Coils revisited.

milwaukeephil · Post by **milwaukeephil** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 8:11 am

Hi,
All has been well with my '66 CA77 until the last few days. I started noticing while riding around town that once or twice per ride, for a split second, the bike would lose spark completely and then it would come back and take off on me. It was like I turned the ignition off and on really quickly.

Then a few days ago it cut out completely and I couldn't get it running and had to call a friend to trailer me home.

The odd thing is that an hour later when I got it off the trailer, it started and ran like a top.

When it's warm, I have 12v going to the coil but no spark from either plug. When it's cool, I have spark.

I ran out to the local cycle salvage and picked up a dual-output coil from an early 80s CB650 along with some new plug wire. Before I spend time replacing my coil and plug wire, is there anything else I can check?

Thanks!

davomoto · Post by **davomoto** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 7:41 pm

Have you replaced the condenser? I understand it's a chore to do so on a CA, but that's what I find is usually the culprit.

Davo

brewsky · Post by **brewsky** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 4:14 am

Crank it over when it is not running and see if there is a fat spark across the points.

If there is, it definitely is the condenser.

Have to drop the engine to change it and replace in orig position, or you can disconnect it and attach the new one to the cam chain tensioner, or under the right side cover pretty easily.