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1200 lost spark on 2 cylinders...Update!!

Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 8:23 am
by alwing17
Well,it was inevitable...Crown XR lost fire to the front 2 cylinders,no tach. I'm pretty sure its a pickup coil,and I have sourced another assembly,but wanted to know if someone has the test to check the pickups in the bike.
I have the bike dissassembled,but wanted to check them first,so as not to be tearing my hair out :evil: action1

Re: 1200 lost spark on 2 cylinders

Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 9:12 am
by Whiskerfish
I am almost certain I have read a procedure for testing them. I think it was a simple resistance check? You might try some searches here and also over on the Saunders Board.

Re: 1200 lost spark on 2 cylinders

Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 9:52 am
by Doug Hasert
You can find the info in a Clymer or Haynes manual as well as the Honda service manual. You should have at least one of them.

Re: 1200 lost spark on 2 cylinders

Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 1:45 pm
by jdvorchak
It depends on the year of the 1200. They are called Igniters.

1984 resistance 1.1 to 1.3 kohm
1985 and up 330 ohm +- 23 ohm so 297 to 353 ohms.

On the 84 the igniters are on the back of the engine by the stator on the 85 and up they are under the timing belt cover.

Now when the igniters fail they usually do it in pairs and you have no spark. Also they will usually let you know they are failing but shutting down the engine when hot. Let it cool and it starts right up.

More likely you have a corroded/dirty connector either the 4 pin plug just forward of the batter, on 84 , or up next to the regulator, 85 and up.

Also check and clean the connectors to the right side coil. Make sure there is 12 v there and coil wires connectors are clean where they connect to the Ignition Control Module located just above and forward of the air cleaner.

Re: 1200 lost spark on 2 cylinders

Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 2:06 pm
by Graham Cracker
1200 Ohms +/- 100 Ohms. White/yellow and yellow = 1-2 cylinders
White/blue and blue = 3-4 cylinders
The '84 is specific to that year. Can't interchange years I don't believe. eBay or salvage yard is your best bet.

Re: 1200 lost spark on 2 cylinders

Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 2:54 pm
by alwing17
Well,for an update...Thanks to those who replied.. I picked up the igniters and a Honda manual from my buddys bike shop this morning. Checked resistance on both...1100 ohms,good. Did a cranking test with my DVOM set on AC volts reading across each ignitor. .5-.6 ACvolts cranking,well they are putting out a signal,but since I had 90% of the bike apart,I went ahead and installed the other set of ignitors...No dice! Substituted another ignition coil,same result. Both coils are getting 12 volts,connections are good. The only thing left is the Ignition Control Unit. And of course,it is the easiest part to replace! I will pick one up Mon.@ the bike shop and plug it in.

Re: 1200 lost spark on 2 cylinders

Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 3:52 pm
by rcmatt007
saw this, and thought I would update on similar problem I threaded earlier on mine

1/2 no go spark on 3/4 did everything everyone mentioned.... still no go

bought a used CDI on ebay... now NO SPARK on all cylinders (when I rehook up the old one, spark on 3/4

filed a problem action on paypal asseller claimed it was off a working bike

any suggestions on some other replacement for the cdi box?

Re: 1200 lost spark on 2 cylinders

Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 4:31 pm
by JBz
the cdi box works off of vacuum from #4 cylinder I believe plus the electical input and outputs. A working spare would be nice but they dont give those things away. JB

Re: 1200 lost spark on 2 cylinders

Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 7:06 pm
by rcmatt007
I pluged the fleabay one into the vacum line... no go... and the oneI have even without the vacum still works on 3/4

Re: 1200 lost spark on 2 cylinders

Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 7:55 pm
by jdvorchak
Vacuum only used in 4th and 5th gear.

When I first replied I didn't mention that the first gl1200 I owned lost spark on 1 and 2 and it was the CDI, they call Ignition Control Unit, and I bought one from a breaker for $300. It worked but since then have seen them on eBay for around $100.

Re: 1200 lost spark on 2 cylinders

Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 9:03 pm
by rcmatt007
if the mercahnt doesn't refund, I will have onefor cheap!

Re: 1200 lost spark on 2 cylinders

Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 1:33 am
by jdvorchak

Re: 1200 lost spark on 2 cylinders

Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 3:17 am
by rcmatt007
it now belongs to me. Heard back from the sellerof the other one,who is annoyed I opened a dispute (his policy is no returns) but who said, if you don't like it send it back... I will

Re: 1200 lost spark on 2 cylinders...Update!!

Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 5:33 pm
by alwing17
Yes,it was the ICU (Ignition Control Unit) action1 Plugged the new one in,and ran well on all 4 cyls. Then I had to put the back of the bike back together! Swingarm bearings were cleaned and repacked,swingarm cleaned and painted,new header gaskets installed,and a good rear rotor as well(old one was warped). Took it for a 40 mile ride last night,and runs nicely.

Re: 1200 lost spark on 2 cylinders...Update!!

Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 5:48 pm
by alwing17
2 things I would like to mention about these 1200's that I learned from a couple of old Honda techs...

1- All the ICU's are the same,but try to get a Hitachi (green sticker). These are the newest,and latest that Honda had,but they have been long since discontinued. They were found on '86-'87 1200's

2- If you want to check the output of the pickups dynamically,hook a DVOM capable of reading AC volts to each pair of wires for each pickup (with the plug disconnected),and crank the engine over. You should have at least .5 AC volts coming out of each pickup(igniter)coil. If the bike craps out hot,run until it dies,and check them while hot. I tried this on my 1100,and the AC voltage was about the same,and I haven't had an issue with it (yet!). Saves tearing apart the back of the bike to replace the ignitor assby! ('84 only)