Is the Bonnie T100 finally fixed? Was it the ignition position sensor?

So the repair on the Bonneville T100 continues. In my previous video I replaced the ignition coil, spark plugs, and HT leads, but unfortunately that did not resolve my problem.
So I now believe the root cause to be the ignition pickup sensor (apollogies when you watch as I repeatedly call it a switch, it is in fact a sensor), also known as the crankshaft position sensor.
Well there is only one way to find out, so I am going to open up the alternator casing and pull the old switch out. Since I believe it is knackered anyway, I am going to do a some rudimentary testing and diagnosis, involving a gas camping stove.
Did you know that the ignition sensor was a common problem on the earlier T100's, the Bonneville, Scrambler, Thruxton and America (predominantly the 06 and 07 years)? Well I didn't, but I do now.
Watch as I find out why it was failing, and how easy it is to replace.... and fingers crossed you can then join me back on the road.
#motorcycle #bonneville #motorbike #triumph #t100 #ignition

[@ldane1991]

This series was cathartic for me. Thank you. Subbed 🤘

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Thanks for the feedback. More to come shortly.

[@drunkredninja]

I suspect this might be the issue with my 09 Bonnie. It gets really hot here(40+C) and when I read the OBD freeze data it shut off completely at super high temps and wouldn't start until it got much cooler. Now that it's cooler I can get it to start sometimes and when I'm riding hard it runs but when I'm in neutral or at a stop it wants to die unless I give it a bit of throttle. Might also need a TB sync. Your channel has been a wealth of information. TY sir.

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Do you get any fault codes when reading with the OBD? If its temp related it could well be the ignition position sensor, or the coil. Best thing would be to check if it is still sparking when you are getting a no start situation. Thanks for the positive feedback on the channel. More to come soon. Good luck with the fix.

[@drunkredninja]

@@The_Scottish_Biker throws no code but after the rain and things cooled off it just turns back on and runs fine. sounds like TB's out of sync. so it definitely sparks. going to check this out next. thank you.

[@neiljarvis8911]

Proper thorough job, methodically diagnosed and repaired. Can see you have an engineering background! Nice one!

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Thank you. I am a professional engineer by trade but I try to keep my content at the DIY level for the regular biker

[@Graveyar-p3b]

Excellent video. Im from Canada and needed subtitles bro! :) Looking forward to more

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Thanks for the feedback....the further my videos are reaching, the more I am hearing that :)

[@Graveyar-p3b]

@@The_Scottish_Biker Dont change a thing love the vids! Been having the same issues with my bike 1 cylinder dropping in and out and the engine suddenly quitting. checked and replaced everything except the coil pickup at this point that has to be it. 2 weeks away got one on order hopefully it sorts this machine out !

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

I appreciate that, thanks. Ive not posted anything for a while. Life gets in the way. More to come soon though. Good luck with the repair.

[@davidkeeton6716]

He speaks Scottish, Brits speak versions of English, you speak Canadian, I speak American. Some people think we all speak English. BWAAHAHAHA I had to strain a bit listening to him. No problem. Great video.

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

@@davidkeeton6716English, a language of many dialects and accents 😂

[@brunothepug8807]

America owner here in the States. Great job, your now officially a Triumph master technician 👏

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Thanks. One job at a time 👍🏽

[@tonyfrewin4822]

Great videos and very helpful information. Just got the same bike on a 16 plate and I’m now a new subscriber. Thanks for great content.

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Brilliant. Thanks for the sub and good luck with the bike.

[@rockintigger]

Love your technical term knobbly bits, a language I can understand 👍🤭

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Sometimes you just gotta tell it how it is 😂

[@robgerety]

Job well done. Glad you have it sorted. My only comment is that when searching down an electrical problem sometimes it is best to work backward from the plug to the failure while it is in failure mode, (ie., hot). That way you are sure to land on the exact failure point and avoid time, and frustration, and money, replacing parts that are not faulty and not he cause of the failure.

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Thanks and yep I have to agree. I had no spark at the plug, so working back takes you from the plug, through the lead to the coil. Nothing out of the coil led me to believe it was faulty. I could have gone further down the line at that point, but without knowing the coil was good, any further results would have been in doubt. With a new and known to be good coil it was then clear that it was whatever triggers it, either the ignition box, or the ignition switch. Thankfully it was the latter and cheaper of the two. Easy to prove the fault and had I known it was a common fault on the 06/07 model, I would have probably tested it a lot earlier. 😂

[@tdub5776]

excellent video, thank you. For the price of a gasket, I will open mine up and check the clearance to hopefully prevent this failure happening with mine.

[@allanb52]

I have a similar problem with my 1983 Honda NV400 and suspect the same problem, I like the idea of heating up the sensor and may try that. I am having problems getting any data on my bike but have seen other Honda bikes with 015-022", your 0.8mm is much bigger gap than, so may be tempted to set mine at 22 thou. The whole bike is like this with no data available at all and the bike only made for 3 years and only sold domestically. Thanks mate.

