REALLY dumb question...plug wires (NEW info)

No, I think that given the fact that my bike isn't fully tuned, it dies because it can't run on 2 cylinders. Can these bikes run on 2 at all?

 

My 1985 Maxim x can run on 2 cylinders and do 75 mph.

When all 4 are firing though, watch out!

 

The Bike will run on two holes!
You KNOW it when it does.

If you are tuning and lose a Coil the Bike starts to vibrate.
Pretty soon it's moving around on its work stand like a Strat-O-Matic Football Player just after you turn-on the juice.

Most people don't get to see that happen though.
More often than not they hit the Kill Switch.

When you think you've done something to cause the bike to hop around; hitting the Kill Switch is a reflex action!

 

Conn, your Haynes is a great resource. I'm glad you got the straight skinny on your secondaries, I shot that comment out with the coil from my VW in mind. I need to carry my important facts sheet around with me to help remember all the details.
Back to the subject at hand. Are you within the needed 11K range on the secondaries? If not, don't fret, the secondary wires tend to corrode internally after a time and, if they haven't been trimmed too many times, may be trimmed back to get a fresh contact point for the resister boots. Be sure to use dielectric grease to seal the boot on the wire and use a dab on the boot that slides over the spark plug insulator. This will help keep moisture from creeping into the joint and starting the problem all over again.
If this is not a possiblity, you can either replace the existing secondary wire with new (a bit of work but cheaper than buying new coils) or, to save aggravation, you could just buy new coils. I've run Accel SuperCoils and just picked up some Dana's that I've yet to install.
Let us know where you fall out on those coils. I hope it's an easy fix or choice for you.

 

Since the right coil low tension side can read normal cool and 0 ohms when it warms up, I'm gonna replace it. I found some indication that the bike could still run this way but don't want to risk getting stranded. I put in the word at my local repair/used parts place. According to his Yammy parts fiche, a XJ750 coil is the same part #. He believes that he has a couple of those in his parts storage shed along with some XJ650 side covers. I stop back by tommorrow to see what he comes up with. If he doesn't have anything, I'll hit up Chacal for some Dynas.