ignition coil xt600e

[awolxt]

I have bought a replacement (pattern part ) ignition coil for my 2003 xt600e. However as well as having to cut the high tension lead to length i need to decide which of the low tension wires go to which terminal on the coil. On the original oem coil the terminals were different sizes on this one they are both the same size.

My question is does it matter which wire goes to which terminal on the low tension side? One wires red/white and other is orange.

Bill

[xtrock]

Yes the orange is from CDI unit, the other from start switch. Dont the new one have any marking of the pins? Be sure you get the same resistens of the lead after cutting as the original. Actually if its no marking you can use a meter for this, check the primary resistance its the lowest and its for the CDI unit.3,4-4,6ohm

[awolxt]

Hi xtrock!
Thanks for replying. There are no markings on the new coil that i can find. It is also fatter than the original as well. I have asked the vendor for advice. It was sold as fitting an 03 xt600e.Does it make any difference that my bike is TCI?

Bill

[xtrock]

Originally Posted by awolxt

Hi xtrock!
Thanks for replying. There are no markings on the new coil that i can find. It is also fatter than the original as well. I have asked the vendor for advice. It was sold as fitting an 03 xt600e.Does it make any difference that my bike is TCI?

Bill

No TCI or CDI doesnt matter, but use your multimeter and ohm between the ground and the plugs you will find the correct one.

[awolxt]

Originally Posted by xtrock

No TCI or CDI doesnt matter, but use your multimeter and ohm between the ground and the plugs you will find the correct one.

No reply from vendor over which terminals positive and which is negative. Checked the ground to each of the two terminals and didnt get any reading?
The make of coil is "ai" Also noticed that one terminal has black insulation at its base?

Bill

[xtrock]

What reading do you have from the original from ground to orange connector?

[awolxt]

Old coil is back on bike at the moment and all the readings i took ive mislaid.

Hoping this would be an easier way of eradicating a slight stumble in performance along with a increasing tendency of bike stalling

[awolxt]

I will have a look and take readings again after work tomorrow
Cheers for the help


Bill

[*Touring Ted*]

It will only work one way......

If it doesn't run one way, swap it around..

[awolxt]

Hi Ted
And it wont damage anything then either? Have you any experience of these ignition coils that you have to cut to length? Vendor reckons its cos they can fit a lot of bikes. In my case as well as both terminals being unmarked , they are both same size and originals werent.
Thanks for the help

Bill

[*Touring Ted*]

Your coil pretty much has three terminals.

Two small spades (usually) which connect to your bike's harness and the big fat cable which connects your HT lead to your plug.

You can just yank the HT lead out of the plug cap and chop it down with a some strong side cutters or a samurai sword if it's too long.

Look how it's meant to look by inspecting the end you pulled off the cap.

Put the spade connectors on. If you have them the wrong way round, the coil won't charge up properly and the bike won't run or will run badly.

It won't do any long term damage to the bike. It may still run but will erode your plugs faster due to it running in kind of reverse.

Most motorcycle coils are universal. I just buy generic £7 one's off ebay and they last as long and work as well as genuine OEM ones.

[awolxt]

Cheers Ted! ill give it a go tomorrow.

Bill

[*Touring Ted*]

Once you wire it up, hold the spark plug up against the engine or bare metal on the frame.

See if it sparks...

If it doesn't , try the cables the other way round.

If it still doesn't spark, make sure the plug cap and HT leads are FIRMLY pushed in.


If it sparks BOTH ways, use the way which has the strongest, brightest spark. It should hopefully be obvious.


The 'proper' way of doing it is how XTROCK described it though. Using a multimeter and checking the resistance. It's not hard to do. A multimeter costs about £5 and EVERYONE should have one.


Report back tomorrow

[awolxt]

Thanks Ted

I have got a multimeter, but i must admit to knowing only a little bit on how to use it. Im okay for checking the battery voltage and stuff like that. But i am learning. slowly and with diagrams!

Bill

[xtrock]

You must set it for Ohm, then 10k ohm range and you can find the connector for the orange, then put the other pin on the chassi for the coil.