82 Kawasaki 1100 Spectre (plug boot problem)

reeB_relliM · 05-06-2005

Don't understand what the deal is, but earlier tonight the bike felt like it was running on only 3 cylinders. So, with the engine still running, I started by disconnecting one plug wire at a time to find out which one was not firing.

I found the one that was not firing, HOWEVER, just as soon as I pulled the plug wire from the plug, it began firing. I only pulled the plug boot only just a hair away from the plug, and YES it began firing - it was arcing from the plug boot to the plug. But as soon as I'd re-connect the boot to the spark plug, it would stop firing again. It only would fire by arcing to the plug, such as if the boot was held just slightly away from the plug. I shut it off, and removed the NGK boot from the plug wire, I put an ohm meter on it and it shows 5.17 K ohms.

Then I decided to try swapping the suspect boot with one from a different cylinder, ...much to my surprise, the different boot that had been working perfect on another cylinder, NOW wasn't firing unless it was held slightly above the plug (same as the original boot that I suspected was bad).

What's the deal here, anyone know?

Thanks in advance!!!
reeB

Chromequeen · 05-06-2005

I'm sorry that I cannot help ya on this one reeB, but wanted to Welcome you to our forum family. You'll get some answers soon. Again, welcome. Glad you found us.

QKENUF4U · 05-06-2005

thats an old trick, the coils have to build a bigger charge to jump the gap (more resistance). i would say that coil is starting to go out on ya but i would try replacing the boot first then work my way up the plug wire.
primary resistance should be .2-.8 ohms (the wires that plug onto the coil, prob. a black and a orange)
secondary resistance should be around 10k ohms or so. (between the hot wire and plug cap, between the orange and plug cap)

basolith · 06-04-2005

Check the plugs first. A bad plug will do this. Check the wires and the plug caps next. Next, ohm out the coils. You must do this with the plug caps removed from the wires. You should see around 2 - 3 ohms on the primary and about 10 - 15K on the secondary. Also check between a plug wire and a primary conection on the coil. You should see infinite resistance. If you see any conductivity, the coils are shorted and need replaced. If you suspect a coil, swap coils first and see if the problem follows the coil. If the problem follows the coil, replace it. If the problem stays, it is still a problem with the wire/boot/plug. Replace them. Good Luck

05-06-2005	#1 (permalink)
reeB_relliM Newbie Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 9	82 Kawasaki 1100 Spectre (plug boot problem) Don't understand what the deal is, but earlier tonight the bike felt like it was running on only 3 cylinders. So, with the engine still running, I started by disconnecting one plug wire at a time to find out which one was not firing. I found the one that was not firing, HOWEVER, just as soon as I pulled the plug wire from the plug, it began firing. I only pulled the plug boot only just a hair away from the plug, and YES it began firing - it was arcing from the plug boot to the plug. But as soon as I'd re-connect the boot to the spark plug, it would stop firing again. It only would fire by arcing to the plug, such as if the boot was held just slightly away from the plug. I shut it off, and removed the NGK boot from the plug wire, I put an ohm meter on it and it shows 5.17 K ohms. Then I decided to try swapping the suspect boot with one from a different cylinder, ...much to my surprise, the different boot that had been working perfect on another cylinder, NOW wasn't firing unless it was held slightly above the plug (same as the original boot that I suspected was bad). What's the deal here, anyone know? Thanks in advance!!! reeB __________________ Just 'cuz the voices have stopped, does NOT mean that they're gone.

05-06-2005	#2 (permalink)
Chromequeen Banned BTK Expert Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Panhandle, FL Posts: 3,209	I'm sorry that I cannot help ya on this one reeB, but wanted to Welcome you to our forum family. You'll get some answers soon. Again, welcome. Glad you found us.

05-06-2005	#3 (permalink)
QKENUF4U AZ's Official Mechanic BTK Expert Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: lake havasu city arizona Posts: 4,550	thats an old trick, the coils have to build a bigger charge to jump the gap (more resistance). i would say that coil is starting to go out on ya but i would try replacing the boot first then work my way up the plug wire. primary resistance should be .2-.8 ohms (the wires that plug onto the coil, prob. a black and a orange) secondary resistance should be around 10k ohms or so. (between the hot wire and plug cap, between the orange and plug cap)

06-04-2005	#4 (permalink)
basolith Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 1	Check the plugs first. A bad plug will do this. Check the wires and the plug caps next. Next, ohm out the coils. You must do this with the plug caps removed from the wires. You should see around 2 - 3 ohms on the primary and about 10 - 15K on the secondary. Also check between a plug wire and a primary conection on the coil. You should see infinite resistance. If you see any conductivity, the coils are shorted and need replaced. If you suspect a coil, swap coils first and see if the problem follows the coil. If the problem follows the coil, replace it. If the problem stays, it is still a problem with the wire/boot/plug. Replace them. Good Luck

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