81 spark plug wires/boots

[dillrepair]

ok i hate to do this... and i've spent the last 45 minutes using the search function... i thought i'd read something about my question somewhere but can't find it...

anyway here goes: was taking the gas tank off for other reasons and when i pulled the vacuum hose off the nipple my hand bumped the spark plug wire which came right out of the boot. Looking at both sides i realize how weak the little screw-in connection is from the plastic boot into the middle of the wire and they are both green inside the wire with copper corrosion..... so..

I have 81 special with the stock ignition (i do intend to upgrade it soon but i'd still like to use the bike in the meantime) Can i replace the plug wires on this coil? (i thought i read somewhere that you couldn't) Should i cut them a little shorter to get rid of the corrosion and put the boots back on? I get a little paranoid when something like that pops off so easily... its a good thing it didn't happen on the freeway yesterday when i was riding. Is there a way to make a good reliable connection for the time between now and a month or so when i have the money and time to upgrade?

[5twins]

Yes, I don't think you can replace the whole wire on the stock single coil used with the electronic ignition, it's molded into the coil. Just shorten the wire about 1/4" to get to some fresh wire, then strip about 1/8" of the insulation off and fan the strands of the wire out in a radial pattern .....



Smear a little dielectric grease on the wire end and screw the cap back on. Look in the cap at the screw 1st. If it's all corroded, you should probably replace the caps. The NGK LB05F is the replacement of choice .....



You can still use the new caps when you upgrade so consider it a preliminary step to your new, better ignition.

[dillrepair]

cool... thanks much 5twins... i will go buy a couple of those today.