'82 GS300L Restore & Timing Adjustment - Complete Noob

[hjacobmiller]

Redid all the connections on picks and investigated a couple suspect areas where it looked like there might have been some burning inside the casing.
Nothing like I was hoping to find. Too easy of a fix ha ha.

Switched the wires and still no spark on left coil. Definite conclusion that the pick ups are bad? There's one I can get on ebay right now but I don't want to buy it if I actually need an ignitor.

I'm not sure I understand the test on p.148.

 

[Guest]

When you switch the wires did the right side still spark ?

If so then its the ignitor that looks bad.

the idea for the test on page 148 is for you to set your meter to check for resistance and then put the leads on each of the wires for one pickup and it will fire that plug.

The ignitor detects that something is hooked up, doesn't matter what, and that triggers it to make a spark. I's a way of tricking the ignitor to spark.

 

[hjacobmiller]

Got it. I tried it and got some spark, but sort of intermittently. Will try more tomorrow and let you know what I get.

When you switch the wires did the right side still spark ?

If so then its the ignitor that looks bad.

the idea for the test on page 148 is for you to set your meter to check for resistance and then put the leads on each of the wires for one pickup and it will fire that plug.

The ignitor detects that something is hooked up, doesn't matter what, and that triggers it to make a spark. I's a way of tricking the ignitor to spark.

 

[hjacobmiller]

Looks like it may be both the pick up and the ignitor. I get spark on the right from the ignitor doing test on 148 but not the left. And the pick up seems to not give me a spark when I switch the wires either. Which would make sense I guess if the left side of the ignitor is burnt up. No way to test without a good ignitor I guess.

Is the ignitor also called a CDI? Or is CDI a later generator of ignition system that isn't compatible with what I have?

I'm looking to put something in for cheap but I don't know what works together and I don't want to fry anything else obviously. Don't know where to go from here.

 

[Guest]

Anything will work as long as you match the pickups with the ignitor. The pickups have a certain impedance and that changes sometimes with different models. I've only seen it change on the 4 cylinders though.

Well you know you have one good side and one good pickup. Do you mean that when you switched the wires that the right side didn't fire anymore? or did you only test the left? I wanted to see if both pickups are good and make the right side fire with both pickups. That way you could say the pickups are good.

I've been looking at the two manuals and I don't see why an ignitor for a 450 wouldn't work. Maybe someone local on the site could lend a good one to test with. PN: 32900-47020 Its the same for a 250 as well.

Does yours have the mechanical advance?

 

[Guest]

http://www.z1enterprises.com/produc...n-DS3-2-Suzuki-GS-fours-with-ND-ignition.aspx

This is what you would want IF its a mechanical advance.

http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_nkw=...=dyna+s&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

 

[hjacobmiller]

But what about the black ignitor box? Don't I have to replace that too?

 

[Guest]

It is the box. Its an all in one. Just give it power and plug the coils in and it works.

So is yours a mechanical advance ?

 

[hjacobmiller]

I think so, although to be honest I don't know exactly what that means. Let me explain how I think it works (I'm probably wrong). There is one magnetic trigger on the end of the crankshaft, which I believe the pick ups sense as the crankshaft turns, and the pickups send a signal to the ignitor box and the ignitor sends the signal to the coils.

I'm guessing that is a mechanical advance because of the trigger on the crankshaft?

It is the box. Its an all in one. Just give it power and plug the coils in and it works.

So is yours a mechanical advance ?

 

[Guest]

Nope but good effort.


There are two types of rotors on the end of the crank

One is just a solid piece that is stuck to the crank and doesn't move at all. That one is not a mechanical advance and the ignitor does the advancing.

The mechanical advance has a special rotor attached that can rotate forward a bit.
It has a few small weights in it that fly out when the engine rev's up. Thats what advances the ignition timing.

Looks like this http://www.ebay.ca/itm/SUZUKI-GS-45...rcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d3292fd4c


The manual and parts fiche show's both types but its depending on the year.

