On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:45:59 -0600, Wayne
wrote:

Gunner Asch laid this down on his screen :
Im puttering around with the 1974 Honda XL 350...and the coil puts out a
weak spark...It may have something to do with the fact the lead wire to
the plug is only held on with the internal wire..the insulation is
broken around where its molded into the coil itself. I suppose I could
repair that with JB weld. The condenser is also molded as part of the
coil, and it may be bad, so I picked up a used condenser from a bike
yard and will splice it in.

I picked up a used generic 6vt coil for $10, and machined a mount to
adapt it to the bike. I tested the coil by grounding the hot lead by
scratching it to the frame and after 10 or 15 sparks, the coil split
around the circumference . It doesnt spark anymore...shrug. It had no
condenser attached to it. It "bumped" pretty good each time I sparked
it. Had a nice brite spark too.

Im testing the electrical with a 6vt battery charger hooked into place
of the battery

The wiring diagram I have and all references say that the Honda uses an
AC coil, fed by an ignition winding on the alternator. Honda wants $80
for a replacement coil, JC Whitney sells an aftermarket "can" coil for
$21, but doesnt indicate if its AC or DC.

Whats the difference between an AC and a DC coil????

Anyone got a surplus manual for a 1974-75 Honda XL 350?

Gunner

"They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist..."
Maj. Gen. John Sedgewick, killed by a sniper in 1864 at the battle of
Spotsylvania

If the battery is used for the ignition, which I don't know that is or
not, then you'll probably need a battery, not a battery charger.

Battery charger puts out a nice DC voltage at 6.8 volts, think of it as
a big wall wart...chuckle


You can see a listing of parts here
http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmot...0-1974/o/m9383


$80 for the coil...

Ouch


Still no one can tell me the difference between an AC and a DC
coil......

gunner


"They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist..."
Maj. Gen. John Sedgewick, killed by a sniper in 1864 at the battle of Spotsylvania