Spark Plug Wires

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  • qwqb
    #1

    Spark Plug Wires

    I'm sure this a dumb question, but...

    When I unplugged the spark plug wires from my newly acquired, non-running, bike, I noticed that the plug wire labeled "4" was connected to the cyl 2 plug, and the wire labeled "2" was going to the cyl 4 plug.

    I am not sure if these wires or wire labels are from the factory? I'm wondering how I can tell which wire needs to go where. Should I follow the labels? Should I follow where the PO had them plugged in?

    Thanks!
    Tags: None
    • Steve
      GS Whisperer
      • Jun 2005
      • 35925
      • southwest oHIo
      #2
      Follow the wires back to the coils. The LEFT coil should power cylinders 1&4, the RIGHT cylinder should power cylinders 2&3.

      .
      sigpic
      mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
      hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
      #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
      #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
      Family Portrait
      Siblings and Spouses
      Mom's first ride
      Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
      (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

        Comment

        • qwqb
          #3
          I wonder if that's why it didn't start in the first place...
          He had them hooked up wrong.

            Comment

            • Big T
              Forum LongTimer
              Past Site Supporter
              Super Site Supporter
              • Mar 2005
              • 12392
              • West Slope, OR
              #4
              Originally posted by qwqb
              I'm sure this a dumb question, but...

              Should I follow where the PO had them plugged in?

              Thanks!
              There are no dumb questions, especially where PO's are concerned. There was a posting recently about a PO who had put the cams in the wrong sides ( and it still ran!)
              1978 GS 1000 (since new)
              1979 GS 1000 (The Fridge, superbike replica project)
              1978 GS 1000 (parts)
              1981 GS 850 (anyone want a project?)
              1981 GPZ 550 (backroad screamer)
              1970 450 Mk IIID (THUMP!)
              2007 DRz 400S
              1999 ATK 490ES
              1994 DR 350SES

                Comment

                • Nessism
                  Forum LongTimer
                  GSResource Superstar
                  Past Site Supporter
                  Super Site Supporter
                  • Mar 2006
                  • 35788
                  • Torrance, CA
                  #5
                  Could be the previous owner replaced at least one of the coils. Steve's suggestion to check where the wires are going is a good one.
                  Ed

                  To measure is to know.

                  Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

                  Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

                  Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

                  KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

                    Comment

                    • Guest
                      #6
                      Originally posted by Steve
                      Follow the wires back to the coils. The LEFT coil should power cylinders 1&4, the RIGHT cylinder should power cylinders 2&3..
                      BTW - Right & left are determined while sitting on the bike...

                        Comment

                        • Steve
                          GS Whisperer
                          • Jun 2005
                          • 35925
                          • southwest oHIo
                          #7
                          Originally posted by hikermikem
                          BTW - Right & left are determined while sitting on the bike...
                          Yeah, that's one of those things that some of us know and assume that others should know, too.

                          Just to be clear:

                          Cylinder 1 is on the LEFT side of the bike, under your clutch hand.

                          Cylinder 4 (2, if you have a twin) is on the RIGHT side, under your throttle hand.



                          .
                          sigpic
                          mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
                          hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
                          #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
                          #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
                          Family Portrait
                          Siblings and Spouses
                          Mom's first ride
                          Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
                          (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

                            Comment

                            • Guest
                              #8
                              Originally posted by Steve
                              Yeah, that's one of those things that some of us know and assume that others should know, too..
                              I assume he knows it now

                                Comment

                                • qwqb
                                  #9
                                  Luckily I know the cylinder order, the PO may not have...

                                    Comment

                                    • Guest
                                      #10
                                      I would check the ignition timing with the cam timing and then the coils. Make sure the 1&4 coil sparks when the crank trigger passes the 1&4 F mark on the advance.
                                      Hopefully the PO didn't touch the cams.

                                        Comment

                                        • Einstein
                                          #11
                                          Originally posted by Big T
                                          There are no dumb questions, especially where PO's are concerned. There was a posting recently about a PO who had put the cams in the wrong sides ( and it still ran!)
                                          That would be me

                                          Couldn't believe what I saw when the cover came off... ran lovely when cams were turned round... must have been a nightmare to time up for the PO.

                                          Anyway, it's currently being fully restored.


                                          John

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