Coil Question For Bob Roller

[Crossrodes]

This is for Bob but feel free to chime in.  

I have the engine etc back together on my '79 R65.  I have attempted to fire her up but she is only running on one cylinder.  The timing isn't set yet but I've moved the adjustment around with the same result each time.  I've checked if fuel is flowing to the carbs and everything seems OK there.  I don't think the carb is gummed up as I put Sta-Bil in the fuel and ran it before I laid the bike up last fall.  I have now emptied the fuel tank and put fresh new fuel in.  Fuel is getting to the cylinder...the spark plug is wet.  I have removed and cleaned the carb bowls.  I have checked the spark and seem to get an intermittent spark so I'm doing an electrical check.  I've cleaned and gapped the plugs which were working fine last fall.  Now the question....

In a previous post Bob, in a thread titled Crank, crank, crank: no fire, you said that the coil secondary resistance should be 11-13k ohms.  The Clymer manual says that is should be 7.5-8.5k ohms for dual coils.  Both of my Bosch coils are reading around 7.5k ohms.  Which range is correct the Roller range or the Clymer range?

[Bob_Roller]

The 11-13,000 ohms for the secondary circuit, is for the BMW single,  dual output BMW coil .

I have to claim inexperience on the dual coil points type ignition system .

But just an observation, that both coils are the same, so I don't think the coils would be the issue .

[nhmaf]

Though, the coils *could* fail in other ways (that wouldn't introduce a problem on the secondary, but which could cause an intermittent open on the primary).   Not the usual failure mechanism for the dual coils, but I don't have direct experience with the single coils to say one way or the other.  I would try swapping the plug leads to the coils and see if you can get the problem to move from one cylinder to the other.  IF so, it is most likely a bad coil. [Edit: Or plug/wire]

Is this bike still running with the points ignition?   IF your condensor (capacitor) is dying it might possibly cause this sort of thing too with a weak spark.  

Perhaps Barry's amplifier kit find might also be of interest to you, after this is all sorted out - the amplifier should (if you disconnect the condensor as described) give you longer points-life, too.

[Barry]

Just went out to the garage and measured my coils.  I got  around 7K Ohms.

[Crossrodes]

Yep, I thought about swapping the coils and plug wires too (a benefit of a dual coil system).  It looks like I have a bad coil even though it measures OK.  I do have a points system.  I had them out as part of the "going-over" process.  There was a little dimple (not too bad if I can compare it to what I used to see on my old cars) in the points which I filed down with a points file that I have had for eons.  So I'm guessing the points are OK.

The next step is getting a new coil...or should I replace both??? They both look pretty old but they're not grey as someone mentioned (I'm grey and my wife has said on occasion that she should replace me).  One other question...I checked that Motorad Elektrik site.  It reads like he will only accept Paypal; am I reading this right?

I should also ask...Since I'm into replacing ignition parts anyway...Is there an electronic system on the market that will replace the points condenser and coils???  If it's too much money I'll just replace the coil(s).

[Bob_Roller]

I've always called in an order to Motorrad Elektrik, and they accept, most major credit carda, I don't know if residing outside the US is a different issue or not .

[nhmaf]

I think that Rick will take credit cards from anyone (except rogue nigerian princes) - he is a very good guy and helpful, even if for some inexplicable reason he cannot help you directly.

The most often used systems on airheads to replace the points systems include Omega, Boyer (not so popular anymore) and Dyna.   I think that we've got several folks here who have Omegas on their R65s.

[Justin B.]

Crossrodes, your fellow Canadian Stephen Bottcher is the NA distributor for the omega ignition.  His URL is http://www.stephenbottcher.net/omega/reviews.html

Tell him I sent you his way and he may only charge you double for it!  Seriously, I've met Stephen a few times and he seems like a straight shooter and from everything I've heard stands behind and supports the product very well.

[steve hawkins]

For a points system almost any motorcycle coil will do.  I am running a second hand BMW K100 dual output coil on my 1979 R65.  Works a treat and I am now down to a single unit.

I had problems with coil mounts breaking off and the Bosch Blues are really too heavy.  If you frame mounts are not already broken a set of bosch blues will do them in for sure.

You have many choices, paying many $ will not make any more reliable.

[Crossrodes]

For now I've decided to order a set of points, condenser, plug wires and a single "Green" coil that will service both plugs.  I called Rick and he had no problem accepting my credit card and shipping to Canada.

So now I sit for a couple of weeks and twiddle my thumbs.

I'll decide on the Omega system after I have the bike running.

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

[montmil]

...So now I sit for a couple of weeks and twiddle my thumbs...

Not too worry as Rick ships quickly. Get your tools ready!

[Crossrodes]

"Not too worry as Rick ships quickly"

I'm sure he does but once it gets to the border Canada Customs and Canada Post seem to take forever.

[Justin B.]

I nice benefit to the Omega system is that if you do have a failure in the middle of nowhere you can be back on the road in minutes with the stock ignition by just swapping a wire.

[Crossrodes]

I have finally received my green Dyna Coil.  I am replacing the two coils (one bad one) with this single coil.  

I have to do some re-wiring to make everything work with the single coil.  My question is this:

Apart from the plug wire outlets the Dyna Coil has two terminals which are NOT marked + and -.  Does this matter?  Can I just choose either one to be the plus or minus?

[Bob_Roller]

If the coil is not marked as such, it shouldn't matter .