No spark on cylinders 1 and 2

this is the step by step

 

The black wire off the bigger plug is the ground coming off the tci I thought. It goes back up into the wiring harness though on the bike.

The black on the smaller plug I thought was the ground for the side stand relay but that too goes back into the bike with a bunch of other wires.

And then there’s the black white wire on the big plug which similarly follows the other black wire on that plug into the harness.

 

Is it fair to say that because I have very little voltage going to the coils, then the tci is bad? Or are there multiple reasons this could happen?

 

I think we need an X-pert to chime in

 

Oh jeez I was hoping you were the expert.
The good news is I could rig a toggle switch to directly power the coils if I had to. I don’t want to, but that’s a last resort.

 

black wire coming off of little plug is common wire for pick up coils you measure ohms from orange to that black and gray to that black then that black to groung should get no reading with black to ground

the black from the large plug goes to side stand relay (or should) and should have no reading to ground when sidestand is up with bike in gear but read ing to ground when bike is in gear and side stand is down this shuts down motor by grounding out tci

I see a full ground in wiring diagrams but not on tci? does tci mount to a metal plate?

 

I just do not have an X to go look at

find this relay and pull it out
Sidestand (kickstand) relay (blue): under left side cover, above regulator.

this will bypass side stand switch, clutch safety switch, and neutral switch function

 

It doesn’t, and the entirety of the tci is plastic without any type of metal for it to ground on.

Also, with the side stand down and the bike in gear, I have no reading from black on big plug to ground on battery. Everything else though is as you described.

 

Don't wire 12v to the cols you will damage the TCI.

Lets try this...

On the small plug( these go to the pick up coils). Pull it out of the TCI and check with an ohm meter.
Ohm from orange to black it should be about 700 ohms. Not exactly sure what the spec is but they should both be the same.
Ohm from gray to black it should be about 700 ohms
Ohm from any of those wires to chassis ground, it should be open.
It is possible one of the pick up coils is bad.

Next check to see if the black/white wire on the large plug is grounded. Ohm from it to any metal part of the frame. If there is connection then problem found. You can disconnect it or find out which safety relay is at fault. It should measure open with a ohm meter.

With the key on there should be 12v from the red/white wire to the black on the large plug. If not find out why. Could be fuse or bad kill switch

Try these things and let us know your findings , we can do more if these things don't point to a problem.

 

do you get a reading when you pull in clutch?

pulling out the sidestand relay bypasses all the safety stuff and prevents the tci from ground and being turned off

 

no it should read 120 ohms this is an 700 and an X both have 120 ohm pickups

XJ700-X water-cooled models:

Pick-up coils:
120 ohms +/- 20% = 96 ohms to 144 ohms acceptable range


Ignition Coils:

Primary side (input from main wiring harness):
2.7 ohms +/- 10% = 2.43 ohms - 2.97 ohms acceptable range

Secondary side (spark plug wires, without their end caps):
12K ohms +/- 20% = 9,600 ohms - 14,400 ohms acceptable range


Spark plug caps:
1985 XN/XNC models: 10K +/- 20% = 8,000 to 12,000 ohms per cap acceptable range
1986 SX/SXC models: 15K +/- 20% = 12,000 to 18,000 ohms per cap acceptable range


Spark plugs:
1985 XN/XNC models: 0 ohms per plug
1986 SX/SXC models: 5K ohms per plug

 

I have about 120 ohms between black and orange and between gray and black.

With the key off I have continuity between ground and black white. With key on it is open.

And I have 12v from red white to black on the large plug.

 

So far its good. Ohm your ignition coils with the spec XJ550H just posted. You should also have 12v at each coil with key on.

 

You are correct, I did not have my book nearby. My old brain cant keep as much information as it use to.

 

Ok I have 3.0 ohms for the primary. Meter accuracy could explain for the slight deviation from the acceptable range.

When I check the secondary, I’m measuring from plug wire end to ground?

 

Also, I have almost no voltage, about 0.1 volts at the coils with the key on.

 

plug cap to plug cap you are looking for 32k ohms total each cap is 10k plus spark plug wire through coil is 12 k
if reading is off unscrew caps from ends of spark plug wires. do coil separate from caps and caps by them selves

 

check ignition fuse and that run switch is in on position

 

Interesting, I’m getting 16k ohms. Half of what I should have...

 

Ignition fuse is good, I have continuity through it. Switch is in the on position and functions properly.