Failure to start!!!

[bikerbabe]

Hi guys, my '94 Skorp Tour refuses to start after about 3 weeks in the shed. Last time I used it, it ran fine.

Motor turns but no spark (have checked plug on another bike and it works) what do you think my first port of call should be?

Thanks in advance

[DAVID THOMPSON]

on the electrical drawing i have item 19 is the spark coil
check with volt meter for voltage at plus+ terminal of coil
if no voltages with key on check handlebar switch and kickstand switch
and both fuse's they can look good and still be bad

my rt125 must be primed at the carb intake with gas or it
will not start if it sets for more than 3 or 4 days
yours may be the same if the plug has spark
if spark plug is dry after about 20 seconds of cranking
try about 10 cc of gas down the spark plug hole
put the plug back in and try it again it may fire and go
ar dave

one problem here is the gas is cheap crap any more
you would be lucky to get a fire started with it

[Zap]

Firstly I'd check the battery....make sure it has lots of juice.

Try hot sparking. This is where you pull the HT cap off the top of the spark plug just enough to create a gap in the connection (not too much...about 2-3mm), then try starting. A spark should be induced at this gap, in turn, creating a 'hot' spark at the electrode.

This method works well if you're stuck in the middle of nowhere with a dodgy battery or fouled/oily plug.

Remember to put the HT cap back down onto the plug afterwards and TRY NOT TO ELECTRICUTE YOURSELF!!

Zap

[Zap]

As Dave suggested...Check your switches on the bars, try toggleing the run/off switch.

Have you got nice bright lights? Put the fuel lever to RES just to make sure!

Zap

[bikerbabe]

Ok, here's where it's at this morning -

Fuel getting to plug ok.

Have checked and cleaned all leccy contacts I can find.

I think I disconnected the kill switch (by removing the two spade terminals just underneath the kill swtich)

Nice bright lights

Still NO SPARK though - but I haven't tried the 'hot spark' trick yet as the tank is off to get at the plug then of course there's no fuel to run it on.

David - I checked for ohms at the coil when it was disconnected and got a reading. Then on the advice of someone else (cos I don't know how to carry these things out) I connected it back up, put the multimeter on it and turned the engine. He said I should get a reading but I don't...is that what you're referring to?

Not sure about the fuses someone mentioned. I've checked both that are located next to the batt and they look fine.

Right, next step FOR SALE!

[Islander]

Often overlooked is the kickstand safety switch.

[DAVID THOMPSON]

the start switch must be closed if the switch is open no starting will happen
if the wires are off the switch they must be hooked together

thats item 5 on the wireing drawing wires 4 and 6 connected by the switch

[bikerbabe]

Can I just hold them together, or will I lectrocute myself

[DAVID THOMPSON]

i dont recomend holding bare wires together
if they are some how hooked to the coil directly
or if it is bad and is connected because its bad ...it mite do a job on you
or at least make your EYE'S get VERY BIG

i take electrical safety very seriously
holding on to 12volt wires may not get you ..
.but if it becomes a habbit

then the defective 110 to 12volt battery charger you have hooked up
some day may get you or the kick back from the spark coil


dumb things kill people

a guy i know used to use 110volt 60cycle ac in series with a 40 watt light bulb
to arm his electric fence on the farm (to cheap to buy a fence charger)
He killed 2 cows and 3 deer before he ask me why it was happening
dumb
look for some one that works on bikes with lots of electrical know how
if he is a ham radio operator even better
also there is one of the fellows on here that is an electrical eng. he may
be near you in the uk but i forgot who he is
its hard to fix things with only the electrical drawings on a bike model
i have only seen in pictures and from 3000 plus miles away
i am not the head electriconics officer on ncc1701
just the FTG-3 from the LKA 54 USS ALGOL /1967/1968