Pickup coils...

killa · Won't Shut Up Joined: 18 Oct 2004 Karma :

What are the symptoms of pickup coils breaking down.

Bike in question is the VFR400R.

Thanks

Killa
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killa · Won't Shut Up Joined: 18 Oct 2004 Karma :

Anyone?
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phill.c · Traffic Copper Joined: 13 May 2004 Karma :

well my cousins cbr125 went funny so he had a look, it was geting a spark fuel was ok pistons fine, oil was ok basically everything was as it should be the electrics were ok, but wouldn't fire for shit and it was one of the coil or coild can't remember then went.
hope that helps
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finpos · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Karma :

I would guess that on a bike of that age you'll actually have a magnetic pickup detecting a notch in the flywheel (rather than a coil) - and they tend to be very reliable - to the extent that I've never heard of one broken.

Sorry, not much help!

finpos

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

On a 4-cylinder bike, one duff pickup coil would cause a pair of cylinders to drop out, two would stop it running at all.

I never heard of pickup coil going duff without something more serious and fundamental having happened (like the alternator bombing).

Or do you mean the ignition coils breaking down? This can happen with heat/moisture and can cause annoying and intermittant misfires.
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killa · Won't Shut Up Joined: 18 Oct 2004 Karma :

I think they are breaking down....

Ok, i hope i can make this make sense, i might miss something out I have been doing this work with a trained mechanic.

The bike was a bit spluttery before, a bit of a flat spot so to speak.
The bike backfired slightly when letting off the throttle at speed.
I was going to get the bike looked at.

Before i got her into the garage, i was coming home from work, i filled her up, started to go down the M'way and the thing lost all power. She cut out and i sat at the side of the road, starting it was impossible.

I suspect a problem with fuel as the Haines pointed to carbs.

I had the carbs out and checked all fuel lines.

The carbs were pretty clean, but i found a slash in the vacum pipe to the tap, so i guess that would have caused the bike some problems.

I replaced the pipe and put the carbs back on, the bike wouldnt start.

Took carbs off, and plugs this time.
Front two had broken down, this was possibly the result of me trying so hard to make it start plus something else.

Got new plugs, the thing fired first time, but it kept cutting out.
Eventually after some tweaking i got her ticking over, she sounded like she had done before.

But she wouldnt pull any weight, you'd give it some throttle and she cuts out. Everytime.

So now, after all the checks, the symtoms point to faulty electrics, hense the plan to check and replace the Pickup coils.
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finpos · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Karma :

I'd be more tempted to take a second look at the carbs. 2 reasons:

If you had a leaking vacuum hose, then some or all of your cylinders have been running lean. And that could explain why you have two burnt up plugs plus the splutterring and backfiring (does the vacuum tube collect it's vacuum from those two pots, or are they closest?)

Now, it's entirely possible that last time the carbs were balanced/set up, the vacuum leak was there already (but maybe not as bad), and they were inadvertently set to compensate for this. Now you've fixed the air leak, it means the over-compensated carbs are running too rich, which may well explain it cutting out when you give it gas.

So check that out first!

finpos.

killa · Won't Shut Up Joined: 18 Oct 2004 Karma :

Some good points there mate, i will check.

The pipe is connected on the 2nd cylinder to fire.
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map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

If your carbs/fuel checks out you could try checking the alternator.
Check check is with one of these (from the likes of Maplins).
https://www.maplin.co.uk/images/Full/10162i0.jpg

However, if your coils are failing then by reving the bike the problem (in theory) should go away. As you're increasing the current it'll jump easier over any gaps and therefore you wouldn't see it.

BTW when the ignition coils on my GT550 went a symptom was it loosing the cyclinders as stinkwheel said but also the rev counter needle was swinging all over the place and bore no relation to how the bike sounded. The alternator was ok though.

Just some thoughs Thumbs Up

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