Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Right Cylindeer Not Firing

This started a couple months ago. My 03 America would start on just the left cylinder but I'd ride it less than a mile and the right cylinder would kick in. The other day I rode 10 miles and the right cylinder never kicked in. The next day I started it up and both cylinders fired up and I rode it for 125 miles and it ran great. I stopped and got gas and when I started it up it started on just the left cylinder and I had 25 miles to ride to get home and the right cylinder never kicked in. Has anyone else had this problem? I am not a mechanic so I am not looking forward to taking it to a dealer. I don't think it is the carbs cause if it was why is it intermittent? Any help would be appreciated.

Time to determine if it's the coil or CDI. You should never run an engine that long with one side not firing. It will wash the lubrication from the rings and contaminate the oil with fuel damaging the bearings, rings and cyl. wall. From what you describe I would be leaning to the CDI.

[notfiring. I would be leaning to the CDI.

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Thanks for the replies. Great site. I hope I didn't damage my engine. If I damaged it I would know instantly wouldn't I? I'm sick thinking of my stupidity. Anyways what do you recommend I should do before changing the CDI? I'm thinking I should change the oil and plugs. Can I use cheap oil till the gas is out of the oil? I appreciate your guys help!

Don't use cheap oil. Change the oil and filter with a good synthetic (Mobil 1 or Amsoil motorcycle oils IMO) and you will be fine, maybe do an early change next change.Swap the the coil wires from side to side, both sets, the ones that power the coils and the ones to the plugs. If the problem changes sides you probably have a bad coil. If not you have a bad CDI.

OK I will. I just thought if I had to change the oil more than once that maybe I'd use cheaper oil for the first oil change. Right now work, roof leak, and a couple other life's surprises hit me at once so I haven't been able to look at the bike. I am going to check the coils today. I have scepter pipes on my bike. If the coils are good. Do you think the CDI will have to be reprogrammed?

if the CDI is bad it will have to be replaced.

Sorry for the late update. Thank you so much for your help. I took the tank off and checked the coils. The connection to the right cylinder was loose. I've been on several rides and it hasn't failed me yet. I cannot believe I got lucky with a quick fix.

Guess I was wrong. The right cylinder stopped firing yesterday. Guess I do have to replace the CDI. Bummer.

Did you switch the wires to the coils like Ian stated to determine coil or cdi problem? Wouldn't want you to purchase a CDI for nothing when a coil might be the culprit.