Motorcycle Repair: 82 cb450 no fire, stator assembly, ebay auctions

Question
Yes I have found several wires behind the headlight that have been shorted.They have insulation melted on a couple of them that look to be ran to the kill switch or to the ignition somewhere.I did find the kill switch wiring cut so there really is no kill switch.Does this operate as normally closed or open and could this be the root of my problems?



Followup To
Question -
Yes I have an 82 honda cb450t and Im not getting any fire.What do I need to check and how do I go about it?
Answer -
Chad, all the 400-450T series bikes featured a self-powered CDI ignition system. The battery is not required in order to create ignition. The system consists of:
pulser coil (part of the stator assembly), which generates a timing signal to the Spark Control Module. The module relays a voltage to the ignition coils, which create the spark. The ignition can only be shut off by the ignition switch or the KILL switch, both of which actually ground the ignition circuit to the chassis to stop the sparks.

You can check the resistance values of the pulser coil, which should be in the 1-2 ohm range. The module is complex and even with the factory manual, you will have difficulties properly testing the unit w/o Honda factory testers.

I would probably take the kill switch off and test the contacts and wiring back to the harness. Test all connectors to the ignition system components for clean contacts.

You can test the primary side of the coils, too, looking for a very low resistance value, just a few ohms if any.

Earlier 400s were known for pulser coil failures and the replacement cost of the whole stator assembly was hideous.
Many were replaced under warranty, especially the AUTOMATIC versions.

If all of the external units (pulser coil, kill switch, wiring connectors and ignition switch) seem to test properly, then the spark module is the last stop, again an expensive item.

Go to www.helminc.com for factory manuals or check Ebay auctions, www.motorcyclememories.com as well. Because of the interconnection between the stator and pulser coils, more info can be learned by going to www.electrexusa.com, too.

Bill Silver

Answer
Chad, I don't have a wiring diagram on these bikes, but I believe that they are normally open in the RUN position and closed in the OFF position, so cut wires may not be the solution.... however if the melting wires got a 12v wire in contact with the ignition wiring, it could have damaged the spark module or coils.

Bill Silver