Contenu
The ignition coil on a motorcycle serves to step up the relatively low battery voltage to the high voltage needed to fire a spark plug. Coils are generally a sealed, water-tight component. As such, they are generally not a repairable item. Routine checks on a coil are not necessary. They should be tested as part of a troubleshooting procedure whenever the motorcycle becomes difficult to start or runs rough. Testing them tends to be relatively simple and involves the use of an ohmmeter.
Step 1
Turn off the motorcycle ignition.
Step 2
Disconnect the spark plug wires from the coil by hand. Disconnect the two smaller primary wires from the coil using an open-ended wrench.
Step 3
Measure the resistance between the coil connections for the spark plugs with an ohmmeter. The resistance should be 0.5 to 3 ohms. A resistance outside of this range indicates a broken coil.
Measure the resistance between the two smaller primary wire connections on the coil with an ohmmeter. The resistance should be 6,000 to 12,500 ohms. Again, a resistance outside of this range indicates a broken coil.
Tips
- Try testing the coil after the motorcycle has been run and the coil is hot. The resistances measured across the terminals could change under heat.
- Find exact ranges for the resistance on a coil in the service manual for your particular make and model of motorcycle.
Warning
- Use caution when working around electricity. Remove all watches and rings to help guard against shock.
Items you will need
- Open-ended wrench set
- Ohmmeter
