Tmalone
XS400 Member
I have a 1981 xs400 that I bought I couple years ago and haven't had a lot of time to work on. I've had it run before but not consistently and I finally have some time to put into it. Right now I am sure that the starter solenoid is bad and I have one ordered that will be here next week. To see if I could get it started I went ahead and jumped the posts on the solenoid to see if it would run but had no luck (this may have been a bad idea, but I couldn't think of any reason not to). The starter cranks but it won't start. I have fresh gas and I'm sure it's getting to the engine.
I took the spark plugs out to see if I am getting spark or not. I connected the plugs to the wires and made sure I had contact with the block for ground. As I was cranking the starter I saw no spark out of either of the plugs. So here are my questions. . .
I think that I should still have gotten spark even though I bypassed the solenoid. Can you think of any reason this would keep ignition for occurring?
Where should I start with troubleshooting the ignition?
Thank you for any input!!!!
I took the spark plugs out to see if I am getting spark or not. I connected the plugs to the wires and made sure I had contact with the block for ground. As I was cranking the starter I saw no spark out of either of the plugs. So here are my questions. . .
I think that I should still have gotten spark even though I bypassed the solenoid. Can you think of any reason this would keep ignition for occurring?
Where should I start with troubleshooting the ignition?
Thank you for any input!!!!