ignition problem with T350

johnnydc · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:49 pm Post subject: ignition problem with T350

I am having an ignition problem with my T350. The right cylinder has spark, the left cylinder is not firing, but there is arcing across the points. I thought about taking the condenser out to check it, but it has two wires, only one of which disappears into the crankcase. I am hesitant to cut it just to test the condenser.

I was thinking about just getting rid of the points and replacing them with an electronic ignition, but I have yet to find one online.

Can anyone help me diagnose this problem, and/or find a retrofit electronic ignition? Thanks!

jayel · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:57 am Post subject:

suzuki or bultaco? what year?

johnnydc · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:55 pm Post subject:

1969. I assume it's a Suzuki, this being the Suzuki forum.

jayel · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject:

ah yes vintage japenese, but stranger things have happened

heyjerr · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:48 pm Post subject:

Unplug the coils and measure the resistance across the primary wires. You should get around 5 ohms. If it gets much less than that, you have a problem. Same for if you have no measurement at all.

Then measure between the spark plug wire and the primary side to get around 14-17k ohms through the boot. These are the proper measurements for my '68 TC305.

You might also just try switching the primary and secondary leads on the coils. I ended up changing out the single connector for inline barrel connectors because the plug was cracked, so I also had the ability to switch the circuits around. If you switch the primary (the black and white wires....don't worry about the orange as they're both hot) as well as switch the plug wires over, you effectively swap the coils around. If the problem moves to the other side, you've got a clear indicator of a bad coil. If it stays on the same cylinder, focus on the spark plug, wires, points/condensor (including the gap for each set).

crazycanuck · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject:

Hello,
I just had the same arcing occuring on the gap point for my left cylinder.
After replacing the plug, the plug wire, the coil. (Nothing worked.)
Replaced the condenser, took about 20 minutes and immediatley the arcing stopped and the left cylinder fired up. The condenser specifically stops the arcing at the gap point.
Lots of smoke for about two days as there was unburned fuel/oil in the left exhaust from only running it on one cylinder.
Condensers are very cheap and easy to take in/out.
On my bike to take off the coil you have to remove the gas tank. (Pain in the !!$%)
Do not pull on the wire that dissapears into the distibuter area, it gets brittle with age.
Cut it off close to the faulty condenser to leave lots of wire to splice and move around.
Use a heat shrink wrapping to protect the splice.