no spark no fire

[smsdad99]

I have a 97 tourer. It has lost spark. It spins over fine but no spark. I thought it might be the kick stand switch so I replaced it. No luck. I thought maybe the battery was a little weak so I replaced it. No luck. I tried adding jumper cables with the new battery. No luck. I thought maybe the cdi, or ignition control module so I took it off and put it on a friends running bike and his bike runs fine with it. I don't know if it is related but it seems to have a leak in the clutch fluid somewhere because it slowly looses clutch fluid? It is getting power to the coils but no spark.

The manual says to check pulse generator with a peak voltage adapter but I don't have one? I have been told they don't go out very often but don't know if that is correct. Also I changed the timing belt about 6 months ago and put on 6 degree advance at the same time. I have put about 500 miles on it since then. Could that have something to do with it? Seems like it shouldn't but ???

Thanks for any help.

[rugguy]

I'd check the timing belt and your trigger wheel. Either one could create engines that spin with no spark

[Ricky-D]

Some 6 degree timing wheels have proven to be problematic. The only problem

free degree wheel has been the LaMonster wheel. I think your problem has to

do with the degree wheel and I suggest to change back to the stock wheel.

***

[Patrick]

Some aftermarket wheels have had some issues. I too would recommend installing the original. You can file the original if wanted and you already have the pattern for it, but, I don't recommend more than 3º advance.

The way to check the difference in the wheels is to compare the teeth. If the teeth are differently shaped, use the original.

Pulse generators have been known to fail, but, not very often.

[sandy]

My rememberer is failing me now that SS has kicked in but: I seem to recall moving the pulse generators closer to the TW can fix the old wheels that gave issues.

[Chrisj CMA]

Jump it to your car batter.  Did you put a full charge on that new battery or just fill it with acid and install it?  No full charge, that's  the problem.  Sounds like a battery problem to me

[smsdad99]

I did charge the battery before installing it. So I don't think it is the battery. But just to make sure I added jumper cables. Still no fire. I appreciate you taking time to try to help me figure it out. I wish I could remember what I did with to original factory trigger wheel. I will look around to see if I can find it.

Any other thoughts or suggestions?

[gordonv]

While cranking, do you smell fuel from the exhaust? No fuel smell if no spark, then gas is your issue not the spark.

I would remove at least 2 different spark plugs (or the leads and add in a couple of spark plugs) and crank the engine to see if there is spark. Just because it's not running doesn't mean there is no spark.

[smsdad99]

I put a screwdriver in the spark plug hood and hold the metal part of the screwdriver in my hand. Trust me no spark. I have tried on several different wires. No spark on any wire.

I found the old trigger wheel and if the rain lets up I hope to try it today or tomorrow.

Thanks again.

[John Schmidt]

I put a screwdriver in the spark plug hood and hold the metal part of the screwdriver in my hand. Trust me no spark. I have tried on several different wires. No spark on any wire.

I found the old trigger wheel and if the rain lets up I hope to try it today or tomorrow.

Thanks again.

That's kinda ballsy. Would accomplish the same thing by leaving the plug in its hood and lay it on the block, then watch for a spark on the plug itself. I've seen at least one case where the rider installed the new wheel backwards, causing the trigger points to be at the wrong interval. But you'd still get a spark, just at the wrong time.

[Patrick]

I'm sure you know, but just in case, don't let the pulley slip when loosening the crank bolt. Remove all the sparklers and rotate the engine by hand and make sure the alignment marks are correct before starting, or trying, the engine.
But, regardless, the engine should start in this warm weather even with an aftermarket wheel [ if its installed correctly or has been run with that wheel]. It seems to me that the starting issues with those wheels were in cold weather.
I've adjust the generators to get them closer to the wheel on the aftermarket wheels, didn't make a difference as I recall. But, I stopped using them 14-15yrs ago. I just file an original if I want the base advance bumped up a bit.
Honda got this right, These engines do not like a lot of advance. Power falls off quickly beyond 27º total.

[Bugslayer]

I have a 97 tourer. It has lost spark. It spins over fine but no spark. I thought it might be the kick stand switch so I replaced it. No luck. I thought maybe the battery was a little weak so I replaced it. No luck. I tried adding jumper cables with the new battery. No luck. I thought maybe the cdi, or ignition control module so I took it off and put it on a friends running bike and his bike runs fine with it. I don't know if it is related but it seems to have a leak in the clutch fluid somewhere because it slowly looses clutch fluid? It is getting power to the coils but no spark.

The manual says to check pulse generator with a peak voltage adapter but I don't have one? I have been told they don't go out very often but don't know if that is correct. Also I changed the timing belt about 6 months ago and put on 6 degree advance at the same time. I have put about 500 miles on it since then. Could that have something to do with it? Seems like it shouldn't but ???

Thanks for any help.

I had the EXACT same problem you're having.  It turned out to be the Ignition Pulse Generator.

[Bugslayer]

Did you ever find out what your problem was?

[Glenn-B]

I had same problem. Pulse generators 

[smsdad99]

I finally got a chance to try replacing the timing wheel. I put in the old one and got fire. I guess time gets away from me sometimes. I was thinking it was last fall that I had put in the advance one but it had be about 2 years. Sure is strange to me that a flat piece of steel with no friction can go bad after 2 years but it sure did. Weird. I sure am glad you guys are smarter than me. THANKS A TON!!!

[gordonv]

Another reason why I keep records on my MC of what I have done, date and mileage, which I have never done with my cars.

[smsdad99]

You are correct. A look at the records is what made me realize it had been two years, not my slipping memory.

Thanks again!!!