No Spark People, I have joined your ranks!

[arfstrom]

It seems I am in the same boat with the no sparks people. I have two TCI's, and the engine turns over just the same, but no spark. I just changed the plugs/wires/caps. I have ordered replacement coils, but so far nothings working. I have rotated one out, no change.

I drained the fuel tank into the car fuel tank, just to get some 100% gas (no corn sryup this time) Just incase, then before I did that, I cleaned my carbs before doing all that. Last time it fired up right after the rebuild, then I went to check TCI's, (i swapped them from the good one to test the old one) and it seem to work that one time. I shut it off, and went to bed, then it didn't start the next day. The battery has been on a battery tender all winter, till now. (still on)

I have a spark checker, from oriely's auto store. I have yet to see a spark. I have tried both TCI's, and neither did any for the pair of coils I have their. I have more coils, it seems I was worried about trashing my original pair.

I have been following the other no spark people, I just figured I will get my case out there, and see if there is a "No sh1T" you for got this didn't you? All right
Tobie

 

[Lou Ranger]

Main fuse, kill switch, loose wire ... ?

 

[arfstrom]

After spending hours going thou our forum, I am thinking its got to be some sort of grounding issue.

Coils report 3ohms between the secondary/primary wires (top two) and I think it was 8k ohms out the plug wire. (which seems to be in spec)

Last time it was running, as short as I ran it, both TCI's worked.

Starter works. (thank god) I can't image kicking it.

Battery is on a tender, and is fully charged (green light on tender) 12.5v per mmeter.

At this stage of the game, Stator/VR/Rectifier dont mean anything until it runs. So that brings us to a connector that isn't playing well, or perhaps the Powder coating is blocking some amps? The Chrome bolts should be fine for creating a ground path, the Ground post next to battery, I did sand the area. perhaps I need to touch it up again?

This stage of the game includes Safey relay, on/off/off switch, key switch, Battery, TCI, Coils, timing device.

 

[XS400NJ]

... I can't image kicking it.

- why? that's one of the best features of these bikes!

I am not familiar with "spark checker", but I assume you did try to see spark using your spark plugs, right?

 

[arfstrom]

Yup, The Ideal is that ever literature states don't run the engine with out the plugs in place. So I have been pulling the plug and running the e-start for a cycle or two, and there is no spark jumping. The Spark checker is just a do dad thing that plugs onto the spark plug, has a bowl with a light in it, and when the spark hits, it lights up. (I was trying to modify it to fit the screw head, but now that I got new caps, I don't need to modify it anymore. I had gotten one for about $15 bucks I think, it looks like this, but not so many accessories
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d...ck=Search_N0221_1037483_-1&pt=N0221&ppt=C0371


Kicking it, I was just saying that the kicking part would be so much more disappointing, if it didn't start. My last time I had it running, I thought the starter was dead, one kick, and it came to life. this time, maybe 2 months later, nothing. and that is after I cleaned the starter button, and brought life to my button, and here my system has no spark. gotta be some sort of ground issue, perhaps I can put in some washers with the spikes, that dig into the metal, or something like that.

 

[arfstrom]

New symptom, the coils are getting voltage on both the secondary/primary. I kinda thought would be a trigger line.

 

[arfstrom]

Okay, I solved this one. after looking all over the internet for hints on how the TCI works, and the Coils, I tripped into the last linked listed. I then thought I need to check the PICKUP. I took the cover off, and the pickup bolt was loose. I tighten it up, and away I went.

http://www.jetav8r.com/Vision/IgnitionFAQ.html Great FAQ, not for the our bike, but the info is vary valuable. Apply as it make sense.

extra useful info (for CDI) not the 80-new bikes.
http://www.dansmc.com/cdiignition.htm

After story, my rocker pin fell out while I was working on this. I will make a note of this on the what I did today, and see if the mainstream people have any pointers on this.
Tobie

Sorry about the quality of the video, I was excited! now 3...2...1...

one of these 2 links should work, Spark checker worked, and the bike

 

[xschris]

Awesome! If you rocker pin came out on the left side of the bike, it was because you need to have that cover over the pickup to keep them in

 

[arfstrom]

Okay, guys, I went from no spark, to running, then finding out there really wasn't a spark on the left cylinder. After trying a different coil, TCI, with same effects, I noticed that my sparkplug was sparking wierd. I expected a spark at the end, but mine was sparking at the screw zone. So I replaced the plug, and tried to run the engine off the one plug, and it worked. Hope that helps someone.
Tobie

 

[arfstrom]

I think I found Squeeky. the intake boots, outgas's making a squeeky sound. I was able to tighten one of the screws, I will have to remove my tank to get to the other one. (cross fingers) It still squeeks, but I have to go to school, so tomorrow, I can take the carbs off.

my dreaded case, if that doesn't fix squeeky, I will take off the stator cover tomorrow, (I guess, If I have too) (think Red/Green show Man's prayer motto)