Then, measure the voltage from tab to tab, just like before. Harley coil symptoms can sometimes Your motorcycle running poorly can point to many potential issues, with a bad stator being one of those possibilities. Some bikes will not start with the side stand down, if the bike is in gear or if the clutch lever is not battery will continue to drain as the bike runs. As time goes by, your motorbike starts to show issues. Sometimes someone tries to wire up aftermarket lights or a horn and put the wrong wire somewhere. Cannon Entities LLC also participates in affiliate programs with Rakuten, AvantLink, and other sites. See our Disclosure & Disclaimer. Otherwise, you wont recognize the problem and may end up damaging your vehicle severely. Then check the secondary winding of the ignition coil accordingly. Second, a spark plug can go bad by fowling. These are the symptoms of a bad ignition coil: Misfires - Check Engine Light: Misfiring is usually the first and most common symptom, and in most vehicles today, this will appear as a Check Engine Light. negative diode, the meter should not read anything while connecting the positive lead to the stator inputs. Next, check to make sure nothing is going to ground by connecting the red lead to the connector and the black Generally, if you burn the stator you will end up shorting together your three separate phase windings. To make it worse, the wiring is only getting more intricate with the new bike models. Your motorcycle may turn over but not start, it may make a grinding sound, or it may not make any sound at all depending on the make and model of motorcycle you have. You may have to pay $80 for some coils, while others may require that you part with $300. Hello, my name is Henry. Best electric scooter with removable battery, Best electric scooter for heavy adults [250-400 lbs], 10 Best foldable electric scooter with seat. components of your electrical system to see what is causing the excessive amperage. First, check to make sure that the battery has a full charge. It's a good idea to keep a spare main fuse on hand at Symptoms that your motorcycle is too cold: This is only applicable to motorcycles that have a carburetor and does not usually affect motorcycles that have a fuel injection system. Cannon Entities LLC is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Another simple way of testing if its the coil or the spark plug is by swapping parts. Ignition coils should be replaced only when it requires a replacement. If it keeps blowing, buy a small circuit breaker for a few dollars at any auto store and put the circuit breaker in the line until you identify why the fuse keeps blowing. Another significant symptom of a bad ignition coil is the lessening of fuel economy. system. But it doesn't have to be that Decreased power overall. If it still doesnt fire, its the coil. These symptoms can be easily confused with several other engine problems. You expect a smooth and unhesitant start when you first start your bike in a day, right? Start the engine and the misfiring should disappear. To maintain their status as an authorized dealer they will be required to purchase certain tools. is a clear symptom of a failed coil. Once you get the epoxy off, you can remove all of the windings from the stator. Orders placed during the weekends or the following holidays will ship the next So, without further delay, lets get into the details. Your email address will not be published. Symptoms of no air flow: again, you may not have any issues turning it over but may have issues getting it started. If you are getting close to 12vdc at the coil terminal of a 12V DC system and no reading is coming out of from touching the coil, then you either have a bad connection or bad coil. Then Excessive vibration or noise can also be seen when you change the gears of your motorcycle. Also, if you have no idea when they were changed last, that might be a good indication that theyre spent. a heat gun to warm the coils. Here I will share the most human side of the biker. 80XS11, XJ11,83XVZ12 mlew, May 7, 2012 #2 Cannon Entities LLC is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. You might be served by such an effort though. Troubleshooting electrical problems is simply understanding what each component's function is and then If using an ultrasonic cleaner isnt an option, it is possible to clean it by hand though it wont be as thorough as using an ultrasonic cleaner. There are so many different signs pointing towards a failing stator. You may even try to spray starter fluid in the carburetor but it still wont make a difference because the fuse is not able to send a spark to the spark plug to ignite. A failing stator will begin to behave differently when it is cold as compared to when it is hot. Fixing a seized engine can be very difficult depending on the severity and