Topic: 1 & 4 not firing *Fixed

[Duke-Nukem-Dan]

Hey, my second posting on here, I've learned a lot on this forum, really cool place.  I'm stuck though.  Bike is a 1974 cb550k, with 022a carbs 20K miles.  Bike has been running real well.  Went for a long 1 1/2 hour ride.  Parked it overnight, left next morning.  The next day start the bike up, 1 and 4 cylinders aren't firing.  Just 2 & 3.  I replaced stock coils with 5 ohm Dyna coils a month ago.  So I switched the coils and the problem still exists on the same cylinders.  So it's not the coils.  The ignition is a Martek 440 with the plastic covering.  Looking around on here, there were/are pretty good ignitions.  I don't know how old it is, and I don't know how to do timing with it.  The instructions I found on SOHC don't help.  Should I just buy a new Dyna S, or is there something else I'm not seeing.  My theory is the ignition was too hot for too long and broke.  1 1/2 hours is the longest ride I've ever taken it on.  I've had the bike for almost 2 months now.  Really appreciate any help, THANKS!!!!  Also, I switched the spark plugs, with no change, and NO 1 & 4 are not getting spark.

[Honda550k]

Check the the connections from thw ignition to the coils. Blue and yellow wire. See if they're loose. I had a dyna s on my bike and I lost cylinder #4. I switched over to the stock points and it's running perfect. Started bogging on me the other night so I cleaned the points on the road and it's running prefect again.

[Duke-Nukem-Dan]

Followed the wires all the way from coils to the points.  Connections are all good. The martek is an electronic, photo ignition. My understanding is that it works by infrared sensors and a window that passes by.  I cleaned the sensors still nothing.  It must be the blue wire that's not sending juice to the coils or something.

[K3Owner]

DND,

Easy enough to rule the coil-wire-cap-plug completely out if you turn on the ignition and ground the point side of the coil on 1/4. Remove from ground and it will spark if good. If it is and those blue and yellow leads are ohming fine as you say, I would reverse them at the coils to see if the ignition triggers the reverse. I'd do this with the plugs out, of course. Sounds like the trigger to me. Back to points?

[Duke-Nukem-Dan]

Unfortunately I dont have the original points. Everything else is stock on the bike, except 60/55 watt headlight.  Any recommendations on ignition. From what i hear, Dyna S is reliable but uses more juice.  Original points uses less energy, but less reliable.  I was having charging issues, but I think Ive worked them out. I'd hate to introduce more gremlins but i dont have a choice.

[Duke-Nukem-Dan]

But yes, in my OP I said I had switched wires, so both coils work fine. After re- reading it I guess I sounded a little confusing. I'll mark this as fixed and buy an ignition I guess. Thanks guys.