Spark Plug Wires

[qwqb]

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!

 

[Steve]

Follow the wires back to the coils. The LEFT coil should power cylinders 1&4, the RIGHT cylinder should power cylinders 2&3.

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[qwqb]

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

 

[Big T]

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!)

 

[Nessism]

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.

 

[Guest]

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...

 

[Steve]

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.



.

 

[Guest]

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

 

[qwqb]

Luckily I know the cylinder order, the PO may not have...

 

[Guest]

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.

 

[Einstein]

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