Coils temps

Hi All,

I installed CoilSpec coils in my KZ1000. While testing spark I noticed the coils get very hot. I do not remember the original Tec coils getting hot like this!
Cannot be wired wrong only three wires come up from the Martek; one common and two hot.

I have unplugged the power to the coils until I can trouble shoot.

Has anyone installed CoilSpec brand coils and experienced heat issues?

Do you know what resistance the new coils are? If they are too low, they will get hot and if extreme, can melt.

Also, is your bike points or electronic ignition?

I tested the coils before I installed them - right around 4 ohms. This is consistent with the old coils.

Ignition is electronic; this is the old Martek 440 that has been on the KZ forever. I suspect this may be the root cause. I wanted to take the Martek off but I seem to have lost the instructions - it's only been about forty years I get spark at three cylinders only and it looks a bit weak.

I have never seen coils get this hot so either these are not compatible or there is short somewhere. On the weekend I am going to hook up the old Tec coil and see if that gets hot.

As I mentioned last post there are only three wires coming up, one common with pigtails and the two hot. So the wiring looks correct.

Other than purchasing a Dyna S I am not sure what else to test.

Yes, I believe the Martek 440 put out a longer duration than the points, so the coils would get hotter than with points.

Dyna S is probably your best option. The 4 ohm coils should work great with the Dyna S. Like the Martek, the coils will get hotter with the Dyna S too, because the Dyna S also has a much longer dwell than the points did. 4 ohm coils will run cooler than 3 ohm coils would, so I'd stick with the 4 ohms.

However, a bad igniter would not cause 3 of 4 plugs to spark. The weakness could be a bad igniter, but the missing spark would be a coil or plug wires.

This is all I got on the Martek 440. It's been decades since I worked on one.

Thanks for the Martek information.

I may need to go the Dyna route to move forward. Whats the word on damaging the coils reaching a high temperature?

Try and see. New coils can take more abuse than worn out ones.