all the way back to the R/R had created enough resistance that it had burned through the wire and exterior wrap underneath the tank, and melted the connector in the headlight.

This had a domino effect on the R/R which then started putting out what I measured to be 19V. It also charred the main ground lead from the battery to the frame. Of course the prior owner did not find the burned A/C leg and simply wrapped up the charred ground wire with electrical tape.

I took off the harness and unwrapped most of it on the bench, cleaned and repaired all the contacts and eliminated the long leg of the third A/C lead so that all three legs had the same distance to travel to the R/R. I upgraded the R/R with a Shindegren unit of a VFX800 and used the extra source wire to measure the voltage at the High/Low beam switch so that the R/R could adjust for the wattage on High beam. Wrapped everything back up and put it on the bike. Now the charging system is pretty bulletproof, highest spike I have seen is 14.8v but usually is right at 14.6v.

Did a full carb job and replaced the O-ring on the petcock diaphragm, as it had squished flat and allowed all the gas right into the engine. That was quite an oil change! Had to use two large tubs to catch it all. New NGK plugs.

That is the background. The question is now I have discovered the bike will only start on one cylinder until that cylinder gets hot enough to sustain the bike just enough off of choke so that you can blip the throttle. The throttle side pipe just blows cold exhaust, and when you pull the plug wire, you can feel and hear very tiny sparks.

Once the choke has been on for a while 2-3 min and you can start blipping the throttle though, the throttle side coil "comes to life" and the bike will start running on both cylinders, a marked difference in sound, hot exhaust, and the bike can be immediately let off choke. No further problems with that coil.

Haven't measured it yet but I am looking for 3 Ohms on the coil? What is everyone's experience with damaged electrical systems and coil failure? Could the 19v prior charging problem have damaged only one coil or should I go ahead and replace both? Could the problem exist in the ignitor?

When I get to it I will measure for Ohms and make sure there is the 12-14v at the + leads, but I was wondering if damage could have occurred to only one side of the ignitor box.

BTW I know Angelo has already ordered an Accel product, but here are two Ebay coils that look like they would work:

Pardon Our Interruption...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ignition-Coil-Moped-Suzuki-GS400-425-450-ET-LT-ST-LX-TX-/170328732562?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27a8623392&vxp=mtr

Pardon Our Interruption...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/08-Suzuki-GS500F-GS500-COILS-COIL-/190707274502?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c670a1306&vxp=mtr

On a budget or I would just get stock ones:

Pardon Our Interruption...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-GS450L-IGNITION-COIL-SEE-MY-EBAY-STORE-FOR-MORE-/160902752223?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item25768d27df&vxp=mtr