you may cause further problems tinkering around with it. Check Engine Light comes on. Your stator will wear out over time. should measure in the thousands. The opposite can also happen with the low-speed coil. But before then, it is important to know that ignition coils serve as compact electrical transformers which help to convert the low voltage into a much higher voltage. Also, plug wires can be checked for proper resistance using an ohmeter. I was reading about the diagnostic mode in the service manual. And you could tell that just by riding your bike for a little time with a damaged ignition coil. If you allow it or, Read More 14 Best Motorcycle Wheel ChocksContinue, Take away the hassle in bike maintenance with the best motorcycle lift table. Anything under and the charging system is not able to keep up. The only way for a home mechanic I'm currently working as a mechanical engineer and have been able to restore over a dozen rides. If you have a kickstarter, putting it into neutral and not being able to kick start it (meaning you cant move the kick starter at all) could mean your engine is seized or you have a bad transmission. You can first check to make sure that the plug wires and caps are all intact. The third most common reason is due to rust and grime build-up in the cylinder walls from sitting for long periods of time. This is all how you generally test a motorcycle ignition coil on your own. Failed Harley ignition coil results business day. Most of the time, specific-cylinder misfires become easier to diagnose than . And the current standard, coil-on-plug, gives each spark plug its own top-mounted ignition coil. Replace the fuse if necessary. be at about 2000 rpm. All of these signs show that theres a problem with the Harley ignition coil. Hence, your bike will sound as though power is missing. If you have this problem, youll have difficulty starting your motorcycle with the possibility of it not even turning over. And you decided to accelerate your bike a bit to go faster. Since youll likely need to replace the spark plugs anyway, connect the suspected ignition coil to a new plug with new wiring. It has two parts, primary windings and secondary windings. It used to be if your car couldnt start, that would be a sign of a faulty starter or ignition coil. I could see the regulator because the surging, according to the PO, didn't occur at his thousand foot elavation in Missouri. within range. However, no matter how large or small your engine is, without fuel, air, and a spark, it wont make any horsepower. grounds on your motorcycle can be done quickly if you know where they all are. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. If it did not, the issue is more than likely faulty contact points or incorrect timing. First, check the positive diode. The check engine light tells you that something is wrong with the ignition coil indicating a fault code. The simplest way is by using specialized spark testers or test lights, available for both distributors and modern coils. Hard starts and a poorly running engine can also be clues that your stator needs to be rebuilt or replaced. But, a faulty ignition coil is enough to hurt your expectations. That causes a magnetic field to form in the ignition coil. Once you have the stator out, you can start working on getting the epoxy off of the windings. Sometimes this will happen while you're already stopped and other times it will happen as you're moving. The stator has the responsibility of generating power to run various electronics on the bike. Harley Davidson Ignition Coil Symptoms: Here are a few symptoms: Symptom #1: Poor Fuel Economy, Symptom #2: Backfiring, Symptom #3 Vehicle Stalling, Symptom #4: Engine fails to start, Symptom #5: Rough idling, & Symptom #6 Engine Misfiring. A motorcycle with a faulty main fuse may create an intermittent connection that can make the bike run poorly or completely die at what seems to be random times. with no sparks coming from the cylinders. In both cases, something in the charging system The problem with that is most Honda dealers don't even know what a ST1300 is. Be sure to look through the jet holes and make sure there are no blockages; any blockages will cause poor performance on your motorcycle. It's also important to make sure that the battery that If the battery drops below 10.8 volts, it the regulator to get rid of it. The stator can be an extremely hard component to diagnose as there are quite a few potential symptoms and they are all also symptoms of other component failures. When the sequence gets interrupted by a damaged ignition coil, your bike starts to misfire. Your accessories are the optional components that add to the amount of amperage needed. Call Us Mon-Fri: 7am - 8pm, Sat & Sun: 8am - 5pm CST: 1-800-969-7501, Pickup Store Hours are Mon-Fri: 9am - 8pm, Sat: 9am - 5pm & Sun: 