Kissinno
Member
Hi Folks,
Frenchie in Cape Town… I love South Africa, except when it comes to rugby maybe (2023 world cup, quarter 28 FR – ZA 29, grrrrrr). East and Western Cap are really 2 wonderful provinces for motorbiking.
For years, I’m happy to share this good time in CPT, often with my best fried. KTM Adventure 1190 (me) and Ducati Multistrada V4 (him) are our loved ones in CH & FR... But here, to avoid the pain of chain maintenance and to discover “light” off-road adventure (gravel roads), we opted for reliable Japanese mechanic: Super Tenere with its shaft transmission, 2 second hand, XT1200 (82200Km 2011) and XT1200ZE (32000Km 2014).
These 2 machines are really best bikes for what we do here, in 2+2 with paniers & top-case. 3-4 years now and no issue at all, except this sudden ignition coils issues. Here I go.
January 2023, black-panther spark-plugs replacement, air filter, oil replacement done by realible bike garage... The guy did not say anything about coils to be replace. They must had been good at that time.
February 2023, black-panther (XT1200-2011, 82000Km’s) was away on it own when a real heavy rain happened. Suddenly, bike started to cough, showing bad revolution, forcing my friend to stop several times. Very scarry situation but he finally managed to get it back home. Fair to mention, bike is somtime washed with karcher water pressure.
After 48H of a whell deserved rest in garage (dry & hot), black-panther was reborn and running almost like before. We decided to leave it like that until next year... Bikes are stored in garage.
January 2024, happy to be back in CPT. After many alarming readings from XT1200 forum's, highlighting MANY water ingress & ignition coils issues, with different solutions (O-ring, graisse…). I decided to have a look by myself.
Good idea!!! It does not looks nice… 3 coils and 3 spark plugs ruined out, only 3rd was good. Clear trace of partial discharges on spark-plug, normal if water gets inside (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partial_discharge)
We need this bike and we need NOW! 58y & biker for ever, Electrical Engineer with good mechanic experiences, time has come to check my head... Hereafter is my way.
A1) Dismount coils & spark-plugs (many Youtube videos are available)
A2) Clean-up the coils & spark-plugs
Coil num.4 before cleaning (This little crcks are not a problem, it well cobered by black ribbon).
After contact-spray cleaning, it look REALLY better.
Frenchie in Cape Town… I love South Africa, except when it comes to rugby maybe (2023 world cup, quarter 28 FR – ZA 29, grrrrrr). East and Western Cap are really 2 wonderful provinces for motorbiking.
For years, I’m happy to share this good time in CPT, often with my best fried. KTM Adventure 1190 (me) and Ducati Multistrada V4 (him) are our loved ones in CH & FR... But here, to avoid the pain of chain maintenance and to discover “light” off-road adventure (gravel roads), we opted for reliable Japanese mechanic: Super Tenere with its shaft transmission, 2 second hand, XT1200 (82200Km 2011) and XT1200ZE (32000Km 2014).
These 2 machines are really best bikes for what we do here, in 2+2 with paniers & top-case. 3-4 years now and no issue at all, except this sudden ignition coils issues. Here I go.
January 2023, black-panther spark-plugs replacement, air filter, oil replacement done by realible bike garage... The guy did not say anything about coils to be replace. They must had been good at that time.
February 2023, black-panther (XT1200-2011, 82000Km’s) was away on it own when a real heavy rain happened. Suddenly, bike started to cough, showing bad revolution, forcing my friend to stop several times. Very scarry situation but he finally managed to get it back home. Fair to mention, bike is somtime washed with karcher water pressure.
After 48H of a whell deserved rest in garage (dry & hot), black-panther was reborn and running almost like before. We decided to leave it like that until next year... Bikes are stored in garage.
January 2024, happy to be back in CPT. After many alarming readings from XT1200 forum's, highlighting MANY water ingress & ignition coils issues, with different solutions (O-ring, graisse…). I decided to have a look by myself.
Good idea!!! It does not looks nice… 3 coils and 3 spark plugs ruined out, only 3rd was good. Clear trace of partial discharges on spark-plug, normal if water gets inside (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partial_discharge)
We need this bike and we need NOW! 58y & biker for ever, Electrical Engineer with good mechanic experiences, time has come to check my head... Hereafter is my way.
A1) Dismount coils & spark-plugs (many Youtube videos are available)
- Dismount plastic. Disconnect battery.
- Tank up. Remove air box. Don’t forget to protect air inlets with tissue or with 2 medical gloves
- Cleaning around the coils
- Dismount the 4 coils. JPEG inside.
- Tissue & vacuum cleaning (before sparks dismounting)
- New vacuum cleaning. JPEG inside to control it is clean.
- Sparks dismounting. New vacuum cleaning only (no tissue, there is an hole bellow)
- Coils resistance measurement (Mitsubishi F6T56772) about 2 ohm each, same value, good news!
A2) Clean-up the coils & spark-plugs
- (Spark plugs are almost new, Feb. 2023, 1000Km only. Boddy’s may be rusted but all electrodes are good. I'll keep them.)
- Coils black ribbon removal
- Coils metallic tubes removal (Removed by many others before me. Most others coil brands don't have them)
- Sparks & coils cleaning
- Notice how coils-to-plug contacts may be brown/black. Not at all good for reliable spark ignition.
- Electrical spray to clean-up all electrical connectors and coils-to-plug contacts. Now, it is far better
Coil num.4 before cleaning (This little crcks are not a problem, it well cobered by black ribbon).
After contact-spray cleaning, it look REALLY better.
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