Motorcycle Repair: Hey Bill...Its Mike again!, spark plug wire, magneto ignition

Question
Hey Bill. I'm sorry to bother you again, but I did everything you said to do, and I'm still not getting any spark from the points or sparkplug. i lined up the points and rotor on the "F" mark, and still no spark. I'm trying my best to get it running, I'm only 13 years old! The condenser is probably bad, but a friend of mine said it has nothing to do with the spark to start the bike. Please tell me if there is any other problem that is keeping me from getting spark. Thanks!

Answer
Forgot to send you this link for a wiring diagram....

Bill


Mike...
http://www.dansmc.com/bat_coil_ign.htm  OR

http://www.dansmc.com/magneto1.htm

Yes, the condenser has everything to do with getting spark. It stores energy when the points open/close to prevent them from arcing.

The points are just a switch to trigger the coil output.
When the points open the circuit, the coil dumps its stored voltage out the spark plug wire, through the cap and across the plug. Spark plugs can go bad internally and setup too high a resistance for the ignition system to generate.

With a battery ignition, you have to have a fully charged battery... ignition switch... to coil hot side (+) then the points are the switching ground side (-) to turn the coil on and off.

Check or bypass the KILL switch on the handlebars and check for spark again.

Some of the Enduro Hondas have a magneto ignition, but kind of spread around. Most magnetos have the points and condenser all bundled under the flywheel, but XLs have the points and condenser running off the camshaft. In those cases, you do have to be sure that the magnet in the flywheel is not all rusty and the ignition primary coil is still okay. You will have to buy a special flywheel tool to get it off and check under there, though.

Hope that is more info for you to work with...  I had to backtrack on the messages to find what you were working on again. Don't assume that I remember all the details, as I have a LOT of email and questions each week. Either reply with the first message or restate what we are working on again, please.

Bill Silver