No spark!!!

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viclioce
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No spark!!!

Post by viclioce »

Need some trouble shooting tips. Here’s what I’ve done so far.

1. Replaced points
2. Replaced condenser
3. Gapped points @ .013
Changed out spark plug coil in case the one I did the “Kelly” style rebuild on was no good.
4. Even tried placing my meter in the blue & black wires with it set at 20 vdc to see if it flickered when I kicked the bike over. Nothing.

So I’m open to suggestions. Please fire away. This is the first time I’ve been this unsuccessful obtaining spark across the plug gap. Not even a dull flicker.

The ignition switch appears to be functioning properly, at least it gives me a lit tail light in both positions when the emergency switch is in the DC position. :ugeek: Victor

1978 175SL
1976 03 Wombat
1975 99 Road Toad (2)
1973 96 Dirt Squirt (2)
1973 “Wombat Combat”
1973 Combat Wombat
1972 94 Wombat (2)
1972 Super Squirt
1971 92B+ Ace
1970 92B Ace 100B (2)
1968 92 Ace 100
1966 Ace 90
; D Victor
matt glascock
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Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 5:20 pm

Re: No spark!!!

Post by matt glascock »

I would start by totally taking the main switch out of the equation completely. Disconnect the contact block and test for spark.
thrownchain
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Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:52 am

Re: No spark!!!

Post by thrownchain »

If you replaced the points did you clean them? When you replaced the condensor are you sure there are no grounded wires? Unplug all wires you don't need, a single wire from points to coil should get you spark.
thrownchain
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Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:52 am

Re: No spark!!!

Post by thrownchain »

Jumping back some here. Has the frame been painted or powdercoated? If so you have to get bare metal to ground the motor and frame.
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ossa95d
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Location: Manchester Vermont

Re: No spark!!!

Post by ossa95d »

And also bare metal to ground the coil to the frame.
Ivan AKA "Pop"
wildzebra
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Joined: Mon Aug 26, 2019 3:25 am

Re: No spark!!!

Post by wildzebra »

Not to hi jack here, but a comment. The bike I’m rebuilding has a wire bolted to the right side behind the battery box. It’s not attached anywhere else. I assume this is a ground. Not sure if it’s stock or not. Don’t know if you have said wire.
thrownchain
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Re: No spark!!!

Post by thrownchain »

You could run a jumper wire from the motor to the coil mount to help the ground.
viclioce
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Location: Santa Fe, NM
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Re: No spark!!!

Post by viclioce »

Matt. I know the ignition switch is good. It came to me from Alan, along with all the other removable electrical parts from his Ace 100. Everything was working for him at the time he removed them. I know the harness is good, the ignition switch, the lights, I’ve already heard the horn work.

I’m surprised to see someone say make sure there is no paint on the frame where the coil mounts to it for a good ground. It has a blue ground wire. Isn’t that what the blue wire connecting to the coil is for, a ground? I will go ahead and scrape away the pain there anyway.

The condenser is one which was recommended to me in my coil discussion a while back, since Terry is out. I bought 3 on eBay and it has the same rating. It has a wire connection instead of a “solder all the wires to the top. So all my wires were trimmed, tinned, and then soldered together & wrapped with electrical tape, & I’m sure there’s enough solder there to have everything joined without any shorts.

I will look at all the places where the motor makes contact with the frame & clean away any paint which might me suspect for ground contact.

One big question. Is there a way to test the spark plug coil with a multi-meter? That way I can confirm my ”Socalhodaka style” coil rebuild is working correctly? Kelly’s instructions were easy, simple & direct, so I think I was successful, but if there’s a way to meter them that would give me peace of mind on my skills rebuilding them.

Thrown, I've never heard of “cleaning the points.” They are brand new from Terry in a sealed plastic bag? Are they coated with something? Will a shot of carb cleaner be sufficient to clean them?

Thanks for all the ideas. I’ll report back today with whether I had any success or not. :ugeek: Victor

1978 175SL
1976 03 Wombat
1975 99 Road Toad (2)
1973 96 Dirt Squirt (2)
1973 “Wombat Combat”
1973 Combat Wombat
1972 94 Wombat (2)
1972 Super Squirt
1971 92B+ Ace
1970 92B Ace 100B (2)
1968 92 Ace 100
1966 Ace 90
; D Victor
viclioce
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Location: Santa Fe, NM
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Re: No spark!!!

Post by viclioce »

Wildzebra, is it the red wire coming from the Rectifier behind the battery box? Or is it some other color wire, attached to the battery box itself? :ugeek: Victor

1978 175SL
1976 03 Wombat
1975 99 Road Toad (2)
1973 96 Dirt Squirt (2)
1973 “Wombat Combat”
1973 Combat Wombat
1972 94 Wombat (2)
1972 Super Squirt
1971 92B+ Ace
1970 92B Ace 100B (2)
1968 92 Ace 100
1966 Ace 90
; D Victor
wildzebra
Posts: 37
Joined: Mon Aug 26, 2019 3:25 am

Re: No spark!!!

Post by wildzebra »

It’s a black wire bolted to the right side of the battery box. Wondering if someone added it or if it’s stock. I have nos condensers that work for the 100 if you need one. I can confirm it running in my 69. After you rule out ground.
matt glascock
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Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 5:20 pm

Re: No spark!!!

