Cheap Chinese Coil Conundrum

[DRB166]

I picked up a 1981 GS450L. The previous owner had started customizing it to look like a cafe racer. Thus, there is no air box, and most of the ignition and electrical components have been relocated.


The #1 coil is weak, and since I tend to start cheap and work my way up, I bought two Chinese coils. Supposedly, they are compatible, but the Chinese coils have two plug wires. A local shop told me that the ignition fires on the compression AND exhaust stroke. Is this true? Clymer shows two separate timing paths to the cylinders in the schematic. So, can one coil with two plug wires replace the two coils on the bike?


The same shop said maybe I could just cap one plug wire and run two coils in this configuration. Thoughts?


How do I determine which GS450L variant I have? When I removed the side cover, it looks like two pickups with a mechanical spring advance.

If, in y'alls experience this isn't the way to go, is there a better solution other than paying $$$ for NOS coils?

[Steve]

You don't need NOS coils, but the ones you have aren't going to do you any good.

Yes, your bike does have a "wasted spark" ignition system. They DO fire near TDC on every stroke, but each coil only fires ONE plug, so it only needs ONE wire. You need TWO coils with ONE wire each, you can not use a single coil that has two leads.

Starting off "cheap" is OK, but please feel free to ask questions, so you don't waste what little money you claim to (not) have.

It is often said that there are two ways to do something: RIGHT and OVER.

.

[DRB166]

Just to be clear, I bought a project bike to learn something about a Japanese bike. Otherwise, I would have bought a bike ready to roll. What I have is more fun. I'm digging up skills I had forgot about. So, what I need is information, and I thank you for the info you've given me.

So, who makes a good replacement coil?

[tom203]

Just about all these old bikes are project bikes...it's more work to take over messing with another guys project, but dive in. Need cheap coils? investigate ones for later year gs500 twins. Like this item

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1994-Suzuki-GS500-GS-500-Ignition-Coils-with-Plug-Wires/382424166485?hash=item590a41b055:g:yVUAAOSwUIFatnFB:sc:USPSPriority!04029!US!-1&vxp=mtr

[DRB166]

For $22 delivered, it's worth a shot. Thanks!