is a coil a coil?

[Mikel.Laundry]

i am thinking i need a new coil becuase i have eratic spark and sometimes it runs and sometimes it dosnt. i know were i can get a coil is a coil the same as another coil?

[94cr rider]

get a oem

no not the same as one off a different moddle

[Revelyell]

Yes....all coils are coils.

As far as if they will work...maybe. You can always use the part# to make a possible cross reference. I know back a few years ago I had a bad coil on a street bike (yamaha) I checked and found that lots of other bikes used the same coil so that made it much easire to shop around for one.

[Mike38]

Before you go spending money on a new coil, have you determined the old one is bad? Check all electrical connections, including grounding. There is a procedure to check a coil with a ohm meter, primary to secondary then verse visa. I’m sure Google will find it for you.

[William1]

No, coils are not interchangeable all the time. Working voltage and resistances can vary. The wrong one can 'cook' your CDI.

Test the coil per the service manual. Do not guess.

I'll bet you have a bad kill switch or connector Vs. a bad coil.

[lumpy790]

I'll bet you have a bad kill switch or connector Vs. a bad coil.

agree.....kill switch is often the problem and easy to disconnect to check.

Intermittent electrical parts like a coil or CDI are very rare...they typically work or they dont.

[Chuck.]

Kill switch and/or its wiring is the most frequent cause of ignition problems, both intermittent and continuous.

I've never had a CDI or coil failure but I've had; bad grounds, loose connections, and burned plug wire conductors at the plug boot. The last is an easy fix on some Hondas by removing the boot (unscrews) and cutting 1/4" off the plug wire and reinstalling the boot.

Edited May 14, 2012 by chuck4788

[OrbaBill]

While the coil can go intermittent, my experience has been that if the problem isn't a loose connector, kill switch or ground issue, the ignition stator coil is more likely to suffer an intermittent failure than the hi voltage coil will. Stators live in a hostile, hot environment and can fail when they get hot.