sparking is the issue

ok so i got my 82 xj650 seca out for the year already and it started and purred like a kitten. The next day i went out to go for a ride and it was acting like it was missing a cylinder. Turns out the 1 and half year old ngk spark plug on cylinder 4 died. after that ran like a champ. then i went to start it a few days ago it started and ran real rough like it was running on 2 cylinders and died. after that i was unable to get it to start so i took a look at the battery and it was low in the voltage side at 11.38 volts so i knew the battery was 2 years old at least so i went and replaced it. still no start turns over sounds like it might be igniting every once in a while so i took a look at sparks. first i made sure to use the new plug that i know works. it went something like this: cylinder 1 sparks quite often ,cylinder 2 sparks not that often, cylinder 3 sparks not that often, cylinder 4 sparks quite often. so from there i concluded what i thought to be that the coils where going bad. the only problem is what there ohm'ing out to is spec.

Outside coil pri. 2.4 ohm sec. 11.42 kilo-ohm
Inside coil pri. 2.4 ohm sec. 11.32 kilo-ohm

outside caps 8.04 kilo-ohm


inside side caps 5.39 kilo-ohm
http://i1041.photobucket.com/albums/b41 ... 160905.jpg

http://i1041.photobucket.com/albums/b41 ... 160821.jpg
the coil pictured above is the one with orange and red/white wire which has a hairline crack in it.

my only problem with going forward and replacing the coils is that they are both in spec?? what should i do next?

 

Make sure the cores inside the caps are tight (look in there, you'll see screwdriver slots on either side of the hole be sure they're not loose. DON'T "honk" on them and break them, just be sure they're not loose.

Lop about 3/8" off the end of each wire and screw the caps back on.

Flush that crack in the coil thoroughly with contact cleaner and once dry, paint with Liquid Electrical Tape.

Install a brand new set of properly gapped plugs (don't trust them "out of the box") make sure the battery is fully charged and the carbs are full of fresh gas (leave it on PRI for a minute or so) and start the bike.

 

also can anyone tell me what the voltage being feed to the coil should be when key is on and ignition switch is on so i can check that proper voltage is being feed to coils?

 

see it doesnt make since though, because it just died all of sudden so it seems like something failed electrically, in response to bigfitz. to add to it i know its getting fuel because the plugs are wet

 

And once the plugs are saturated they will no longer fire, no matter what you do.

Here's HOW what happened happens, and why what I suggested will probably work:

These bikes have the ability to spin the starter quite briskly on a slightly weak battery and not have enough "juice" left for the ignition system. Once that's happened, and you've saturated the plugs, it WON'T start again without new plugs and a fully charged battery.

There are a couple of other, less distinct possibilites: Sudden failure in the fusebox (it happens) or a flaky sidestand switch/neutral switch/safety circuit problem. A quick troubleshooting trick is to temporarily unplug the safety relay.

But it ain't gonna fire with saturated plugs. I'm speaking from experience, been through the same "dance" more than once.

 

you had the bike running last year. and all it did since was just sit there without anything being done to it.

it could be coincidence that both plugs have failed.

try new plugs.

eliminate the plugs first. before going through the hassle to find out it's just the plugs.

that's the first thing i always do. and usually that's what the problem is.

another scenario would be floats are sticking causing the carbs to flood out.

you know it's getting fuel becuase the plugs are wet. but is it getting too much fuel. or just no spark.

you need at least 11 volts at the battery WHILE IT'S CRANKING to produce spark.

 

11V won't do it; anything below about 11.6 and you generally won't get fire.

Leave it on PRI for a few minutes, you'll discover a stuck float real quick (it will pee gas all over your driveway.)

 

Strip a length of Solid Copper Wire.
Stuff it up the Center Core of the WEAK Wires as far as it will go.
Trim it off.
Reinstall the Plug Cap and get a good bite on the Wire.

But, ... don't forget.
You're at the edge of how-long people go before the Coils act-up.

You may want to ditch them old Coils and upgrade to some New Coils that are going to perform like new with modern technology advancements.

Chacal has a Kit that makes hanging a pair of New Coils a breeze.

 

to clarify above i had it running a few days ago...then all of a sudden wam!! started sounded like it ran on two cylinders then shutdown. since then turns over no go. yeah im thinking of getting new coils its just im in college and want to make for damn sure its the problem. so i was thinking switching left and right coils and if the right coil(which would be left AKA the one that works) and sparks then i can conclusively prove without a doubt that it is the coils. but first i will charge it tommorow for 2 hours at 2amps to give it a good strong charge so i can easily see the spark since its been turned over alot with no charging going on even tho its a new battery. will that work yah think?

interestingly enough the coil that works is the one that has the hairline crack

 

the path for the plugs is #1 wire to the center of #1 plug to the arm of 1 then through the block to the arm of #3 to the center of 3 then back #3 wire
so it could be the wires or the plugs or if both 1 +3 are out at the same time the connection to the block on either one could be shakey
try champion or autolite plugs and only test with one plug out at a time
if you get one thats not firing, try to look up in the insulator, sometimes there's a spark up in there that doesn't make it to the tip, that would be a bad plug

 

A simple experiment:

Look at the Coils and Wires when the Bike is running, ... in the DARK.

If it looks like a Lightning Show ...
The Wires and Coils are breaking-down and not enough Juice is making it to the Plug Gap.

 

wait i forgot...my tax return is coming! screw it im just going to replace the coils packs since there already cracking and do all new plugs and caps! and air filter since its getting dirty!

 

there have been a lot of people on here that have jumped the gun replacing parts without paying attention to what the professionals on here are telling them to look into first.

you are working on a motorcycle. not a car. parts aren't cheap and electrical items are usually NON REFUNDABLE.

but if it's money you want to spend. some of us will be more then happy for charitable donations towards a trip to vegas for some REAL gambling.

 

Did you replace the plugs yet? 3 out of three recommendations suggest you give that a shot first... and at $12 a set, you are ahead of the "blew a bunch of my money" game since new plugs are always a good idea!

 

thanks guys for all the advice. I ordered new coils caps and plugs from chacal. I also got the bike some fresh gas. I did all this and within a few cranks she was happily idling away!