Dropping a cylinder? Coil?

[lifewithoutparole]

Hi all, My CL72 starts well but seems to pop alot when it is cold. Today while riding it would drop 1 cylinder. Throttle position did not affect it and it would come back momentarily then drop again. I rode home and pulled the plugs and it appeared the right one was fouled so I replaced the plug, cut off 1/4 inch of the lead wire and put on another newer plug cap I had. This seemed to cure it as I rode a couple of miles and it was responsive and stayed running on both cylinders. However, i am wondering if it could be the coil failing? I guess 1 side could fail. So, do the coils usually fail completely or do they fail one side first and is my situation a sympton of a failing coil? Boy, I have a lot of questions on this issue. While it seems ok right now I am spooked a little for riding it very far from home in case I have to do the walk of shame and push it home!! hahaha, been awhile since I had to do that and I am older and fatter and it is hot as hell right now! See what you think, should I be thinking coil replacement? Thanks! Tim in florida

[Hahnda]

Swap coils and see if the problem follows that coil.

[lifewithoutparole]

Hi all, replaced both spark plug caps with new ones and I got to looking at the ground wire today and it was corroded at the frame connection so I replaced the wire and both connectors as well. Bike started fine without the missing that had been present before. It ran without any missing or popping. No problems riding it now! Great forum here....reading the threads is enlightening.

[johnnyroastbeef]

Hi all, replaced both spark plug caps with new ones and I got to looking at the ground wire today and it was corroded at the frame connection so I replaced the wire and both connectors as well. Bike started fine without the missing that had been present before. It ran without any missing or popping. No problems riding it now! Great forum here....reading the threads is enlightening.

I'm having issues and I'm jsut wondering if you could describe what the bike feels and rides like when you "drop a cylinder?" I'm starting to think I have an eletrical issue such as yours. Thanks.

[lifewithoutparole]

johnny, the bike would start ok then under a load it would lose power. It wouldn't rev up but would stall if I opened the throttle any more. i could easily hear the tone change when this was happening and it would suddenly cut back in on both cylinders. I thought the old molded plastic coil may be going bad...turned out that after replacing both plug caps and cutting off 1/4" or so of each plug wire the problem went away.....cheap fix and quick as well...I had already replaced the plugs first. I have put about 150 miles on it since then and no problems so far....hope this helps! Tim

[johnnyroastbeef]

johnny, the bike would start ok then under a load it would lose power. It wouldn't rev up but would stall if I opened the throttle any more. i could easily hear the tone change when this was happening and it would suddenly cut back in on both cylinders. I thought the old molded plastic coil may be going bad...turned out that after replacing both plug caps and cutting off 1/4" or so of each plug wire the problem went away.....cheap fix and quick as well...I had already replaced the plugs first. I have put about 150 miles on it since then and no problems so far....hope this helps! Tim

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I am going to try this fix for my issue b/c it sounds similar. My bike wants to stall when i let the clutch all the way out in first gear. it feels like the bike is in 3rd gear almost. I sprayed the bike down with water to clean it a while back and it's had this issue since then. some other members have sugggested it's a timing issue. I will give your suggestion a try with new plugs, and new caps and trimming the wire. thanks very much for the reponse!