RAW engine, having issues starting. Carb replaced. No spark? Please help!

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RawRawRaw

New Member
Mar 9, 2013
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Los Angeles
Hello!

I got a project bike with a raw engine on it (I did not install the kit myself, just learning about it through an old used one that was sitting outside for a year)

Previous owned said he replaced the CDI and spark plug, but did not know much about engines.

Well, neither do I. But I got it to start a few times. cvlt1

I took the carb apart, and the float has a bit of gas in it, and the bowl seal was cracked. So I bought a new carb, nearly identical, and put it on. Same issue.


It turns as I pedal, but won't kick in.

The spark plug looks okay, I think:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1t8k184g7456zwi/2013-03-09 17.45.39.jpg

but the part of the (ignition coil?) that connects to the spark plug fell out:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/27asqoadk5c7zbi/2013-03-09 17.44.55.jpg

I put it back in, but not sure if the orientation of the copper cylinder piece to the clip looking piece matters, does it?

I tried taking out the spark plug, connecting it, and pedaling, am I supposed to see a spark?

zpt

I have access to a dmm and such, not sure what to test for, if it is the spark, at this point I have no idea

:-||

Any help is greatly appreciated!
 

RawRawRaw

New Member
Mar 9, 2013
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Los Angeles
I took some pictures of the wiring:

Killswitch:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9pkzbxfiotkmppr/2013-03-09 19.01.31.jpg

Two Y-splits:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/p2okmmia5lg7a1i/2013-03-09 19.01.21.jpg

Wires from engine:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/o6o5uffoja0zsr2/2013-03-09 19.13.24.jpg


White goes to nothing?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/smuzqbd3n3ygok5/2013-03-09 19.01.14.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5nyp2ow7s2u8axc/2013-03-09 19.01.06.jpg




Green and Yellowred go to kill switch.

Black from engine goes to yellowred to killswitch, and black to CDI

blue from engine goes to CDI green and killswitch green

CDI has black to engine and to killswitchs yellowred and blue to killswitch's green and to engine blue


white from engine doesn't connect to anything.

scratg

is this wired correctly?
 
Last edited:

maniac57

Old, Fat, and still faster than you
Oct 8, 2011
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Be sure that white wire does not touch. It will kill the engine. Take the plug out and hold it against the head while turning the engine over to check for spark. If no spark, check the mag coil under the sidecover.
But first replace the junk stock plug wire. It unscrews from the coil. Search the forum for thureads on this.
 

crassius

Well-Known Member
Sep 30, 2012
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all looks good, but it wouldn't hurt to pick up a spare plug (NGK B6HS works in these) - when you put the plug cap back together, did you put in the small spring that goes under that brass plug? won't work without that

if that's the problem & you can't find a new cap, you can strip the rubber back a bit on the wire & just wrap the wire onto the top of the plug (a small nut can hold it nicely)
 

RawRawRaw

New Member
Mar 9, 2013
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Los Angeles
Thanks for the replies!

I insulated the white wire, but before I might've been grounded. Could that of done any damage to the coil/cdi/etc?

Where does the spring go? What does it look like?
My connect just like this:

http://i.imgur.com/BWi6Bnv.jpg

The part circled is what fell out and I put back in.

if that's the problem & you can't find a new cap, you can strip the rubber back a bit on the wire & just wrap the wire onto the top of the plug (a small nut can hold it nicely)
Sorry, I don't follow.



http://i.imgur.com/er2JMMv.jpg
When I ride it like this there is a spark, but it's between the engine and the wire, not from the spark plug itself. (circled)
 
Last edited:

crassius

Well-Known Member
Sep 30, 2012
4,032
158
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USA
where the brass piece screws into the black plastic there is a spring that goes under the brass - usually when the brass part pops out, the spring goes flying off somewhere
 

RawRawRaw

New Member
Mar 9, 2013
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Los Angeles
where the brass piece screws into the black plastic there is a spring that goes under the brass - usually when the brass part pops out, the spring goes flying off somewhere
Got it. Well, I'm gonna get a new boot for spark plug and solder it into the old wire.

Temp fix is just sticking the wire directly into the spark plug, lol.

Not sure how the cable is glued into the CDI or what not, I was thinking just cutting it and splicing a new boot on - objections?
 

crassius

Well-Known Member
Sep 30, 2012
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no soldering needed - cap just screws onto wire - same with wire screwing into CDI, except that some new ones are glued so you have to dig out the glued part first
 

2door

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 15, 2008
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Littleton, Colorado
Got it. Well, I'm gonna get a new boot for spark plug and solder it into the old wire.

Temp fix is just sticking the wire directly into the spark plug, lol.

Not sure how the cable is glued into the CDI or what not, I was thinking just cutting it and splicing a new boot on - objections?
No, you can't splice a spark plug wire. If you're going to replace it you'll have to get the old one out of the CDI. Most new ones are super glued in and it takes some work to get them out. Be careful and don't damage the threaded contact in the CDI that screws into the core (conductor) of the new wire.

Tom
 

crassius

Well-Known Member
Sep 30, 2012
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158
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USA
Ah, so I can get a new boot and just screw it in?
yep, the new cap will just screw onto the old wire - I note your wire may be messed up from being stuck on the plug, so be sure you can see the copper wire inside & hit it with the screw in the new cap (trim the rubber back a 1/4 inch or so to be sure you see the copper)
 

RawRawRaw

New Member
Mar 9, 2013
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Los Angeles
Thanks biknit, that's helpful, you should add the engine to it too!

Got it. Sounds like it's easier to screw a good boot into the wire than trying to get the wire out of the CDI, right?


The bike was running fine for 2 days (~6 miles?) and today it just died. Get's spark when I take the plug out so my ghetto fix is working. I had the petcock open all the way from the fuel line, and the previous owner warned me against that claiming 'this engine floods a lot'

i took off the carb, opened the bowl, a little fuel leaked out, took out the spark plug, hopefully it will evaporate overnight, if it's flooded.

any advice regarding this issue?
 

biknut

Well-Known Member
Sep 28, 2010
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It's pretty easy to dig out the glue around the spark plug wire so you can unscrew it out of the CDI box. You just need a very small screwdriver. Not only is the stock plug cap a pos, but the spark plug wire itself is crap also.

I buy copper core wire by the foot, and an NGK cap at my local motorcycle shop.

If you carb leaks, it may be at an angle on the manifold. Try lowering the fuel level in the float bowl slightly, by bending the brass float arms.

Always turn the pstcock off when the motor is not running.