 

[hjacobmiller]

OK then I have this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-300-...ies&hash=item4ab7b4dbf2&vxp=mtr#ht_500wt_1180.

Does that mean the Dyna won't work for me? Please tell me it does because that looks so much simpler and more reliable than what is on there... And a heck of a lot cheaper than that new OEM ignitor box.

Nope but good effort.


There are two types of rotors on the end of the crank

One is just a solid piece that is stuck to the crank and doesn't move at all. That one is not a mechanical advance and the ignitor does the advancing.

The mechanical advance has a special rotor attached that can rotate forward a bit.
It has a few small weights in it that fly out when the engine rev's up. Thats what advances the ignition timing.

Looks like this http://www.ebay.ca/itm/SUZUKI-GS-45...rcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d3292fd4c


The manual and parts fiche show's both types but its depending on the year.

 

[Guest]

Wrong part, Look to the left of the one on here
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/SUZUKI-GS-45...rcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d3292fd4c

See the part that would go on the crank, what does yours look like?

I have a feeling that it is a mechanical advance because of where the pickups are pointing.

The mechanical ones are pointing in and you can see a little bit of bare metal there.

take a look at page 107 in the manual. Is it exactly like that ?

 

[hjacobmiller]

What I have on the end of the crank is just a little knob sticking out perpendicular to the crank. It rotates as the crank turns between the two pickups on this part:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-300-...ies&hash=item4ab7b4dbf2&vxp=mtr#ht_500wt_1180

I'd take a picture but I'm not at home right now. Here is sort of what it is:

Sorry about the rough drawing ha ha ha.

Wrong part, Look to the left of the one on here
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/SUZUKI-GS-45...rcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d3292fd4c

See the part that would go on the crank, what does yours look like?

I have a feeling that it is a mechanical advance because of where the pickups are pointing.

The mechanical ones are pointing in and you can see a little bit of bare metal there.

take a look at page 107 in the manual. Is it exactly like that ?

 

[Guest]

that's actually pretty good

Do you know if the knob turns forward a bit while the crank stays still ?

Alot of the mechanical advance part with the springs and weights are hidden behind the pickup plate.


This is a NON mechanical advance.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/83-88-SUZUK...Parts_Accessories&hash=item3374a30205&vxp=mtr

Somewhere between 1982 and 83 they changed from mechanical to non mechanical. So it depends on the month it was manufactured. That decided which one it got.

 

[hjacobmiller]

Ha ha thanks if only if I was as good at fixing motorcycles as I am at using Microsoft Paint!

It doesn't move. When I turn the crank like I would be turning to adjust the valves it moves with it. As at a matter of fact I have to turn the crank to turn it so the pick ups will come out.

I definitely don't have one of the advancers that has the different points on it like on page 9 of this : http://members.dslextreme.com/users/cbsaunders/gs/upgrade_to_electronic_ignition.pdf

Does the Dyna you suggested work with a non-mechanical advance?

 

[Guest]

Are you sure you don't have that ? Its well hidden behind the plate.

If you turn the nut on the end the crank will turn because its fixed to it but the next part down with the two lobes on it should float a bit and rotate a bit while the crank stays still.

That example was for switching from points to a dyna.

Its a "dumb" ignitor like the stock one. It doesn't have anything built into it to tell it to advance. It just takes what you give it, that's why you have the mechanical advancer. It won't work with a non mechanical advance but you could just replace it with a mechanical advance.

 

[hjacobmiller]

I'll take a look tomorrow but I don't think so. I could be wrong. What are the options if it is not a mechanical advance?

 

[Guest]

go with any newer than 83 ignitor/pickup/rotor on a 450 or 500.

The rotors are interchangeable between mechanical and non. They attach to the crank the same way.

 

[hjacobmiller]

So just put a mechanical advance rotor on the crank? And then get the dyna?

I'll check this afternoon and see whether or not it is mechanical advance. It may be.

 

[Guest]

that's the idea. Best to call dyna and ask them questions about the plate and yours just to see if the bolt spacing is the same and the overall diameter is the same.