12pm - 5pm CST. Bad Ignition Coil. It can imply that some or all of your coils must be repaired. Now you dont have to be an automobile expert to understand what is wrong with your motorcycle. If the ignition coil has gone wrong, the bike engine wont give you a smooth start. The stator mark will need to be lined up with the engine mark, then youll need to remove the valve cover and make sure the valves are positioned correctly. ignition coil. If you ride your motorcycle fairly often, then you constantly have fuel going through your inject which ultimately cleans it as it goes. Stay up to date with the latest deals & promotions! They can be expensive and if it was not the problem, you can be stuck If possible, always have your motorcycle covered and/or stored somewhere inside to keep it out of the elements. While spark plugs and ignition coils arent the same, theyre both part of a vehicles ignition. 5. Look into your specific motorcycle for the appropriate size of enameled copper wire. Diesel engines dont have spark plugs because diesel ignites via compression, not a spark. But the biggest reason ignition coils fail is due to an overload in voltage because of poorly functioning spark plugs. You can also manually inspect your fuel injectors. Finally, never underestimate the implication of that popular saying: procrastination is the thief of time. Delay is dangerous. Best 3 Wheel Chopper Trike Motorcycle For Toddler, 10 best removable motorcycle wheel chock for trailer, Best Heavy Duty Motorcycle And Dirt Bike Chain, 10 battery operated dirt bike For 100 Dollars With Training Wheels. Check your ignition coil as it may have a fault. When you feel so, get the ignition coil tested and replace it with a new one if needed. Why such a high voltage? The most common signs of bad ignition coils in BMW 2 Series are engine hesitation when accelerating or loss of power, rough idle, misfires, excessive fuel consumption, check engine light illuminates, and sometimes hard starting. The older DIS designs may require removing an engine cover, Haynes reports, but theyre typically only held in by a few screws. To do this, place the positive lead into the positive diode. battery will begin to drain. Illuminated check engine light. When this happens, your motorcycle gets less mileage. You cant afford to see your motorcycle tip over when youre storing or transporting your motorcycle. Therefore, we need to know how to diagnose a bad ignition coil. extra power needed to charge the battery during operation. Its rich when theres more fuel than air present in the engine, and lean when theres more air than fuel present. A properly functioning accelerator on your motorcycle is critical to having a fun and safe ride. Move on if you are still having problems while doing the proper starting sequence. This will easily break down fuel build up and dirt that has built up in hard-to-get places. Whenever misfires happen, you will notice how some ticks are happening inside of the engine. I'm too lazy to go looking for code readers for YOUR bike. In most cases, it is seen a worn-out ignition coil is creating issues like engine misfiring. The stator begins to work much harder and therefore generate much more power. Generally, you can get a reading of 0.2 ohms all the way up to 5 ohms. This website is where I report everything I've learned and continue to learn. The charging system of the motorcycle should bring How to diagnose motorcycle ignition problems. So, make sure you go through it sincerely and work according to it. You wont be getting smoother rides like before and feel loss of power with an ineffective ignition coil. Lastly, you just need to solder the connector wires to the three phases and put it back onto the bike. The other main cause for your stator failing on you is a power overload. Some symptoms are very common, matching other different symptoms in motorcycles. It all came from the day I, Read More 10-Point Checklist For Buying a Used MotorcycleContinue, Riding a motorcycle is more than just the miles or the destination. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. updates on the parts & accessories you want. Youll have the positive wire going straight to ground and its too many amps for that fuse to handle thus causing the fuse to blow to protect the battery and the wiring. Then take the positive and negative wire leads and attach them to the posts of the primary winding of the ignition coil. To test the cap, you will need to remove A bad ignition coil can reduce your motorcycles work efficiency and put you in a difficult situation. You can find that by clicking here. Significant engine trouble can also cause the voltage to Learn more about Dennis Kirk. When I ride around in low RPM's. For example, if your engine starts misfiring, losing power, or idling roughly, that can be the sign of a bad spark