Bike finally running and on the road!

[manshack_one]

Could someone list the "safety" features on a 79/80 special that would keep the plugs from sparking at all? Obvious ones are kill switch and tip over switch. What about a sidestand switch or having to pull the clutch lever all the way in regardless of neutral indicator? I just want to alleviate any "duh, that was stupid" things that would keep the bike from starting first before I tear apart anything else. I'm just worried about electrical right now. I'll figure out fuel and air after getting spark. Thanks!

[DiverRay]

I would check, in order:
Battery Voltage, at rest and while cranking the starter. ANYTHING under 10.8Volts is bad, under 10.6 NO SPARK!!
"Tip Over Switch" located under the tank.
The TCI box, pull the 4 screws and check ALL the solder connections. The 14 large round connections at the wire connector side are suspect. They can cause weak or no spark on one or both coils.
I will need to look at the wire diagram once I get home to try and give you anyplace else to look.

[malber]

Damn Ray, you beat me to it.

Duh thing: Dead battery.

[DiverRay]

No the LOW battery is the DUH THING. It will turn the engine over, but there isn't the voltage to fire the TCI/plugs. Been there, done that......

[manshack_one]

Is that your ham handle in your signature. My dad is AD5OG and KD5VES down in Orange TX. He just got back into it over the past few years. He's one of the emergency coordinators in Orange and was real busy during the hurricane evacuations.

Back to the bike, the TCI is the black box under the seat towards the rear fender right? Has two large connectors hooked to it?

[prometheus578]

Yup. that's it.

[manshack_one]

Well, I"m pretty darn sure I've got up to 12V running to the TCI when the ignition is on, and up to the coils but nothing is coming out the spark plug wires. I've disabled the tip over switch too. What else would keep those coils from firing? Maybe a little education is in order here. What order does the bike start in? You press the start button (after putting the kill switch in run position), then.........(fill in blank here).

I'm calling the guy at the shop tomorrow and finding out how the heck they got this thing to run long enough to flood when I can't even get it to spark! Plus, the plugs look more oil foiled than fuel foiled to me.

[mitch]

No Spark

None of the safty devices will prevent spark , they will not allow the bike to even turn over so dont waste your time with them . IE: clutch ,tip over,side stand. If the bikes turning they are fine. Check the wires for loose connections around the coils etc. Was working on a buddies bike and couldnt get spark all 4 plugs were fouled . Just for fun try one new plug ya never know. Good Luck
Doug

[manshack_one]

Well, all the plugs do look foul. (pun intended)
But would a fouled plug keep fire from coming down the spark plug wire?

[DiverRay]

To check without the plug, put a #8 X1 1/2" screw into the plug cap, and set it so the screw is close to the engine. When you turn over the bike, you should get a spark between the screw and the engine, if you have the screw about 1/4" or less away. I would unplug the leads from the other spark plugs, as they will "short" the coil to ground if they are fouled, and you STILL won't see any spark.
Yes, that is my call sign. I've been a HAM operator for about 18 years, and I am installing a rig on daily ride.

[manshack_one]

Sounds like I just need to buy a set of plugs and quit beating around the bush. Of course I"m in the middle of nowhere so that means 4 days of waiting for shipping. I don't have a local dealer for anything other than Ford, Dodge and Chevy. If you can get them from Oreilly's let me know because it's the only parts store in town other than the Napa at the truck stop. But they cater to big rigs so they never have anything for less than 18 wheels.

But I'll try your dangerous yet exciting method of finding spark without the plug. Sounds like an accident waiting to happen but hey, I'm working on a 28 yr old bike so what's the worst that could happen?

[DiverRay]

I get my plugs from my local auto parts store. The new NGK number is 7333. The parts store should be able to cross the number over to any other brand. I was running Autolite platinum plugs in daily ride for the past year.

[manshack_one]

Just while I"m waiting to take a lunch break and get some plugs, the ones on the bike seem to be oil fouled. That makes me think the carbs were probably fine and instead of flooding it was getting doused in oil. Where do you start checking for a problem like that?

[John]

Manshack

One of the correct plugs for the bike is NGK BP6ES. I get mine at O'Reilly's, so if you have one in your 'quaint, little Hamlet' of Crockett, ( wife and I rode through there a few weeks ago enroute to Sam Rayburn Res), then they should have them in stock, or they can get them for you, probably the next day.
Too bad we're so far apart, or I might be able to look at the bike for you.

[prometheus578]

"I don't know how long you've had this bike..."

But always, always start with new plugs.
Fouled plugs in a newly purchased bike... the cause can be deceptive. The bike might not have a flooding problem, nor an oil burning problem. Maybe no problem at all.
Plugs will foul when the previous owner tried to start the bike with fuel in the tank that was eight years old, or a battery that cranks the engine, but not enough juice left to fire the ignition.
He then sells the bike, as it won't run. And someone buys it, sees fouled plugs and thinks the worst.

But would a fouled plug keep fire from coming down the spark plug wire?

No... potential fire still runs down the wires. The 'tricity just takes the easier path of running through the carbon fouling than taking the effort to jump the gap.
Ray is correct. But seeing how you don't have access to sparkplugs, why would you have access to a #8x1 1/2 screw?
Take a phillips screw driver... stick it in the plug cap and hold it close to the engine. Hit the starter. You should see a spark jump from the screwstick to the engine.
Charge the battery first, to ensure that you have enough juice in the first place.