what could kill a coil?

arsey

arsey

Been Around the Block
On my cb350 the right side wasn't getting spark, so I swapped the two coils and it fired up fine, with the left one sparkless. (these were dyna coils bought new a little while ago.)

I replaced the seemingly dead coil with a new one a month or so ago, and both sides fired fine. But I tried starting it up today and the right side is just getting an intermittent spark (that seems to get steadier as the engine revs). I'm thinking something is messing up the right side coil, but not sure what or how. Could I need a new condenser or some other electrical thing I don't understand?
 
Leaving the ignition on without the bike running will cause the coils to die quicker. Despite sitting right above the engine, they don't much care for too much heat, so that can be a factor as well.
 
hm. Were it the heat doing it I'd think both coils would flake out on me, not just the right side, twice now.. thoughts?
i could probably test the "dead" coil just to make sure it's dead, and not some terrible wiring thing
 
teazer said:
I'd look at points and condenser first.
Click to expand...

Yep, what he said. I've come across problems many times where the points wire/wires will intermittently ground off against the cover. It's gotten to the point where thats the first thing I check now.
 
Yeah I've been dreading re-timing the thing, but I really should and hope for the best. I read up a bit on the PAMCO electronics; can't wait til those are in stock again. Thanks guys
 
What are you dreading about timing for?
Get and or read the factory manual. It literally walks you step by step through it.
An electronic ignition still needs to be timed

Not sure about the CB350 but I know that the 4 cylinder hondas want a resistor in the ignition when installing lower Ohm coils.
 
I was mostly dreading gapping the points, just a pain setting em right for me.
I didn't have to worry though because the gap for both sides is still within spec from when last I set it.
Checked the timing with a bulb hooked up to the points like the manual says and it's golden too, both sides.

Tried firing it up again and the right side wasn't doing it.
I swapped the left and right coils, and nothing changed on either side
Swapped the plug wires and nothing changed on either side
Tested the battery and it was fully charged.
ugh.

What's weird is when the cable was attached to the plug it just didn't fire, but when i pulled it off to check it and gave it some distance it would! It sparks intermittent like every couple seconds though, and more as the revs climb.

whatever this gremlin is, it's got it out for that right side
 
ProSimex said:
Did ya try changing plugs?
Click to expand...
I havent tried that, but I looked at the plugs today and they were both pretty blackened. When the right side DOES happen to spark though it fires up fine, just that spark isn't near often enough. I figure its not the plugs then.
surffly said:
Not sure about the CB350 but I know that the 4 cylinder hondas want a resistor in the ignition when installing lower Ohm coils.
Click to expand...
hm. The dyna coils I've got are 3ohm. And the manual does mention resistor caps, but it didn't have any when I got it. Worth a shot since I'm all but stumped, thanks
 
Not resistor cap, thats something else that needs to be looked into
Im talking about making up the 2 ohm loss in the ignition system, its in the paperwork for the SOHC bike kits, and well talked about
 
well I think it's the condenser. It was mounted in an awkward spot (a zip tie was involved) and the mounting piece was right up next to where the plug lead meets the right side coil. I'm thinking the spark was going there for every time the engine didn't hit. new one on the way; here's hoping.
 
the condenser needs to be grounded to the frame. a zip tie won't work. must screw into the frame. I have 2 condensers because i thought mine went bad once. Rarely does this happen and if it did your points would be burned. So now i have 2 perfectly good ones. Coils on the other hand seem to go to shit. I have had 2 aftermarket ones die on me now. i don't know
 
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