Motorcycle Repair: ELECTRONIC IGNITION, starter solenoid, fly wheels


Question
I HAVE A 1972 FX THAT I HAVE JUST HAD REBUILT. I CHANGED IT TO 80 INCH FLY WHEELS. 40 OVER PISTONS AND EIGHTY INCH HEADS. I ALSO INSTALLED A DYNA S IGNITION AND V-TECH COIL. THIS BIKE IS COMPLETLY REDONE WITH ALL NEW WIRING ALSO.
MY PROBLEM IS THAT I'VE GOT PLENTY OF POWER FROM MY BATTERY, BUT I'M NOT GETTING ANY SPARK FROM MY IGNITION TO MY COIL. I'VE DOUBLE AND TRIPLE CHECKED MY WIRING AND EVERY THING SEEMS CORRECT. BUT TONIGHT WHEN I TRIED STARTING IT..THE STARTER KEPT TURNING EVEN WITH THE SWITCH OFF. I HAD TO PULL THE NEGATIVE CABLE OFF TO STOP IT.
ANY ADVICE WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
THANX IN ADVANCE...SLAB

Answer
The problem with the starter is either a weak batery or the starter soleniod is sticking. Make sure the battery has a full charge. If the starter solenoid sticks again replace is as well as the solenoid return spring.
As to the spark. Your spark travels from the coil to the ignition not the other way. So what you need to do is trace the hot lead from the battery. Using a test light follow this path to make sure you have 12 volts. Power goes from the battery, to the breaker, to the ignition, to the on/off switch on the handlebar, to the coil. So at the end you should have one post at the coil always hot. The power then goes to the ignition. If you still have no spark then you might have a bad ignition.
Good luck and happy riding
Mike