No Spark

[74comrat]

Hope someone out there can help. I have a 97 super combat was running fine when I parked it six weeks ago.Went to start no spark. I pulled the plug and grounded to head kicked it over no spark. each time i kick it over i can press kill button and it will spark once only after kicking over each time. A real head scratcher Thank you

[ossa95d]

I suspect that your top coil may not have a good connection to ground. Your condenser appears receiving a charge but can't discharge through the coil. When you press the kill switch it is providing a roundabout path to ground for the coil and the condenser is discharging. Maybe...

[74comrat]

Thank you i will check to make sure its getting good ground i checked the coil with ohm meter seems to be ok

[Dale]

I don't believe that there is a condenser on the 97 Combat Wombat. Just the CDI unit in the circuit along with the stator assembly, rotor and the ignition coil.

Can you detect any spark with the kill switch disconnected? I would start by making sure the rotor is clean and then clean and inspect every connection. Spark plug cap comes to mind as well.

[ossa95d]

I should have paid attention to which machine we were talking about. Dale you are right about the CDI unit. That complicates things for sure.

[thrownchain]

It doesn't complicate it, same things apply. Good ground, clean connectors. From there it's individual components.

[Bullfrog]

I'm not sure (exactly) what Ivan was getting at, but there is indeed a "condenser" in the system. It is a "CDI" system (Capacitor Discharge Ignition). Capacitor/condenser - different names for the same thing. It's just that the capacitor in CDI systems is in the "black box" and it is not testable or replaceable separately. Double check all 1) connectors and 2) all wires.
Ed

[74comrat]

thanks for all of the suggestions and info. I took your advice cleaned all connections and ground still no luck. i guess i will bite the bullet and buy a new CDI box (Quite pricey) I checked the coil ohm resistance it seemed fine. Thank You all!

[Dale]

thanks for all of the suggestions and info. I took your advice cleaned all connections and ground still no luck. i guess i will bite the bullet and buy a new CDI box (Quite pricey) I checked the coil ohm resistance it seemed fine. Thank You all!

Did you disconnect the kill switch for your testing? I have had faulty ones that became real flakey.

[ossa95d]

What I meant by more complicated is exactly what Ed said. The condenser is integrated into the CDI box with all the other electronics that control progressive spark advance and other functions, and as such can't be isolated for testing. What we do know is that the system is charging and the top coil is doing it's job and stepping up the voltage to the point where it will jump the spark plug gap when the system is grounded through the kill switch. It's also likely that the kill switch is functioning because it is completing a circuit through ground when pressed. I would still disconnect it for testing purposes. We also don't know if you have tried a different/new spark plug.

[74comrat]

I swapped out the CDI box from My model 98 super rat has the same box as the combat.working fine with super rat CDI box. Just occured to me today to try the swap. Super combat CDI box is defective.Thanks to all for your input

[ossa95d]

Glad you found the problem but sorry that it requires a new CDI box. It's strange that it happens quite often that a bike is running just fine, then shut off, and then later won't start again because the CDI box went poof.

[viclioce]

Are these CDI boxes repairable? Has anyone tried? Does anyone know what the most common failure in them appears to be? Seems like if it can be made to work again that would be a good thing. Just curious. Victor

[Dale]

Are these CDI boxes repairable? Has anyone tried? Does anyone know what the most common failure in them appears to be? Seems like if it can be made to work again that would be a good thing. Just curious. Victor

I have never torn into one. Never had one fail. Pretty sure they are solid state and have nothing replaceable inside. That's my guess...

[bobwhitman]

Contact me directly, I might be able to help.
Bob
[email protected]
541-954-0101

[viclioce]

Bob. It’s not clear to whom you were posting. Was it me? Victor