Bike won't start...need help FAST please!

[SanDiegoMike]

Bike was running yesterday as good as it ever has until I tried top start it this morning to go to work. Fuel on, enrichener open, handlebar switch to 'run', key on, hit the switch....cranks over, but no fire. WTF??? Fuel flow is good, pulled a plug grounded it against the head, and there is no spark when cranking. As soon as I let go of the button, I get one big spark across the plug. Please point me in the right direction.

[Bigfoot]

Well, at least you have narrowed the problem down to spark. Might be helpful to pull some of the other plugs and see if you have no spark at all or just on two. If only on two that would lead me to think one of your coils has a problem. Could also be your TCI.

The other thing I would check right off is pickup coil wire. Had similar problems with mine and that was the issue.

[DiverRay]

Check fuses AND the small wire at the starter solanoid(sp?). try clipping a wire from the battery to the red/white that is on there.(I think that's the correct color. It's one of the two SMALL wires on it) It sounds as if you have a bad connection, and are NOT getting the 12V. to the coils for starting, but ARE getting the 9V. from the ballast resistor AFTER you try and start.
Another quick way to try is push start it. That will fire the coils like you are already running. HTH

[SanDiegoMike]

Pulled the 4 prong plug from the TCI to check resistance of the pickup coils...red/yellow to green/yellow=720 ohms. Red/white to green/white= open circuit. I've already re-done the wire repair from the pickup coil all the way to the plug behind the fuse panel (PO didn't leave much to work with) a year or so ago, and there is not enough wire left at the pickup coil to do it again. Anyone have an extra one they would be willing to let go of?

[oseaghdha]

Pickup coils.

Mine did the same thing: No sparks till I switched off.

[Ivan]

Check the ballast resistor bypass circuit. If it has no spark during cranking, but sparks while the engine spins down, then your ballast resistor is working, but the start portion of it is probably culprit.