T500 500/Five - Spark Plug Wiring Orientation from Coil

For those wanting to keep their bike the way the factory made them.

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DaytonDave
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: 1968 T500
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T500 500/Five - Spark Plug Wiring Orientation from Coil

Post by DaytonDave »

I have owned my 1968 Suzuki 500/FIVE (short wheelbase) since I unpacked it from the crate in 1968 and assembled it at the dealership. The spark plug wires were always set (from the factory) to cross each other near the top of the frame before going to the plugs. In fact they could not easily be re-routed otherwise without re-threading them between the wiring harness and carb cabling and upper frame. When setting points and timing over the years many times, the setup was just like the manual indicates - nothing strange there. The bike always ran great this way (11,000+ miles) and in fact I never paid attention to that detail except I have the tank off now to re-line it and noticed it and thought it strange. Mind you, this bike is so original that it even has the factory silver foil stickers on the plug wiring! Intuitively, I would have expected the factory wiring to run from left coil to left plug and right coil to right plug. Has anyone run across something like this and does it matter? Thanks for input. :up:
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jabcb
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Re: T500 500/Five - Spark Plug Wiring Orientation from Coil

Post by jabcb »

Typical of the twins, the coils can be installed facing forward or backward. HT leads are crossed with one direction & not with the other.
There was some variation in the orientation when Suzuki built the bikes. Plus shops/owners did whatever they did when replacing the coils.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

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DaytonDave
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Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2022 1:37 pm
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: 1968 T500
Location: Dayton, Maryland

Re: T500 500/Five - Spark Plug Wiring Orientation from Coil

Post by DaytonDave »

Thanks very much jabcb. That makes sense and clears up the mystery. I will leave it be. :clap: :up:
argo1974
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Re: T500 500/Five - Spark Plug Wiring Orientation from Coil

Post by argo1974 »

Sadly there aren't any detailed pictures in my T500/FIVE dealer set-up manual about ignition coil area. I can clearly see forward pointed coils though. My T500 Cobra came with crossed plug wires as well.
Would love to see pics of your bike.
1x T500 Cobra (1968)
4x T500K (1973)
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