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Im not familiar with your bike but it sounds interesting. As much as problems like this are a pain, you either love it or hate it. Personally I enjoy the diagnosis and carrying out self repair. Though doing it with no data can be a nightmare. Good luck with it, and Happy New Year

[@allanb52]

@@The_Scottish_Biker You too mate, I have had the bike around 10 years and lived with this for 6 years, it just cutting out at the lights and needing a minute before it would start. We glossed over the pickup because it was only when very hot, but now it only runs on one pot when warmed up it is a little more obvious. If this fixes it I will be happy, but have since bought a Royal Enfield Meteor 350 which is a great bike. The Honda is much faster, but I am getting on in years. Once again happy new year and my regards to bonny Scotland.

[@oldtriumph650mechanic9]

Impressive - Well done.

[@andyb5807]

Very helpful video, thanks. Do you check your oil level when engine is cold? It looks that way from your video but I thought the level only shows once the engine has warmed up and the oil settled.

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

It should be checked warm. Manufacturers will have different instructions for different bikes, but for the T100 I think it was (I cant remember word for word off the top of my head) run at idle for 5 mins, them stop for 3 mins, check oil level with bike stood up straight.

[@andyb5807]

That's what I do 👍

[@batkevaus]

I have a 2008 bonny, but may have been built 2007. will keep your clip in mind

[@passinthru4328]

Should be quite helpful for some Bonnyville owners. Subscribed.

[@ChrisMason-q4w]

I like the high swept back bars on your bike.

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Thank you. I was told by the previous owner they were export bars from the USA off a T140. Check out my video of when I picked the T100 up.

[@RaiderWolf-yd6nm]

In response to your emergency broadcast, it appears you would have had to change the ignition coil anyway since Triumph was getting "ignition coil" warranty claims. You went a long time without having a problem if yours is an '06 or '07 Bonneville. But great video with alot of detailed explanations.

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Yeah you could be right. I only had a the bike a week when the problem manifested. To be honest doing the plugs, leads and coil was always on the cards. The bike is a 2006 and has been well serviced, but given the age I was always going to replace those components when doing the first service myself, oil change etc. i had hoped it would happen on my terms of course. The ignition pickup was not on my radar but i since know that it was a common failure on that model/age.

[@nickaxe771]

Well done....bet you learned a lot about your bike during this process.

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Thanks. Brand new bike to me (although its 17 years old), so yes I think I did.

[@richardjohnson3463]

Well done, nice piece of analysis 👍

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Glad you liked it!

[@BobberRider]

Glad you got it sorted mate. 👍

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Thanks 👍

[@markwood9755]

Thoroughly enjoying these videos, I have liked and subscribed. I was looking forward to you heating up the new sensor to test resistance to confirm difference between old and new, I guess you did not want to risk damaging it 🤔. Nevertheless great job and great result with satisfaction of a job well done and peace of mind. Love the bike and looking forward to future content 😊

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Hi Mark, that was exactly it. I was tempted to heat the new sensor and the likelyhood it would have been fine in the oil bath, but I didnt want to risk it in case I ended up weakening or damaging it. The casing gets very hot obviously and I may pull the connector and measure the resistance after a run one day, just for my own knowledge. I am with you re the dealers. I tend to do most things myself, mechanical, electrical, construction etc. Then you know exactly what materials were used and how the job was completed. I know a couple of young guys that work at a dealers and I would not let them near my bike. Ive been on the spanners longer than they have been alive 😂

[@curtiswan8673]

Thanks mate it’s an excellent video!!! May I have the link where you buy the ignition sensor? Cause I couldn’t search any information about Street Bike’s products. Great thanks!!!

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Thanks for the feedback. It is appreciated. The channel has been quiet for a while but i am back in action this week. Check it out. Let me check on the sensor and I will get back to you.

[@curtiswan8673]

@@The_Scottish_Biker cheers mate! The information you provided helps tons of T100 owners~ look forward to your future videos

[@greybeard3759]

Beautiful country!

[@fizzyridertoo]

Nice bit of fault finding. Proving the sensor failed under heat means you have the smoking gun and can be confident that the problem is sorted.

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Thanks. Fault finding is the fun part and its always great to have a smoking gun.

[@johngregg3222]

Great videos i have 2007 t100 and have exactly the same issue. Thank you as i can now watch your video to help me fix mine. I ordered a new coil before i found your video but they have sent me a 1 lead socket not 2 ? so i will return. Thanks again and yes i have subscribed 😁

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Sorry to hear you are having the same problem, but hopefully my vid makes it easier for you to sort it. Good luck.

[@johngregg3222]

Ok all fixed and sorted, thank you for your video it really helped.@@The_Scottish_Biker

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Brilliant. Thanks for the feedback.

[@alexandergemmell664]

Hey I have that exact same bike, exactly same fault. Unfortunately I’m not able to carry out the repairs myself. Any ideas who to use ? Dundee/Forfar/Montrose area ?

