Author Topic: Cb550 failing condensers (Read 2799 times)

Anthub · « **on:** July 07, 2020, 11:11:01 PM »

Can anyone give a reason for a condenser continuously failing.
I’ve replaced the condenser for 1 and 4 cylinders 4 times now with less than 100 miles on all of them put together.
Last night I was out on the bike and another one failed. Fortunately I was carrying another which failed after a couple of hundred yards. All four have been from different manufacturers.

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scottly · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2020, 11:13:28 PM »

Maybe it's not the condensers??

Anthub · « **Reply #2 on:** July 07, 2020, 11:20:00 PM »

Yeah... well something is causing them to fail and after asking a few mechanic friends, no one is able to come up with a cause

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scottly · « **Reply #3 on:** July 07, 2020, 11:23:32 PM »

What makes you think the condenser is failing?

Anthub · « **Reply #4 on:** July 07, 2020, 11:31:06 PM »

The scenario is bike running fine, then starts running really rough so that to get home I have to really keep the revs up. I feel the headers and 1 and 4 are cold.
I swapped the condensers round and 1 and 4 headers are hot while 2 and 3 are cold.
So I buy new condensers and the problem is solved for a short while. Then again, it starts running really rough and 1 and 4 headers are cold. So I replace the condenser for 1 and 4 and lo and behold the problem is solved again.. Then the same thing happens again, so I replace the condenser for 1 and 4 again... runs for a few miles no problem then it happens again... and so on and so forth.

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scottly · « **Reply #5 on:** July 07, 2020, 11:46:50 PM »

Do your condensers have a 3 blade propeller mark?

Anthub · « **Reply #6 on:** July 07, 2020, 11:57:12 PM »

No..... they’ve always been ‘generic’ ones from different manufacturers (the last 2 I got via David Silver spares). They’re probably not the best but what I don’t understand is why it’s always the 1 and 4 condenser that stops working. I’ve considered getting Daiichi ones but I can’t find them in the UK and postage from the States is high and the wait time long. I’m happy to pay more but I’ve just got a feeling the same will happen again.

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scottly · « **Reply #7 on:** July 08, 2020, 12:04:22 AM »

You DO NOT want the Daiichi condensers or points!!! They are crap! You want TEC brand. There is no reason I can think of that would cause one condenser to fail while the other works OK.

Anthub · « **Reply #8 on:** July 08, 2020, 12:33:46 AM »

Ahhh right.. I get you .. Yeah, the TEC ones have been recommended to me also... Thanks for your reply.. I’m hoping someone on here has suffered the same issue and can give me a solution as it’s extremely frustrating when the bike dies when I’m out and about.

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Deltarider · « **Reply #9 on:** July 08, 2020, 01:02:30 AM »

Peculiar. Are you sure you have mounted them correctly, meaning: without the forked connector having intermittently contacting the plate (=GND)? Also the fiber insulator rings should be in the right place. Sometimes (rarely) the tiny insulator in the centre of the contactbreaker is misaligned. Please shoot some pics.

Anthub · « **Reply #10 on:** July 08, 2020, 01:12:55 AM »

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Anthub · « **Reply #11 on:** July 08, 2020, 01:13:33 AM »

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Anthub · « **Reply #12 on:** July 08, 2020, 01:15:39 AM »

Thanks... looking at the diagram, I see my fork connector from the condenser is on the other side of the fastening .... would that make a difference?

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Anthub · « **Reply #13 on:** July 08, 2020, 01:18:01 AM »

I can confirm, none of the wiring/connectors are touching the plate

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bryanj · « **Reply #14 on:** July 08, 2020, 01:37:30 AM »

If you are in UK come and join us on the UK forum.
We have been thinking about fitting alternatime condensers at the coil mounting, if you want to try i have some you can have for £2 each plus post. I have same id on UK site

Anthub · « **Reply #15 on:** July 08, 2020, 01:40:19 AM »

Quote from: bryanj on July 08, 2020, 01:37:30 AM

If you are in UK come and join us on the UK forum.
We have been thinking about fitting alternatime condensers at the coil mounting, if you want to try i have some you can have for £2 each plus post. I have same id on UK site

Thanks... Where do I find the UK forum

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Deltarider · « **Reply #16 on:** July 08, 2020, 01:45:36 AM »

Quote from: Anthub on July 08, 2020, 01:15:39 AM

Thanks... looking at the diagram, I see my fork connector from the condenser is on the other side of the fastening .... would that make a difference?

