QuestionHi Mark,
I'm looking for a little help. I don't know if a past problem is part of my current problem or not. Several years ago, the bike would just cut out for no apparent reason. It was as if you had hit the kill switch while riding. Usually let it cool for 15 minutes and it would start and run fine for several weeks before it would happen again. Last year it did this on the road and would never start up again.
This was the first year the GS550 came with electronic ignition. Thinking it was the ignitor box, I bought a used one. Still the same problem. No spark or very weak spark. If I give it a shot of starting fluid, it will fire right up for a few seconds and then die.
Thinking I had a fuel problem, I removed, cleaned and re-installed the carbs. Same problem, it will run on the starting fluid, then die. I have checked and cleaned all the ignition connections, tested the signal generator with a meter, and swapped ignitor boxes back and forth, all to no avail.
Would the bike run on starting fluid with a weak spark but on not gas from the carbs? Could both coils be bad? Or do I have an ignitor or carb problem?
Any thoughts would be appreciated!
AnswerHi Bizmark,
Q: Would the bike run on starting fluid with a weak spark but on not gas from the carbs?
A: True. Also, cylinder compression has an effect on the performance of spark plug arc. Compression may be preventing the already weak arc from starting the burning process of combustion with gasoline. Ether has a different flash point than gasoline.
Q: Could both coils be bad? Or do I have an ignitor or carb problem?
A: All are possible. You may have purchased a defective ignitor, but I doubt it. The carbs may need a more thorough cleaning, or have varnished again since the last cleaning. Could be excessive resistance within the ignition coils as their operating temperature rises.
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Respecfully,
Mark Shively
