T-bird Dies After 4-5 Minutes- IGNITER?

[dearborn]

Strewth, knock me sideways. A no-brand dual coil is under £20. Only work for two cylinders though.

Dual coil not an option and cheapest coil available, (none in USA), will cost near $200 incl ship from UK for set of 3. Yep, Hinckley Triumph parts are pretty much non-existent here in USA. Dealers stock NOTHING- "I can order it for you, get it in a couple weeks", Hell, I can order it! What do I need you for? And they'll give you the hard sell to buy a Thailand built twin with a 6 yr payment plan. It's pretty much that if you need ANYTHING, (bar an oil filter, and that is "iffy"), you're searching in the UK, Germany, or recently, Latvia!! Owned it about 7-8 years, bought as a wreck to "fix&flip" but once running- I LOVE this bike but parts have always been a real PIA. As bad as parts for my daughter's Aprilia! (from Piaggio), actually, worse! Plus you're paying $$$$ in shipping costs.
Parts for my Commandos are virtually 100% avail and FAR less expensive.
NEVER had parts problems with my string of H-D cop bikes.

 

[dearborn]

OK! Yes, I know better- a "senior citizen brain fart" I checked pick up coil, (repeatedly!) but when COLD- ran bike with slave tank until it got hot and died with "no spark". Checked pick up AFTER it died hot- resistance?- INFINITE! So- bad pick up. ordered one from UK, OEM Triumph "GILL" $150 USD. Local USA Triumph dealer- $209 and "We'll have to order it. Get it in about a week" Still have high primary circuit resistance on coils- 1.1ohm, 1.2 and 1.6ohm- spec is .63ohm +/- 10%. But bike runs great when cold. Fingers crossed that new pick up will get by until I can order "stick coils" from Paul Messenger when he returns at end of Sept.

 

[sikatri]

OK! Yes, I know better- a "senior citizen brain fart" I checked pick up coil, (repeatedly!) but when COLD- ran bike with slave tank until it got hot and died with "no spark". Checked pick up AFTER it died hot- resistance?- INFINITE! So- bad pick up. ordered one from UK, OEM Triumph "GILL" $150 USD. Local USA Triumph dealer- $209 and "We'll have to order it. Get it in about a week" Still have high primary circuit resistance on coils- 1.1ohm, 1.2 and 1.6ohm- spec is .63ohm +/- 10%. But bike runs great when cold. Fingers crossed that new pick up will get by until I can order "stick coils" from Paul Messenger when he returns at end of Sept.

As a side note, when I replaced my ignition coils, I went with Nology over the Triumph stock. I’m very happy with how they have worked. Nology makes direct fit ones for most models of Triumph, I believe the Thunderbird as well. They are significantly cheaper than the Gill and through dealer.

 

[dearborn]

As a side note, when I replaced my ignition coils, I went with Nology over the Triumph stock. I’m very happy with how they have worked. Nology makes direct fit ones for most models of Triumph, I believe the Thunderbird as well. They are significantly cheaper than the Gill and through dealer.

"GILL" OEM coils from USA Triumph dealer- $209 + ship- not clear if set of 3 or individually. Nology- around $90 EACH

 

[sikatri]

"GILL" OEM coils from USA Triumph dealer- $209 + ship- not clear if set of 3 or individually. Nology- around $90 EACH

Yep. That was a major reason I switched on my Thruxton, cost. I doubt it’s a set of three in either case. Coils can fail individually, so I’m pretty sure it’s per coil price on both.

 

[atomsplitter]

The parts fische shows three seperate coils with a per coil price. (#1 in the diagram). I'd replace with the Nology due to price and meets the same voltage output requirements specified by Triumph.

 

[sikatri]

The Nology is a better coil and certainly cheaper. I’d replace all three. My thought is even if one is failing the others are not far behind. It’s like preventative medicine, take it in advance.

 

[dearborn]

RESULT; Yes, it was the pick up coil, (crank position sensor). Stupid me repeatedly checked it when cold and it tested good. Checked HOT- after engine died- infinite resistance- BAD! So, new OEM "GILL" unit from UK- about $150 USD, incl. shipping from UK and UK tax-vs about $215 for identical from USA Triumph dealer. Took 9 days to arrive, (funny, USA triumph dealer said "We'll have to order it- take a week or two"). Runs GREAT! But still leery of coils being out of spec- resistance 1.1 to 1.6 ohm, roughly twice to 3 times spec.

 

[dearborn]

The parts fische shows three seperate coils with a per coil price. (#1 in the diagram). I'd replace with the Nology due to price and meets the same voltage output requirements specified by Triumph.
View attachment 55736

Nology about $90 USD EACH

 

[sikatri]

Excellent news.

 

[dearborn]

"Stick coils" kit from Paul Messenger in UK look like the solution to coil failing/overheating problems, but at 220 GBP, about $275 USD. Puts them on top of the HT lead and in the air stream directly behind the electric fan.

 

[Triplet]

Pauls cop are best solution. Nology are PVL coils btw. I’ve chased this same problem. I’ve replaced them all at one time or another. Neutral safety switch just resolved my issue. As soon as it took on some heat or oil it would cut out intermittently. It would partially kill the ignition and drop a cylinder until it would drop them all out.

You can check that switch but running a ground wire to the terminal. Also the clutch switch can get problematic I’m told.
My neutral light would flicker under rpm. After running a ground lead I have zero issues. Waiting on the part of course lol

 

[Greyfell]

Pauls cop are best solution. Nology are PVL coils btw. I’ve chased this same problem. I’ve replaced them all at one time or another. Neutral safety switch just resolved my issue. As soon as it took on some heat or oil it would cut out intermittently. It would partially kill the ignition and drop a cylinder until it would drop them all out.

You can check that switch but running a ground wire to the terminal. Also the clutch switch can get problematic I’m told.
My neutral light would flicker under rpm. After running a ground lead I have zero issues. Waiting on the part of course lol

Sounds like it could be as easy as cleaning the oxidation from the ground contact; but maybe the next step, as above, is wiring in a new ground wire, I'd take the old "offline" and use the new wire, leaving both in place, but you could somehow connect the new wire to the old connector and run both at the same time. Lower resistance shouldn't hurt.