I have a 84 honda magna could you tell me just how the firing system woorks

Question

i have checked the coils not them it fires on 1 bank only what could be the problem the stator or what else

Answer 1

1- make sure u have good connections (unplug and replug connectors)

1a- getting fuel to all cyl.?

2- swap coils w/ each other (I know, but just to be sure)

     did problem move?

3. swap spark boxes w/ each other (usually      

     located under seat)

     did problem move?

     [replacement boxes available from Dynotek]

4. consult Clymer for ign. tests

Answer 2

The stator is part of the alternator and has nothing to do with the ignition other than charging the battery.

Ignition systems like yours is actually very simple.  First off, know that a magnet can be used to make electricity (magneto on a dirt bike is a good example) as well as electricity used to make a magnet (electro magnet).  On the crankshaft are mounted little magnets (magnetic pickup, pickup coil, Hall sensor are common names for the same thing), one for each coil.  As the crankshaft rotates, a steel lobe passes by the pickup very closely, causing the pickup to create a tiny bit of electricity (induction).

Meanwhile, the ignition coil is setting there, energized (full of electricity) by electricity coming from the battery.  Inside the coil is a bunch of little wires wrapped in a circle called the primary winding.  The electricity turns the wires into a magnet.  A second set of wires are wrapped around the first, with the second called the secondary winding.  This winding is magnetized by the primary.  A wire from the secondary winding exits the coil and goes to the CDI box.

The tiny signal from the pickup travels through a wire to the CDI box (brain box, black box, computer).  When the CDI box receives the signal, it closes a switch.  This switch grounds the wire coming from the ignition coil (lets the electricity flow back to the battery).  When it does, the magnet field inside the ignition coil collapses, causing electricity to be induced.  This electricity flows through the spark plug cables, to the plug, where it jumps across theair gap and then goes back to the battery.

That being said, I'd be looking at either a bad or loose wire connection between the pickup and CDI box, CDI and ignition coil or a loose ground wire from the coil to the frame.  If that checks out, then I bet it's one of the magnetic pickup coils that's gone bad, not that uncommon.        

Answer 3

Ask these guys, they know everything about Magnas:

http://www.magnaownersoftexas.com/

Answer 4

For future reference, always give year, make, engine size and model # when asking questions. We need all of that info to give an informed answer.

Magnas come in different sizes.

Pulse generator.

They act as a set of  points and tell the coils when to fire.

http://www.bikebandit.com/parts/

Go to - your bike - Pulse Generator

Don't just go changing parts.

The problem could just be a bad connection.

Figure out what's wrong first.

http://www.motocom.com/motorcycles/