81 xj650 2-3 coil craps out

Hi Guys! last summer my 2-3 coil was crapping out so I bought a used one. It crapped out too, intermittently. So tested them today, 1-4 shows 11k ohms and 2-3 shows OL [overload] on the Fluke meter, so I guess I'm in the market for a 2-3 coil again.

I may as well fix it now since I can't ride it yet.

So I'm shoppin for a 2-3 coil, 81 xj650.. THIS time I'll test it before I install it!

:wink:

 

You'd be much better-off buying a set of aftermarket Coils from DYNA or ACCEL as replacements for the OEM Coils for which there are a growing number of complaints about their failure.

The DYNA Coils are a Performance upgrade and come with an available Mounting Hardware Kit for ease of installation.

The DYNA Coils are available from our resident Parts Supplier.
Click the XJ4Ever Logo at the top of the page.

 

There are even handy illustrated instructions available on how to install them.

 

cool, Thanks! I had no idea there were aftermarket coils
8O

 

And these Dyna coils are very good ones.

 

I opened that site. now how do I find the catalog?

 

XJ 4Ever Catalog

 

n old parts tech and didn't expect it to be in there.... I'll be gettin those dyna coils soon...someone mentioned a bracket kit but I didn't see it listed. Do you recommend those or the accel coils? I didn't see those either... my eyes are shot the the night.
Thanks for the help!

 

Just email xj4ever. He'll send you back a list of options you never dreamed you needed!

 

excellent! OK Thank You!

 

Update: 04.26.2013 I changed out the coils, same problem! ignition switch felt kind of gummy so I got a new one from chacal. same problem. I had an 'unknown if good' IC box in my parts stock so I changed it. Ran 54 miles yesty and it never missed a shot! Runs better than ever.... I stopped by my favorite mechanic and he reminded me to never count out the damm ignition box... so I'm in the market for a good spare, 4h7-10.
QUESTION: on 82 up, they use the 5 pin ignitor, the 5th pin being the kickstand switch. The plug in is the same as the 4 pin and I assume the kickstand switch opens when the kickstand is up? If so, why can't I use a 5 pin ignition box? Or perhaps I have it backwards and the 5th pin would need to be grounded..... any ideas?

 

Your bike is pre-YICS.

From '82 up, the 650 Max had YICS motors.

I believe there are more differences in the TCI than just the pin used for sidestand cutoff.

 

that's just my luck.... thanks for the help!

 

So why are you looking for another, is the spare one incorrect?

The way I read it you swapped & it was fine, if that's the case & the box you fitted is correct you may as well leave it be.

Also, the original TCI may be repairable quite easily. Intermittent failure on just one coil would indicate to me maybe a cracked solder joint on one of the large transistors with heatsinks... Any really good radio/tv repair shop will be able to check & re-sweat any bad joints for a token price. That's assuming the failure wasn't simply down to a bad connection at the plug that got cleaned by the action of unplugging & swapping boxes

 

What is now the spare is the running unit off the bike- the one that cuts out.
Being an old parts tech, I like to have 'known good' spares of certain parts, this being one of them.
As I recall, someone here mentioned a guy in Cali who repairs these things- if I could find that out, I'd send it to him.

By the way, it has been getting progressively worse for at least a year now; it was to the point I could no longer consider the motorcycle 'reliable.'