Topic: Coil Meltdown

[nancy]

Just as I set off to complete my handover leg on the SOHC relay today...one of my coils spat black goo in a cough and spit and smell of hot burning rubber. So in a panic I had to swap over to the non-SOHC Triumph to hand over Godzilla....
So now I have only the 1 & 4 coil working. Having pulled out the coils - I can see the black goo oozing from the other coil - so it's toast.
Can I call on my SOHC brotherhood for advice here...am I stupid to buy just ONE coil - say a new EMGO or similar? Do I really have to I buy a matched set - new EMGO or similar? Or go for used originals. I can only find one set used on fleabay - that's US$100. I can buy new repros for around US$35 each. Having deep pockets and short arms - I am tempted to buy ONE cheapo new coil..should I?
Look forward to some deep and meaningful discussion...well hoping..
Anyway - Godzilla has been handed over and details will be posted on that area on the board...

Regards
Mark

[Trav-i]

I would say consider a set of 5 ohm Dyna coils, and a set of their wires.  At least after that you'll have easily replaceable plug wires.

[HondaMan]

I'm cheap, so I'd buy just one coil! 

[754]

  Do you mean GZ traveled by other means than a SOHC../..MIGHT HAVE TO REDO THAT PART..

 iF YOUR CHARGING SYSTEM IS WIRED WRONG it can overcharge as it does not realize it should stop charging.. that can cause coil meltdown...

[nancy]

Yes,,..sorry about that "754"...I'll happily redo the leg as soon as I get Hondy back on da road.
Incorrectly wired charging? Dunno..but nothing has been fiddled with by me in 2 years in the charging area.
Only thing I can think of - a year ago I did replace the HT leads after one fell off at the coil! So I may have introduced  a gremlin, fruit fly or blight maybe? Or....it was just it's time.
 

[Terry in Australia]

I think your bike's probably fcuked mate, best send it to me so I can dispose of it safely. I normally charge for this service, but seeing that it's close to Christmas, I'll waive the standard fee in the spirit of the season......

But in all seriousness, don't buy a dodgy Emgo coil, you can buy a pair of new Dyna coils and leads reasonably inexpensively from Z1 Enterprises, so reach a bit deeper into your pockets and do something that will solve your problem and actually improve your bike's performance a tad.

Isn't it kind of ironic that you had to switch from your broken down Honda to your more reliable English bike? Haven't times changed..............    

[Deltarider]

and actually improve your bike's performance a tad

Personally I never experienced any improvement by going dyna. Had one failing after 30.000 kms already. Being able to renew HT-leads is a good thing however. Just compare prices and then pick your choice. 
BTW, could you have shortcircuited your coil?

[dave500]

i have a good stock set you can have for $40,,the postage will kill it though?

[Terry in Australia]

and actually improve your bike's performance a tad

Personally I never experienced any improvement by going dyna. Had one failing after 30.000 kms already. Being able to renew HT-leads is a good thing however. Just compare prices and then pick your choice. 
BTW, could you have shortcircuited your coil?

That's a bit of bad luck mate, my Dyna coils are 12 years old now, and still working great. I removed a set of new OEM coils from my blue CB750 K2 and replaced them with some used 5 Ohm Dyna's and leads last Christmas and I couldn't believe how much brighter the spark was, and how much smoother the engine ran, even with points. I wouldn't use OEM coils in anything apart from a 100% original resto, they're like original shocks, original tyres etc, they're OK, but there are plenty of better options out there. Cheers, Terry.

[Deltarider]

That's a bit of bad luck mate, my Dyna coils are 12 years old now, and still working great.

My stock Honda coils that I keep in the basement still work great and I can't understand I didn't leave them on. Spending money on buying that third extra Dyna was a mistake. Should have returned to my stock coils when one Dyna gave up, but back then I was still too eager to believe Dyna was something special. I was projecting what I desired in it. Only advantage of Dyna is you can change the HT leads easily. This in itself can be a good reason. On the other hand NGK's cable coupler isn't a bad idea either (and much cheaper). Decades ago I could be influenced with this 36.000 Volts bla, bla.  Now I understand how things work, not anymore.
I've never experienced any gain of the Dyna coils (how could it ever?).
From cleaning your HTleads or a fresh set of plugs on the other hand, yes, definitely. 

