Topic: no spark, cycle x power arc ignition

[75 super sport]

Finally got the bike wired back up and I have no spark. Seems everything is hooked up correctly. Static timing light is flashing and power to coils. Any ideas? Would greatly appreciate some help. Been building this bike for 3 years and I just want to hear it run for the first time. Please and thank you

[FunJimmy]

Have you checked with Power Arc?

[75 super sport]

Resting battery voltage is 12.65, and it is about the same at the coils. Am I supposed to pull my power lead from switched 12v, or constant 12v?

[75 super sport]

I'm not sure what you mean about checking with power arc?

[FunJimmy]

I'm not sure what you mean about checking with power arc?

C5 Ignitions (PowerArc) has very specific installation and wiring instructions and precautions. You may want to pop over to their web site and download them. Follow the procedures and go.

[75 super sport]

K. I'll give it a shot. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[75 super sport]

So just wire it to a kill switch then?

[75 super sport]

Anyone have suggestions? I'm at all loss, everything is worked correctly. It should be firing, but isn't.

[Bill/BentON Racing]

Want to  hear it quick? Throw in stock ignition or better a DynaS and 3 ohm green coils, it will run, Bill

[scottly]

Resting battery voltage is 12.65, and it is about the same at the coils. Am I supposed to pull my power lead from switched 12v, or constant 12v?

The red wire from the Power Arc harness should be connected to the black/white wire from the kill switch, that used to connect to the stock coils.

Not that way I'd do it, as the KILL is also switched voltage and susceptible to fluctuation. Wire to solenoid stud or battery POS. (If voltage issues are your problem).

How do you turn the motor off with the ignition wired directly to the battery?

[Medyo Bastos]

contact gary at powerarc

[scottly]

The motor is turned off by the key or the kill switch as normal.

Not with the ignition wired straight to the battery!!?? Read the instructions, Cal.

[scottly]

The Power arc coils are connected to the Power arc harness, with a loose red wire that connects to switched 12v+. There is no direct connection to battery +, at least in the instructions I have been looking at??

[scottly]

From PowerArc:

>> One thing I want to suggest (I don't have all the manuals updated) is we now recommend taking each of the coil power leads (red) and connecting them both to your main fuse or battery positive terminal. The starter solenoid power lead also works.

Please post a link. Thanks Cal.

[scottly]

NO, it is NOT all clear now! According to the Power arc instructions, there is a common red wire that feeds both the coils and the module.

[scottly]

Finally got the bike wired back up and I have no spark. Seems everything is hooked up correctly. Static timing light is flashing and power to coils. Any ideas? Would greatly appreciate some help. Been building this bike for 3 years and I just want to hear it run for the first time. Please and thank you

Are you kick-starting the bike or spinning the motor with the electric starter when checking for spark? The Power arc system requires the crankshaft to rotate a certain amount before a spark will be generated. If the static timing light lights up at TDC, and the motor is rotating over 360 degrees without making a spark, the unit is likely faulty.

[75 super sport]

I am spinning the motor with the electric start. We tested the coil, and it is sparking when grounding the signal wire. Just seems we are not getting signal from the module itself. Is there a way to test the module for signal?

[scottly]

Just seems we are not getting signal from the module itself. Is there a way to test the module for signal?

No, not that I'm aware of. You are using the matching Power arc coils, correct?

[75 super sport]

Yes, they came with the kit.

[75 super sport]

Ok I will give it a shot. But since the static timing light is flashing, shouldn't it be sending signal to the coil?

[FunJimmy]

Ok I will give it a shot. But since the static timing light is flashing, shouldn't it be sending signal to the coil?

The static TDC timing is picked up by a small slot closer to the centre of the disc.
The outer marks are used for coil control. You might want to try selecting an alternate advance curve too.

[75 super sport]

Will do. Thanks! What do you think the chances are that I have a bad module? Just curious if many people have had this same problem, and if it turned out to be the module. We have power to both the coil, and to the module. If we unhook the module from the coil, and supply power to the coil and ground a signal wire, the coil sparks. But as soon as we plug in the module to the coil and turn it over we have no spark. This was hooked up correctly from the beginning and there is absolutely no way that we fried the module, it would have had to come faulty and I don't see a very big chance of that happening?

[75 super sport]

Resistor caps and resistor type plugs. Everything is "by the book". I have studied the instructions carefully, numerous times
 Everything is as it should be, it should be firing but isn't.

[FunJimmy]

Resistor caps and resistor type plugs. Everything is "by the book". I have studied the instructions carefully, numerous times
 Everything is as it should be, it should be firing but isn't.

Sounds like the module is faulty.
Send it in for replacement but be very careful with the coils though.
They will heat up and burn out if powered to long.

[Medyo Bastos]

maybe the timing slot is too thin.  i had to take an dental probe and scribe it out a bit.  gary sent me a new setup once this was figgered out. never had an issue one things were put in place.

[75 super sport]

Sounds risky to me, not something I want to do on a until I already spent $400 on. I will give him and cycle x a call tomorrow and try to get it figured out. I've already spent days on this, I've tried everything. I don't want to waste anymore time beating a dead dog

[scottly]

You might try holding the disc up to light and see if the slots are clear. Just for the record, both Cycle X and C5 are re-sellers of the Power Arc system, not the manufacturer.

[75 super sport]

Ok, I took the igntion off, cleaned the optical pick up and encoder wheel. Still no spark. I think its safe to say I have a faulty module.

[75 super sport]

Just spoke with Gary over at power arc. What a good guy. I'll let you guys know this week when I get the new module if it solved the problem.