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Jean wrote:AS long as there are sparkplugs in the leads and they are grounded to the engine, the electronic ignition should not be harmed. The harm happens when you disconnect a lead and there's no place for the spark to go! As in; making one cyl dead for carb adjustment.

Actually, I think you can only do damage if BOTH sparkplug wires are removed at the same time, because these ignitions are "wasted spark" in that both plugs fire at the same time. With only one wire removed, there is still a place for the current to go...

Tim Shepherd wrote:

Jean wrote:AS long as there are sparkplugs in the leads and they are grounded to the engine, the electronic ignition should not be harmed. The harm happens when you disconnect a lead and there's no place for the spark to go! As in; making one cyl dead for carb adjustment.

Actually, I think you can only do damage if BOTH sparkplug wires are removed at the same time, because these ignitions are "wasted spark" in that both plugs fire at the same time. With only one wire removed, there is still a place for the current to go...

Alright smarty-pants.

dougie wrote:Alright smarty-pants.

Do I detect a hint of sarcasm?!?!

There's an admonisment in the manuals to NOT pull a plug wire to make a dead cyl. for carb tuning IF you have electronic ignition.
It's like the advice to NOT disconnect an alternator when it is making electricity...I don't need to find out if you can get away with it! An expensive experiment.
I don't have "electronic ignition" except the Dyna II and it WAS expensive, to me, anyhow.
I'd ground the plugs on the fins to watch the spark.

Major Softie wrote:It's okay. You can sit back down now.

Now I'm standing.

Zombie Master wrote:

Major Softie wrote:It's okay. You can sit back down now.

Now I'm standing.

Mister Major, please tell Neal to SIT DOWN!

I can't see the blackboard.

I only told Scot that he could sit back down. I'm pretty sure ZM already knows.

Try changing seats.

Actually it is not a barn find, more like a garage find. Thanks for the advice so far. Question: should I pour some oil or anything else into the spark plug holes and let it set for awhile. I worry about there not being any oil in the cylinders.

If you have a squirting oil can, you could do that...with the nozzle pointing sorta UP.
But not a LOT.
Was there oil in the crankcase when you got the bike? How did it LOOK? Clear, dirty, milky or what.
And how much? Change it.
I think you would put some oil in the cyls and turn the engine over using the rear wheel and tranny in the highest gear...or use a hex key in the end of the rotor, tranny in neutral,...with the plugs out. Take the valve covers off and watch for oil being pumped thru the passages.