Ignition coils on the Honda GX690 are one of the most common failure points especially once the hours start stacking up or you’re dealing with a misfire. Being able to identify this symptom and troubleshoot / repair it will save you a lot of headache and downtime.
Here’s the clean, no-nonsense way to swap them.
Tools needed:
- 10mm socket and ratchet (or drill)
- Phillips head bit
Steps:
- Remove the two Phillips head screws on the front cover.
- Remove the four 10mm bolts (two up top, two down low).
- Pull the front cover off and set it aside.
- Loosen the two bolts that hold the coils in place — this gives you room to work.
Installing the new coils:
- Plug the wire into the coil.
- Seat the retainer properly in the groove.
- Click the boot firmly onto the spark plug.
- Tuck the wires clean so nothing is rubbing against metal or moving parts.
Setting the air gap: You need a small gap between the coil and the flywheel. If you don’t have the proper feeler gauge, fold a piece of aluminum foil in half (roughly the thickness of a couple layers of sandpaper). Slide it in, tighten the coil, then remove the foil. Don’t overtighten! These threads strip easily.
Once both coils are in and wires are routed clean, check that nothing rubs when the flywheel rotates.
Reassembly:
- Slide the front cover back on, making sure the lip seats properly into the groove on both sides.
- Install the four 10mm bolts.
- Finish with the two Phillips screws.
That’s it. The whole job can be done in a few minutes once you’ve done it a couple times.
Full video walkthrough: https://youtu.be/UmEPBPmdhzE
Dealing with a misfire or dead coil on a GX690? This is the process.