Post by matt glascock »

I'm sure your switch is fine, Victor. Removal of it from the circuit is just one of those "back to the drawing board" easy moves to confirm that the switch/wiring is not an issue.
dirty_rat
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Location: Spring Hill, FL

Re: No spark!!!

Post by dirty_rat »

Easy way to check your "spark plug coil" would be to do a temporary hook up to one of your running Hodaka's and see if you get spark with it on that bike. If it works, it is fine, if not, that is one of your problems.
thrownchain
Posts: 1920
Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:52 am

Re: No spark!!!

Post by thrownchain »

To clean the points, use electric contact cleaner. Then take a business card or something similar, using a clean area for every pass, put it between the points and pull it thru. Keep doing it till it comes out clean. There are ways to check the coil with a multimeter.
thrownchain
Posts: 1920
Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:52 am

Re: No spark!!!

Post by thrownchain »

On most bikes the frame acts as a grounding conduit. So clean and paint free where the motor and coil mount are needed.
viclioce
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Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:35 pm
Location: Santa Fe, NM
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Re: No spark!!!

Post by viclioce »

Please tell me the ways to check the coil with a multi-meter!!!! Thanks! :ugeek: Victor

1978 175SL
1976 03 Wombat
1975 99 Road Toad (2)
1973 96 Dirt Squirt (2)
1973 “Wombat Combat”
1973 Combat Wombat
1972 94 Wombat (2)
1972 Super Squirt
1971 92B+ Ace
1970 92B Ace 100B (2)
1968 92 Ace 100
1966 Ace 90
; D Victor
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Dale
Posts: 1268
Joined: Fri Jul 19, 2013 7:23 am

Re: No spark!!!

Post by Dale »

Victor, You have attempted to resolve your issue by shot gunning spare parts. That is perfectly fine if you have the parts, time and patience. There are methods to test each component of the entire ignition system. The Ace 100 Repair Manual has a great section for this. I would recommend getting an analog Volt/ohm meter and getting familiar with each component of your circuit including all wiring. There is also a post on here describing the use of a dry cell battery to test for spark. I will locate it and add the link.

The really good news is that your issue is persistent. Finding the cause of intermittent spark loss is a whole nother level of frustration.
Dale
Dale
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Dale
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Joined: Fri Jul 19, 2013 7:23 am

Re: No spark!!!

Post by Dale »

Dale
viclioce
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Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:35 pm
Location: Santa Fe, NM
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Re: No spark!!!

Post by viclioce »

Thanks Dale! I remember reading that and will give it a try! :ugeek: Victor

1978 175SL
1976 03 Wombat
1975 99 Road Toad (2)
1973 96 Dirt Squirt (2)
1973 “Wombat Combat”
1973 Combat Wombat
1972 94 Wombat (2)
1972 Super Squirt
1971 92B+ Ace
1970 92B Ace 100B (2)
1968 92 Ace 100
1966 Ace 90
; D Victor
thrownchain
Posts: 1920
Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:52 am

Re: No spark!!!

Post by thrownchain »

If you have a resister cap make sure it's ok also.
viclioce
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Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:35 pm
Location: Santa Fe, NM
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Re: No spark!!!

Post by viclioce »

Dale. I have my 3v tester made. One question. What is the ground for the stator? Can I just ground to the metal stator frame, or must I use something else? Thx. :ugeek: Victor

1978 175SL
1976 03 Wombat
1975 99 Road Toad (2)
1973 96 Dirt Squirt (2)
1973 “Wombat Combat”
1973 Combat Wombat
1972 94 Wombat (2)
1972 Super Squirt
1971 92B+ Ace
1970 92B Ace 100B (2)
1968 92 Ace 100
1966 Ace 90
; D Victor
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Dale
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Joined: Fri Jul 19, 2013 7:23 am

Re: No spark!!!

Post by Dale »

viclioce wrote:Dale. I have my 3v tester made. One question. What is the ground for the stator? Can I just ground to the metal stator frame, or must I use something else? Thx. :ugeek: Victor
The stator frame is fine.
Dale
thrownchain
Posts: 1920
Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:52 am

Re: No spark!!!

Post by thrownchain »

If you're checking stator off bike, ground to the backing plate. If it's on the motor anywhere on the cases will work, my leads have clips on them so I just clip into a screw hole.
thrownchain
Posts: 1920
Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:52 am

Re: No spark!!!

Post by thrownchain »

Get it figured out?
viclioce
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Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:35 pm
Location: Santa Fe, NM
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Re: No spark!!!

Post by viclioce »

Took a frustration break. It’s been raining....a lot. :ugeek: Victor

1978 175SL
1976 03 Wombat
1975 99 Road Toad (2)
1973 96 Dirt Squirt (2)
1973 “Wombat Combat”
1973 Combat Wombat
1972 94 Wombat (2)
1972 Super Squirt
1971 92B+ Ace
1970 92B Ace 100B (2)
1968 92 Ace 100
1966 Ace 90
; D Victor
Joe Ormonde
Posts: 357
Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2017 4:26 pm

Re: No spark!!!

Post by Joe Ormonde »

The Primary Coil (STATOR) wire that gets soldered to the Condenser has a Lacquer or plastic coating of sorts on it. If it`s not removed, there will be no connection. I tin that wire before I solder it to the Condenser to be sure that coating is gone. I had that problem more than once. Probably something simple. Joe.
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