That was a surprise

[SeaCat]

Working on the bike today I checked the Compression and found all four cylinders to be just fine. (Not a big surprise as they were just fine a month ago.)

I checked the plug for number four and found no spark. I replaced the plugs and fired the bike up once more.

Number four cylinder was now firing correctly, the exhaust header heated up nice and quick at idle. Unfortunately number three wasn't heating up. (Grumble grumble)

I reahced in to pull the plug wire to see if that changed the way the engine was running and got shocked. Damn.

Okay that means the plug wires are bad. Maybe this is the root problem, maybe it isn't. They still need to be replaced. I called the dealership to price new wires and got shocked again. I'm told they are special order parts, will take anywhere from a week to ten days to get in and will cost me $10.50 per wire. You have got to be shitting me right? What are they, Gold Plated?

Tomorrow I'll be checking the way the plug wires attach to the coils then heading for the car parts place. Maybe I can find a way to modify car wires to the bike.

Cat

 

[starrkers]

The joys of owning older bikes!
Many's the time I've sat with spanners, tape, screwdrivers, etc at the ready as husband sought the surce of the mystery to why his Ducati 900 turned into a 450 every time it rained!

 

[SeaCat]

The joys of owning older bikes!
Many's the time I've sat with spanners, tape, screwdrivers, etc at the ready as husband sought the surce of the mystery to why his Ducati 900 turned into a 450 every time it rained!

LOLOL My wife hides when I work on the bike. She doesn't like the language that usually ensues from my working on it. (She claims it gives her a sunburn.)

This morning she complained that the water in her shower turned scalding and she knew I was pulling the wire off the bike. (I got a crotch load of gasoline when I disconnected the fuel line.)

A nice surprise though was when I took the wire down to the local Auto Shop. I bought more than enough wire for $5.00. Much better than the offered $10.50 per wire the Dealership wanted.

Oh and it looks like this will be a rather simple job. Time consuming but simple. I can only hope it fixes the problem.

Cat

 

[starrkers]

Good luck with it, Cat.
I've been mechanic's assistant since I was old enough to know a spanner from a screwdriver, but I have been known to hide when the temperature rises too far!

 

[DesertPirate]

LOLOL My wife hides when I work on the bike. She doesn't like the language that usually ensues from my working on it. (She claims it gives her a sunburn.)

This morning she complained that the water in her shower turned scalding and she knew I was pulling the wire off the bike. (I got a crotch load of gasoline when I disconnected the fuel line.)

A nice surprise though was when I took the wire down to the local Auto Shop. I bought more than enough wire for $5.00. Much better than the offered $10.50 per wire the Dealership wanted.

Oh and it looks like this will be a rather simple job. Time consuming but simple. I can only hope it fixes the problem.

Cat

I still have a set of Belden crimping pliers from the 70's
We made our own custom fit plug wires for everything
7MM silicone wire on a lawnmower?