plug, Autoblog reports. The stator also performs the extremely important role of generating the power for the spark plugs in the engine. If you are having problems with charging, you should first check your stator since its job is to provide the An ignition coil is a form of transformer in automobiles. Because of the low fuel economy, the vehicle receives less mileage. You can use a multimeter to test the voltages around the ignition coil to make sure thats the true problem before buying a new one. If you notice one wire thats becoming brittle, its a good idea to replace all the other spark plug wires while youre at it because chances are theyll crack soon too. If an ignition coil is bad, you will experience rough idling. reading should measure between 300 and 500 Ohms, but refer to your shop manual for your motorcycle's If you notice that your bike is consuming more fuel than usual, it is a cause of concern. It is natural for all bikes or any other vehicle to lose its efficiency over time. Manage Settings Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Label parts using some tape if you need to. I am 100% positive, 2 Coils. Creating an account allows you to save your favorite rides, This can happen when you run too many accessories at the same time. It will, Vibration can begin to rub the varnish that serves as an insulator on your stator windings off. should be the last thing that you check. The numbers are not important. After coating the stator, you will want to cure it in an oven at 300 degrees for about 30 minutes. Your motorcycle may turn over but will not stay on and will stall out. A new stator can cost around $300-$400 some for vintage or hard to find motorcycles can even end up as much as $1,500. voltage is delivered within certain limits, as not to damage the battery. Set your multimeter to Ohms to check this. How to fix it: put your motorcycle into neutral and try starting it again. Use your multimeter to check for resistance. If one is failing, you are going to feel it real bad with the engine lay-out and 270 degree firing order on that V4. A motorcycle with faulty coil will make a start difficult, wont give a smooth ride, decrease the power and cause many other issues. Once you have removed the stator you can perform a visual inspection, which usually shows very quickly what the problem is. Sometimes the problem is very small, like a bad ignition coil, but the consequence could be tough. Your motorcycle stator performs a critical function on your motorcycle. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Your stator has to keep up with all of these accessories but also continue providing power to your spark plugs. A vibrating motorcycle is not only uncomfortable, but its also scary and would make any rider My name is Kyle Cannon and I love everything about motorcycles. to test for the CDI is to swap it with a CDI that is known to work. is not terribly important. That is also a sign that your bikes ignition coil has worn out. Therere single ignition coil and dual chordignition coil. How a motorcycle battery dies: If a motorcycle battery is not used and just sits, it will lose its capacity to power your motorcycle. faulty grounds early in the troubleshooting process. Vehicle Stalling Just a guess but I'd imagine on a piece of tech like the st1300, you might have more than one coil. For the regulator, attach your meter leads to the battery while it is running. Sometimes it has next to no power and even the slightest hill forces me to change gear as the rpm drops. Symptoms of a dead battery: this is the easiest problem to diagnose and is probably the most common reason why a motorcycle doesnt start. Now, however, even with full throttle, the engine just becomes noisier and the speed very slowly goes up. Harley Davidson Motorcycles Backfire here. How air is obstructed: this is usually caused by a dirty air filter that hasnt been cleaned or replaced in a while or clogged pod filters (though pod filters dont usually have a problem with obstructing air). Another common way to diagnose the problem is by hooking up a multi-meter and testing the inner and outer coils resistances. The opposite can also happen with the low-speed coil. Click herefor more information if youre interested in viewing multiple videos that will help fix up your bike or if youre interested in completely building your dream motorcycle! Engine misfires are often going hand in hand with bad ignition coils and are one of the most frequent bad ignition coil symptoms along with the check engine light. These are parts that dont last forever and with continual use, theyll eventually become dysfunctional. A great place to start is at the source of power. By learning to recognize these symptoms, one can often find themselves on the fast path to viable repair. Poor idling and stalling will lead up to this problem.