No, it wouldn't. Is the blue wire's isolation near the plate intact?

bryanj · « **Reply #17 on:** July 08, 2020, 01:46:23 AM »

Sohc.co.uk you should be able to use the same name

Anthub · « **Reply #18 on:** July 08, 2020, 01:51:03 AM »

Quote from: Deltarider on July 08, 2020, 01:45:36 AM

Quote from: Anthub on July 08, 2020, 01:15:39 AM
Thanks... looking at the diagram, I see my fork connector from the condenser is on the other side of the fastening .... would that make a difference?
No, it wouldn't. Is the blue wire's isolation near the plate intact?

Yeah... totally

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Deltarider · « **Reply #19 on:** July 08, 2020, 02:37:40 AM »

Do the points show severe pitting or arcing like in this vid?

Anthub · « **Reply #20 on:** July 08, 2020, 02:45:29 AM »

Quote from: Deltarider on July 08, 2020, 02:37:40 AM

Do the points show severe pitting or arcing like in this vid?

No.. the points seem fine. I can’t run the bike to check them presently as it won’t start but a couple of weeks ago (when I fitted the last condenser before it ‘blew’) when I last checked them they weren’t arcing

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PeWe · « **Reply #21 on:** July 08, 2020, 06:11:19 AM »

Maybe the coil that fail when warm?
Stop and cool down. If you take a leak or burger, that will "fix" it too

I used Daichii points and condensers in the 80's. They lasted atleast 1 season. Easier to see when condensers needed to be replaced with a transparent ign cover. Flashes in the night.

Anthub · « **Reply #22 on:** July 08, 2020, 06:46:54 AM »

Quote from: PeWe on July 08, 2020, 06:11:19 AM

Maybe the coil that fail when warm?
Stop and cool down. If you take a leak or burger, that will "fix" it too
I used Daichii points and condensers in the 80's. They lasted atleast 1 season. Easier to see when condensers needed to be replaced with a transparent ign cover. Flashes in the night.

No.. it’s the same hot or cold.... I’ve just put a 5th condenser on and it started no problem (I took it straight off though as I know what will happen)

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Anthub · « **Reply #23 on:** July 08, 2020, 08:52:16 AM »

Chaps... I’ve bitten the bullet and ordered the Dynatec coils and electronic ignition.... Thank you all very much for your comments and help...

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bryanj · « **Reply #24 on:** July 08, 2020, 08:54:42 AM »

Cancel it quick, they take too much power

Anthub · « **Reply #25 on:** July 08, 2020, 08:56:42 AM »

Quote from: bryanj on July 08, 2020, 08:54:42 AM

Cancel it quick, they take too much power

I’ll message you

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PeWe · « **Reply #26 on:** July 08, 2020, 09:05:11 AM »

My CB750 runs both with Dynatek 5 ohm coils (black), points (TEC) and Hondaman ignition module which can work without condensers.
I had some misfires after 8000 rpm so condensers back in. Not much current for points nor condensers to handle.

I tried 3 ohm coils and Dyna-S. Battery discharged quickly with headlight on. Traded in the coils to 5 ohms after 40 minutes ride.

USCG_C130 · « **Reply #27 on:** August 18, 2020, 07:45:40 PM »

I battled what i thought was constantly failing condensers, after changing 5 pair or more i finally got an electronic ignition, but it ended up being a power issue for me, since i had built my own wiring harness, i had somehow managed to get power to both my high beam and low beam relays no matter what position the head light switch was in, and i believe the big power draw and weakening battery is what was killing my condensers, either way i am very happy to have found that issue and gone and tossed the points. so far no issues with my electronic ignition. i hope that you resolve your issue

Anthub · « **Reply #28 on:** August 18, 2020, 10:36:27 PM »

Quote from: USCG_C130 on August 18, 2020, 07:45:40 PM

I battled what i thought was constantly failing condensers, after changing 5 pair or more i finally got an electronic ignition, but it ended up being a power issue for me, since i had built my own wiring harness, i had somehow managed to get power to both my high beam and low beam relays no matter what position the head light switch was in, and i believe the big power draw and weakening battery is what was killing my condensers, either way i am very happy to have found that issue and gone and tossed the points. so far no issues with my electronic ignition. i hope that you resolve your issue

Thanks for that update mate... appreciated.
I have been running with the electronic ignition and new coils for around 6 weeks now and am very pleased with the results, with no charging issues. I also replaced the battery after experiencing some initial issues (had it tested and there was a dead cell) and as a result, everything is working well.

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Author Topic: Cb550 failing condensers (Read 2799 times)