sudden failure

[nhmaf]

Oh - sounds like maybe your meter doesn't autorange (or perhaps it was telling you there was something wrong).   If you have to select a scale/range on the ohms setting for your meter, probably set it at 200K to start with.   The number you read should be somewhere between 20.0 - 60.0 or so.   If it is over 200K, then there is something wrong

[Bill Conquest]

The most consistent reading I got was at 36.5 with the meter set on 200k..the bikwe won't fire over at all...

[Bill Conquest]

Also just finished hours of cleaning connections etc. It started up and I put the tank on and it won't start now..

[nhmaf]

OK, 36.5 would be in a typical range with 5K ohm resistor caps (2) and an approx 25K secondary coil resistance - are you running the (2) bosch (or equivalent) coils in series, or do you have a newer dual output coil?    Either way though, that value is in the normal range for the coils I am aware of.

[Bob_Roller]

I might not be going in the right direction with this, but if you remove the fuel tank, will the engine run

My thinking here, is a possibility of a chaffed bare wire some where on the wiring harness, when you put the tank on, the bare wire gets a ground and the ignition won't work .

Or when you're riding, the wire gets moved just enough to ground out .

If the fuel tank isn't too full, check the bottom of the fuel tank for chafe marks and then inspect the wiring in that area if you find any on the fuel tank .

Just a wild guess !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bill Conquest]

I have 2 bosch coils..I'll try the idea with the tank.. at this point i'm a bit lost..

[Bob_Roller]

I'mnot familiar with the two coil installation, don't know what kind of clearance you have with the electrical connections on the coils .

When I installed my firsr DYNA coil on my '81 R65, I put the wire connectors on the primary circuit of the coil pointed away from the backbone frame tube, when I installed the fuel tank, the engine wouldn't start, adjusted the connectors and the engine ran fine .

Like I said, just a guess on previous experience .

Have you done any  work on the ignition system lately ??

If you have,you may want to go back and look over the area(s) you worked in, maybe something is loose, etc ........

[Bill Conquest]

I'll try that Bob..just took the tank off..still wouldn't fire up..fooled with the wiring all around and nothing..took out a plug & checked for spark ..then there was a spark so  I got it started & running fine, while idleing put the tank on & ran it for 15 min. with no problem..but I have no confidence to go very far.. will try more tomorrow..
Thanks for the ideas..any more are welcome!
Bill

[nhmaf]

Along the lines of pinched wires - maybe take a look under the front cover (you did say that the points and condensor were serviced) to see if maybe a wire from the beancan has gotten pinched under there - when the engine warms up and the alloy expands it might be pinching harder and grounding the voltage line to the points.    IF you can look at the points, especially the wires to the condensor, might be worth looking there too for possible pinch point.

Somehow, the warming up of the engine and/or some vibration is disabling the ignition somehow, and cooling back down or some slight jostling of the bike as in tanking the fuel tank off seems to correct it - is that an accurate summary, given what is observed, so far?

[jusgus]

Bill, It sounds like the condenser to me. Kind of pricey, but you will have a spare if it is not the problem.

[montmil]

... maybe take a look under the front cover (you did say that the points and condensor were serviced) to see if maybe a wire from the beancan has gotten pinched under there - when the engine warms up and the alloy expands it might be pinching harder and grounding the voltage line to the points.

BTDT. Took 30+ miles out into the boonies before one of the bean can wires shorted to ground and left me stuck. It can happen. I'm much more vigilant these days.

[Bill Conquest]

Thanks guys...good suggestions & i'll check all this out after work. talked to Rick at motoraad..he told me to try hitting the kill switch with ignition on when it dies..if the plugs spark it isn't the coils..any ideas on this..I could further isolate the problem..?

Thanks, Bill

[nhmaf]

Bill - you can try that, but that was one of the things I'd mentioned for you to try back on 9/5, and I thought you'd already done that?   Won't hurt to try it again and report back what the results are.

[Bill Conquest]

Yes you did..sorry I got a little mixed up with all the stuff I was trying...now I've taken the bike out twice on short forays & have not had it die like before..I think i'll have to buy some fans & run it with the fans on 'till it quits..will report back & thanks again for all the help & patience!
Bill

[Bill Conquest]

Well, after a couple weeks away from the bike due to work pressure i'm back on the trail.. I've taken it for 3 or 4 30 minute rides with no problems..maybe it was a connection or wire that I managed to jiggle back into place..not too reassuring. My auto mechanic brother tells me sometimes having the wrong spark plugs can cause a heated coil or other parts and cause failure..any thoughts on that? I'm running new NGK BP7ES plugs..
Thanks, Bill