s4 coil sticks

[alan s4]

Having issues starting the S4 after the winter. Even with a new battery I had to get a push start, eventually fired up however felt like it was running on 1 cylinder.

Purchased a couple of new spark plugs and was about to fit today, pulled out the coil stick from the front cylinder and think I may have found the problem......

https://i.postimg.cc/dV2smLJZ/coil-stick.jpg

Pretty nasty! I understand CBR600rr sticks are the same, can someone confirm please. Looking at this an Ebay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CBR600RR-2004-2003-ignition-coil-stick-129700-4510/143475552845?hash=item2167cf324d:g:c2gAAOSwBYpd-h1c

[Darren69]

That;s fooked. I have heard the Honda and Suzuki ones work but have not tried it. I don't know if the part numbers are the same. I think there is a code on the top that you might be able to check.

[Luddite]

This isn't an isolated problem and there are a number of threads detailing alternatives, (among which are indeed CBR600 coils). Have a look here:

http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/showthread.php?t=57637

And especially this one, which is also linked in the one above:

http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/showthread.php?t=37946

Post #22 has a picture of a damaged coil, which looks identical to yours.

[Darren69]

I just searched Denso and there are loads and the couple that Luddite mentions are probably in there too.

http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/search.php?searchid=3093578

[Darren69]

Do you jet wash your bike or do a lot of riding in the rain? It's probably a good idea to pull the coils out and dry out any standing water after washing or rain riding especially the front one.

[alan s4]

I blame the BSB round at knockhill, I had tickets for both days, if you remember the weather for the weekend it was biblical! I rode there and back and covered around 200 miles in the most atrocious weather, I don’t think the bike properly recovered. Anyway I’ll research the options. Thanks for all the replies and I’ll let you know how I get on.

[iainw]

That's mime Luddite points to on the 2nd link.

I replaced it with a Honda CBR600RR (04-07) Denso p/n 129700-4510 from ebay, you just need to swap the rubbers over. I now slap some silicone grease on the top rubber to get a good seal and keep the crap out.

[Darren69]

It occurred to me earlier that some grease or even vaseline would be a good idea. I'm going to do mine even though i dont jet wash or ride in all weather. That front plug is exposed to whatever the front tyre throws at it.

I have heard of some that swell so much they're really difficult to get out.

[jerry]

I use Honda CBR 600 rr ones they are much cheaper same denso spec loads available online used

[Darren69]

Thanks Jerry. So do you need to swap the rubber seals over or do the Honda ones fit the same?

[alan s4]

Looks that way Darren. I've just ordered a CBR stick from Ebay. It has a rubber seal, looks a bit smaller than the Ducati version. Just as well someone mentioned this, I had to dig the old one out from the bin to remove the rubber!

[Darren69]

Oh God yea, never chuck anything away! Just have a box for scrap bits that you can scavenge should you need to. It was my rear one that started to break down but only when it got warm, cold it was ok. I suspect that it was originally a front coil and swapped over but I don't know for sure as they can fail from heat too as well as water ingress.

Thing that annoyed me most was the dealer who probably knew of the issue and the cheaper replacement options even suggested that I should replace both from Ducati just be sure. But at over £300 quid I not so politely declined that offer! Thank goodness for mass produced Japanese bikes and parts! :)

[Albie]

When I did my custom s4 conversion back in 2008 my 2002/3 the front cylinder coil pack was like that after 5 years. Not huge miles either. It's the elements you can only keep out if you dont ride in rain or dont was with pressure. I nearly bought a honda one then but bought a secondhand pair for about £50 and sold one of the pair on.

[alan s4]

Still waiting for the CBR coils to arrive, in the meantime decided to have a look at the plugs......

https://i.postimg.cc/FRxCPhn5/spark.jpg

Looks like the original champion plugs! Had a full DESMO service carried out last year at a main dealer, I would have thought the plugs would be changed as part of the service, obviously not.

[jerry]

Still waiting for the CBR coils to arrive, in the meantime decided to have a look at the plugs......

https://i.postimg.cc/FRxCPhn5/spark.jpg

Looks like the original champion plugs! Had a full DESMO service carried out last year at a main dealer, I would have thought the plugs would be changed as part of the service, obviously not.

if they did not check the plugs I would worry about the qaulity of their servicing , that plug is nasty

[Grumpy]

if they did not check the plugs I would worry about the qaulity of their servicing , that plug is nasty

I'm with Jerry on this one.
A full demo service should include plugs.
Even if it didn't, surely the dealer would check the plugs and if they need replacing,fit new and add to the bill....

[slob]

surely the plugs come out to ease turning the engine over accurately to perform the desmo service. no mechanic should be putting a plug that was even half-way to that state (last year) back in... and should have flagged the state of the stick coil too. my suspicion would be that no work beyond wiping down the bits that show had been done.

[iainw]

Still waiting for the CBR coils to arrive, in the meantime decided to have a look at the plugs......

https://i.postimg.cc/FRxCPhn5/spark.jpg

Looks like the original champion plugs! Had a full DESMO service carried out last year at a main dealer, I would have thought the plugs would be changed as part of the service, obviously not.

I hope none of that crap fell down into the cylinder? :eek:

[Darren69]

I'm with Jerry on this one.
A full demo service should include plugs.
Even if it didn't, surely the dealer would check the plugs and if they need replacing,fit new and add to the bill....

I checked the service schedule and plugs should be changed every 10000KM when the valve clearances are checked. The procedure for that doesn't specifically mention removing the spark plugs, but it makes sense that they would to do so. It looks like that plug hasn't been out in a long while otherwise they would have surely changed it.

[alan s4]

Checked my service invoice and the plugs were not mentioned, so at least I wasn't charged for them. The plug came out easily enough so I can't see any reason for the dealer not changing them.

[iainw]

If it's in for belts and or valves then surely the plugs will have to come out to turn the engine over.

[The Clockie]

If it's in for belts and or valves then surely the plugs will have to come out to turn the engine over.

So maybe neither were done? Time to go somewhere else!

[jerry]

Name and shame ???

[alan s4]

To be fair to the dealer they have always been good in the past, so I'm going the give them a chance to explain themselves once everything gets back to normal again.

[alan s4]

Update - fitted the new CBR coil stick to the front cylinder along with 2 new NGK plugs and bike running fine. Managed a trip to shops to pick up some essential provisions for the mother in law, felt great to be back on a bike again:D