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

I work on my own bikes. Sorry don't know anyone over your way.

[@alexandergemmell664]

What was the actual fault and how did it present ?

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Ignition position sensor. Have a look at my other videos and you will see from when it failed, to how I diagnosed it.

[@krisstewart2036]

Great job and video🤘🏻

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@tamc1766]

Hi BIG CHAP liked the video ! If your ever err west coast Triumph Geez a shout and I'll bring ma 2007 scrambler err ! Done a few mods fae Down and Out cafe racers ....... Awe the Best

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Nice one thanks. I do go over there through the year, mostly when West Coast have their bike nights. Maybe see you there in the better weather.

[@anotherhonda9402]

had an issue when my bike gets wet (04 T100 790), struggling, dropping down to one cylinder then cutting out, Might just have been loose fitting crimps where the HT leads plug into the coil. I've squeezed them so the fit tightly again. Hopefully that fixed it. might get a new coil, make new leads and change the trigger coil if it doesn't fix it. Just bought a spare used Ignitor for £50 I'll keep it under the seat as a spare.

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

If it is strictly related to it getting wet, it could be the water getting in somewhere and causing a short and loss of spark. Id be looking at the HT leads and the coil for cracks or any sign of deterioration. Both are an easy change. Hopefully it is as simple as the connectors you have now tightened. Happy riding.

[@kevinburk7861]

I believe the Bonneville was a T120. I had a Daytona 500cc and it was a T100 R

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Various models as part of the Bonneville series (depending on year of course). Engine sizes have changed as time gone on. T100, T120 (i believe the R was an export for the USA), T140, and of course there is now the modern classics like the bobber that fall under the Bonneville title. The various different bikes may be worthy of an idea for a video. Thanks for that.

[@n7533p]

Excellent video series. I will be ordering my parts first thing Monday. I hope this works for me. Thanks...and uh, no offense but sub-titles would be a big help to your yank followers. Just kidding. Cheers.

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Thanks for the feedback, and good luck with the bike mods. Even youtube subtitles cant understand me 😂

[@TimBarwell]

really good video thanks for sharing

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@michaelmargesson]

brilliant videos

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Thanks. I really appreciate that.

[@crumblymal8479]

Very interesting watch it's really is a lovely bike but this is what concerns me about these modern bike with electronics and sensors all around when these things fail that's it or it seems to me that way I was thinking on a later bike to go with my current one but I am stating to think maybe not just maybe i'm better of sticking to the old fashioned bikes like I already have 😉I am after all a technophobe and to make it worse old as well 😂and to my shame I have no idea how to use a multimeter I wonder what that would have cost if you took it to a dealership . Nice one 👌👍

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

I do know what you mean but this is as simple a bike that you can get these days. I suppose this fault would be the equivalent of a points failing on an old fashioned bike. A true modern one with a million sensors and an ecu that you need a reader to plug into is a whole different game. That said, I do have a code reader for the bobber and it is very handy to see real time information and fault codes. There is a lot more to go wrong though. If its electrical or mechanical it has potential to fail. Id say just ride what you like, enjoy the good times, and hope you never breakdown 😂

[@crumblymal8479]

@@The_Scottish_Biker 👍Amen to that cheers😉

[@davidmax119]

Well d9ne lad.

[@1airways]

I’ve know two bonnevilles to do this

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

yes apparently it is quite common on that model. At least it was as easy fix!

[@midlife-crysis]

First thing… take back to dealer?

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

Why would I take it to a dealer? A common fault, on a bike that's 17 years old, fixed with an inexpensive part. Took me longer to make these videos than it did to actually fix it. I am happy with that.

[@midlife-crysis]

@@The_Scottish_Biker how….would an adult, with no knowledga of this kids stuff even begin to learn this? I’m guessing you had a family member or worked on bikes since a kid? I see any light on a dash and shitmyself Also didn’t realise this bike as 17yo! Didn’t look that old at all!

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

@@midlife-crysis All learning has to start somewhere. KZbin and the internet is a great resource for it these days, though I still find myself going back to the old school Haynes manual. Whilst motorbikes are relatively new to me, as I have only been riding for a year (no bikers in my family… and they arent best pleased that I have become one), I am fortunate enough to be an industrial mechanical and electrical engineer by profession. So I am happy enough to jump in at the deep end with my tools, though I can appreciate not everybody is that way inclined. Hopefully my videos can show that its not always difficult and with some basic tools, the job can be done. Ive only owned the bike for a couple of months. Its a 2006 T100. Its in fantastic condition for its age. Well looked after by its previous owners.

[@alexanderirwin7271]

Excellent video, I liked the process of elimination of the fault. I'm glad it has worked out for you.

[@The_Scottish_Biker]

@@alexanderirwin7271 thanks for the positive feedback. Videoing and finding a narrative is the hardest part believe it or not. Learning that side of things as I go. Glad you enjoyed it. Hit that subscribe button, plenty more to come!