FYI - What happens when to a cracked coil in a heavy rain.

silversurfer1050 · Post by **silversurfer1050** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:50 pm

The coils are a two for one deal. If you notice two cylinders dead at the same time an easy check is to take off the tank and havea a visual inspection of the coils. The ones I have seen go bad on stock coils leave a huge gap very visible to the eye. Pairs are 1 and 6, 2 an 5, an 3 and 4.

I posted this in the "Other category at the end of a post. It really belongs over here.

I've had an electrical gremlin for a while. When the bike got really wet, not just sprinkled on, it would flood out cylinders 1 and 6. The plugs would come out wet and black.

We got flooded down by Fond du Lac this weekend at the Midwest 1100F ride. It downpoured for 1/2 hour straight. Tree limbs laying in the road etc. Red was along.

The electrical went out again. Rode it back to the house and talked about it for a few minutes. First step I took the plugs out and dried them - put them back in. No luck - still not firing.

One of the guys, Pat, (with the odd Kaw) volunteered to clean them and took a couple millimeters off the end of the corroded plug wire. Dabbed in a little dielctric (non-conducting) grease and replaced everything. Still no luck.

Third try - Someone (Red?) Says; "Take off the tank." OK - I'm good at that. Done. Next thing I know there are about 5 guys working on my electrical system. Nick says something to the effect that he has found a crack in one of the coils. The one on the clutch lever side of te bike which by the way gives spark to plugs one and two. A coupe of the guys start describing how to dry out the coil and silicone it shut for a temporary fix. About that time Pete says why don't ou just take one off the shelf over there. Sure enough one from an old F - same part number molded into it. Popped that in.

Needless to say it started right up on all six. I had actually done this about two decades ago. I thought I was safe. Wrong. Next time I'll just start with the coil check.

Thanks Red and the rest of you.

Rick Pope · Post by **Rick Pope** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:02 pm

Well, shucks. I thought I was teachin' this young pup something, and he figger'd it out already. I see he rreally does know where those plug wires go, contrary to what I thought I read on that other post.
Darn kids, can't seem to get ahead of them.........

silversurfer1050 · Post by **silversurfer1050** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:17 pm

Thanks Rick, I didn't want to get in a p'ing contest - so I just let it go. BTW - I'm heading for 50 in a couple years -

Thanks for the advice too. My budget calls for keeping the stock coils though.

Rick Pope · Post by **Rick Pope** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 8:29 am

Do, yer pushing 60? Some of are pulling 50....with a rope.

I wasn't trying to be cruel, just thought I caught you off guard. Us olde phartes need to make use of any advantage we can find.