[nancy]

and actually improve your bike's performance a tad

Personally I never experienced any improvement by going dyna. Had one failing after 30.000 kms already. Being able to renew HT-leads is a good thing however. Just compare prices and then pick your choice. 
BTW, could you have shortcircuited your coil?

Dunno how I would have rodgered it - so I guess,.the answer is no, I don't think I've short-circuited the coils. All has been running OK without any tinkering for months. Did rebuild the coils within the last year to insert new HT leads - so I guess I may have introduced a weakness. I have noticed for two years since buying the bike that #3 plug was sooty and I have rebuilt carbs, rejetted, changed clip heights, points checked etc...without much  change. So..maybe I have had a weak 2 & 3 coil for some time. Over the last week on starting,..#2 pipe would not warm up..so warning signs started.

[nancy]

i have a good stock set you can have for $40,,the postage will kill it though?

Thanks Dave - I may be interested...I haven't priced those Dyna coils that Terry wants me to look at...I'll look. I suspect they'll be 1 & 1/2 bills or so..so I will baulk at that cost this side of the silly season (well she-who-must-be-obeyed will). I'll look into postage costs to/from Gold Coast at this end....if I buy from a US site I'm still up for postage/courier costs.
Regards
Mark

[BobbyR]

Nancy as the cheapskate in my family I have decided to bite the bullet and replace the whole fooking ignition system. Throw out the failing Dyna, and put in a PAMCO, put new coils and wires. I am not pushing the #$%*.

[nancy]

Nancy as the cheapskate in my family I have decided to bite the bullet and replace the whole fooking ignition system. Throw out the failing Dyna, and put in a PAMCO, put new coils and wires. I am not pushing the #$%*.

Yeh, well that's up there on price at $239US without shipping to me....but I agree that would be the solution I'd vote for. The little purse holder who-must-be-obeyed will see it from a different perspective if u catch my drift...

[BobbyR]

Nancy as the cheapskate in my family I have decided to bite the bullet and replace the whole fooking ignition system. Throw out the failing Dyna, and put in a PAMCO, put new coils and wires. I am not pushing the #$%*.

Yeh, well that's up there on price at $239US without shipping to me....but I agree that would be the solution I'd vote for. The little purse holder who-must-be-obeyed will see it from a different perspective if u catch my drift...

I hear ya Brother. This is my XMAS gift, I can;t ride the crap I usually get. 

[Deltarider]

I wonder if any of those aftermarkets electronics are protected against moisture. Temperature varies behind that ignition cover and I wonder about condensation. That's one of the reasons I mounted my homemade transitor ignition module high and dry in a safe place, behind the strap of the battery.

[Deltarider]

Oh... and here's another tip: use wire that is supple and will stay supple (silicon wire?)
After many years in use the wires of mine are rockhard and not pliable anymore.

[pamcopete]

Nancy as the cheapskate in my family I have decided to bite the bullet and replace the whole fooking ignition system. Throw out the failing Dyna, and put in a PAMCO, put new coils and wires. I am not pushing the #$%*.

http://www.cb750supply.com/products has two PAMCO kits somplete with coils. wires and caps. One at $175 and the other at $239, both with free shipping.

[BobbyR]

PETE, i bought one, please check your messages..

[nancy]

PETE, i bought one, please check your messages..

Bobby - would like to hear how you get on - how hard, how fast, how cool...
Regards
Mark

[BobbyR]

Will do Mark. I am waiting for it to arrive. I will be insralling it replace a failing Dyna. I can give everyone a comparison of how they are installed. Ii may be moved to take pictures of the process.

[Terry in Australia]

Will do Mark. I am waiting for it to arrive. I will be insralling it replace a failing Dyna. I can give everyone a comparison of how they are installed. Ii may be moved to take pictures of the process.

Hey Bobby, wanna sell me that failing Dyna? Cheers, Terry.