Coil Sticks no more!

Discussion in 'GS Boxers' started by HackyMoto, Aug 4, 2011.

  1. HackyMoto

    HackyMoto TEAM USA GS TROPHY 2012

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    [​IMG]

    Am fortunate to have two GS’s a’ 04 1150 36k and a ’06 1150 adv 47k both twin spark. Both started running ruff dropping a couple hundred rpm’s at idle and missing under load. The coil sticks (one each) on both bike’s went bad within a couple weeks so that’s 2 time’s 140.00 or 4 time’s if one’s to replace them all. I didn’t want to go back to the coil sticks because of the fail rate and the price so I started thinking what kind of alternative action I could take. I wanted a coil that was small available everyware and (cheep) (inexpensive) reasonably priced, I found it 1999- to present 5.4 Ford F-150‘s C.O.P. coils checked the specs (Ohms) close enough and at 30 bucks each it’s worth a try.
    Pick-up two coils from the parts house and a wire harness from a ford 5.4 at the auto recyclers for the connectors on the coils. Plug wires I’ve had laying around.

    I didn’t want to cut the bikes wiring in case I wanted to ever go back to the stick coils, so I got four sub-d connectors that fit right into the bikes coil connectors.
    Hook it up and I’ve got spark :happay
    The coil are zippy tied to the frame for now if this works out I’ll mount them-up this winter.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Got about 12,000 miles so far all i’s well. :ilmostro

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2 Coils.

    Auto Recyclers. These coils are in most of the 4.6 / 5.4 / 6.8 from about 97' to present Ford/ Barra engines .

    Motorcraft. # DG-511

    Ford. # 3L3E12A366CA or # 3L3Z120229BA


    Standard. # FD508

    Borg Warner. # E508

    Airtex. # 5C1584

    Wells. # C1541
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Wire connectors for coils.

    Auto Recyclers. Cut harness connector at coils and get the capacitor bolted near front top of engine.

    Summit. # PCO-5713PT Times 2. Connectors for the for coils.

    BMW Motorrad. # 83-30- 0- 413- 582 Times 2 If you don't want to cut the bikes wire harness.

    Ford. # F6AZ-18801-A 1 Capacitor.

    Option-1. Delete bmw part # and use four staples from your Swingline office stapler.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Plug wires.


    Make your own.

    I Have not tryed using these plug wires yet. Some others have. I made my own.

    Euromotoelectrics. BMW-WSR641 Times 2

    BMW Motorrad. #12 12 1 342 641 Times 2
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Some 16 gauge wire


    Zippy tie's

    Solder

    Heat shrink tubing
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SEE POST #38
    #1
    TheRoss and stellarpod like this.
  2. vagueout

    vagueout Long timer

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    Often thought about similar. So refreshing to see such a useful sensible mod to the bike. Here in australia i paid $400 !!!! for the pair of shitty stick coils.:*sip*
    #2
  3. jsb223

    jsb223 ADV Rookie

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    Keep us up to date on this mod.

    Just the kind of info that could be VERY useful if /when OEM parts are hard to get.
    #3
  4. rdwalker

    rdwalker Long timer Supporter

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    Remember that DC resistance (what you measured) is only one of many vital parameters of the coils. Turns-ratio and inductance are very important as well.
    BMW does not publish these specs (I think), so it is very hard to match a replacement.

    Keep an eye on your setup and keep us posted about your experience. If the coils are not right you could have poor spark under some conditions or you could be stressing the coil driver in the ECM.
    #4
  5. jantarek

    jantarek Long timer Supporter

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    Nice mod, I hope it will work.
    for a single spark I got set at Beemersboneyard for just about a 1/3 price from oem
    #5
  6. rebelpacket

    rebelpacket four-stroke earth-saw Supporter

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    Brilliant solution to an expensive problem! I'd like to hear how it works out a couple thousand miles down the road; though I don't think you'll have too many problems.
    #6
  7. wjherrick

    wjherrick Long timer

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    ...I just spent $125 for one!!

    Bill in OR
    #7
  8. Lobby

    Lobby Viel Spass, Vato!

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    :lurk
    #8
  9. Beezer

    Beezer Long timer Supporter

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    rdwalker is right about the turns ratio but if the ohms are the same then the current is the same, so that means no extra stress on the primary side components. If they spark then it should be good to go. Way to go Hacky!
    #9
  10. Speedy Stamps

    Speedy Stamps Adventurer

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    Vagueout was lucky to pay only A$400- for the pair - I paid nearly A$500-! It was interesting to see though that the BM parts listing had three different part numbers for the coils, two of which were superseded. That in itself makes you wonder if they were a dodgy part from day one, only to be replaced again and again until they (hopefully) made them right. My new stick coils have only been in for 10,000km, but if they do go again I'll definitely be looking very closely at your post. Keep us informed as how it goes over time!
    #10
  11. HackyMoto

    HackyMoto TEAM USA GS TROPHY 2012

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    Thanks all for the interest :thumb
    Just some short city riding with some 4th gear uphill full throttle pulls from about 2500 rpm to redline today and the HackyMoto coil mod seems to be putting out.
    I’ll need to take a minute and do a kv test to see what I got in coil output. I did find some spec. on the bmw single coil with duel tower output at 0.50 ohms primary 7.500k ohms secondary. The C.O.P. ford coils at 0.55 ohms primary 5.500k ohms. But didn’t find specs. on the coil sticks. :jjen
    So im crossing my fingers on the stressing the coil drivers in the ECU.
    Working great so far. :ricky

    <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:eek:ffice" /><o:p></o:p>
    #11
  12. Beezer

    Beezer Long timer Supporter

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    should be good bro'... slightly higher ohms on the primary will reduce current in the ECU. pretty sure all the ECU does is pulse the coil with system voltage, so as long as they made spark initially in the new system they should last as long as Ford coils are good for.
    #12
  13. mikered17

    mikered17 Adventurer

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    Does anyone know if the stick coils from a f bike or k bike will work? Its hard to believe that BMW makes unique coils for 1150's.
    Like most of the threads here -- I had a failure at K and unfortunately paid a $120+ shipping to the dealer. I do have another coming from the beemer bone yard as a spare.
    #13
  14. Emoto

    Emoto Sure, why not?

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    Why, are those cheaper?
    #14
  15. def

    def Ginger th wonder dog

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    Just saw a set of 8 Ford COP coils new for $108.00 on Ebay (that translates to less than $15.00 each). And, they're yellow like the plug wires...probably Accel brand.
    #15
  16. biometrics

    biometrics Been here awhile

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    An excellent and elegant engineering solution to an OEM problem... thanks for sharing.
    #16
  17. pops

    pops Long timer

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    Thanks for sharing :clap:clap.
    I think i got mine for $250.00 each:eek1

    I am on my 3rd new coil :cry. I WILL be doing this change over this week .
    .

    This should be put in the Hall of Wisdom:deal

    Cheers Ian
    #17
  18. vagueout

    vagueout Long timer

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    Pops, if you go ahead on this mod, could you let us in on exactly which hardware you use being in australia.:*sip*
    #18
  19. pops

    pops Long timer

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    Will do :thumb
    #19
  20. Davis53

    Davis53 Been here awhile

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    want to watch this one
    #20