Having ignitor problems? Check your coils.

[Steve]

We just had our "Little Ride" shortened to exactly that: a little ride.
The cause of the change in plans was yet another blown ignitor in my wife's bike. I have lost track of how many ignitors we have replaced on that bike, and it FINALLY occurred to me to do something more than just slapping in another ignitor.

The bike came to us with Accel coils, which I thought was a good upgrade. I know that many here prefer the Dyna coils, but looking through the archives, I see several posts regarding Accel coils. One of the first things I did was to replace the yellow wires with black ones, and didn't think about checking anything else.

Yesterday, I received the latest replacement (and another spare is on its way, too). In the process of changing the ignitor, I also decided to check the coil. I think the picture says it all. :-k

A quick search of bike specs shows that most GSes with points call for coil resistance of 4-5 ohms, bikes with electronic ignition (ignitors) call for coil resistance of 3-4 ohms. Dyna 3-ohm coils are a very popular upgrade, and we hear very few reports of failing ignitors after installing Dyna coils. The 1-ohm Accel coils we have here are allowing three times the current through the ignitor, evidently they can't handle that much.

My first plan of action is to go to the local auto parts store to see if they carry old-style ballast resistors and install one for each coil. Over the winter, will likely get some Dyna coils and wires, but this should work until then. :encouragement:

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[robertbarr]

Might be slight overkill, but these would fit up under there, I think. They list the dimensions.

 

[Steve]

Thanks, Bob, I went down to the local NAPA store and picked up a couple of these:

The specs say they are 1.8 ohms, but they hit my meter at 2.2 ohms. Subtract the 0.2 ohms for my leads, the resistors are right at 2.0. Just fired up the bike, seems to run just fine, will check it out for distance next week, once we figure out where "Little Ride v2" will take us.

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[robertbarr]

once we figure out where "Little Ride v2" will take us.

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Yes, keep us up to date on that! Here's hoping for better luck.

 

[Steve]

Finishing up a couple of projects at home that we have not had the time to do, but parts are in and installed, so we are making plans for "v2".

A couple of things we have kicked around are a loop around Lake Michigan, visiting lighthouses along the way, or headed east to the Blue Ridge Parkway, ending up at Wheels Through Time and some of the fantastic riding around the Tail of the Dragon. Will probably do the Dragon, too, but we have done it before and need to check out the other roads, too.

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[Bearr045]

GS Whisperer,I'm having the same problem with my 1980 GS850GL . Installed accel coils and wires and keep frying igniter. How do I connect NAPA's 1.8 resistors one to each coil? I went and procured the resistors but no electrical experience to hook em up. thanks.

 

[Steve]

I'll work up a diagram and post it in the next day or three.

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[Mr.Herrold]

Question on the Dyna system. If I have the Dyna S and the Dyna coils do I still need to run the system through the ignitor unit? Or is there some way I can bypass the ignitor unit? My issue currently is that only three of the terminals on my coils are receiving 12v and the other is coming in at 1.5v. It just so happens to be the white wire. Any insight much appreciated.

 

[posplayr]

I would check the part number and see if those are supposed to be 3.0 ohm coils.
1 ohm is very low even for the high-performance coils. I would guess that coil is damaged are shorted out.

 

[tom203]

Question on the Dyna system. If I have the Dyna S and the Dyna coils do I still need to run the system through the ignitor unit? Or is there some way I can bypass the ignitor unit? My issue currently is that only three of the terminals on my coils are receiving 12v and the other is coming in at 1.5v. It just so happens to be the white wire. Any insight much appreciated.

The dyna S system replaces the stock ignitor and the stock signal generator setup..follow the wiring instructions that will come with the dyna . You can use the stock Suzuki ignition coils or upgrade to the dyna ones if you desire.
what model/year of bike are you refering to??

 

[Steve]

My issue currently is that only three of the terminals on my coils are receiving 12v and the other is coming in at 1.5v. It just so happens to be the white wire. Any insight much appreciated.

The white wire is one of the ground wires that gets switched by the ignitor. I don't know if the ignitor can pause while it is conducting, but it appears that you have at least a mild connection to an actual ground point (through the ignitor), giving you the low voltage reading. Ideally, when the ignitor is conducting, that voltage should be ZERO, showing full current going to ground, giving maximum magnetic strength.

Converting to the Dyna setup replaces the ignitor. Test your coils to make sure they are good, then see if you still need to switch.

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