Topic: Timing issue - Light never comes on, electrical problem?

[Dave-and-his-550]

Well, I've researched ignition timing. I've done it all "by the book". I adjusted cam chain, adjusted point gap to .014" I set my L.E.D timing light on the blue wire, the other to ground. I set 1-4 on the timing mark, and no light. I loosened the three screws and moved the whole point plate left and right, but I never got the timing light to light up...?

I tried 3-4 and same issue. No matter how much I moved the plate, the light never came on. I'm not sure what to make of this. Is it possible that I might have some electrical hooked up wrong by the coils? Is there a fuse that might have blown, that I am not aware of?

Also, I thought I would just push my starter button and watch it crank over, maybe catch a glimpse of the timing light light up, but it never did. The bike wouldn't crank over after three or four tries. It just died. Battery still seemed good with all the lights appearing fully on, but the bike just stopped turning over...Is this normal? Did my starter motor go to #$%*?

Thanks for any help,

[fastbroshi]

Are the dots on the clutch arm all lined up?  JK 

[OldSchool_IsCool]

- does your light come on when you connect it right to the battery? (if yes, your light works and your battery has voltage)
- does the light come on if you connect it to the blue wire and you hold the 1.4 points open with your fingers?
- is your key on and your kill switch set to RUN?
- does you light come one if you touch across each fuse? (if yes, that fuse is blown)

[ekpent]

Was it or has it run in the recent past? Are you using a "good" ground. This is a static set-up you are using correct.

[Frostyboy]

Considering the fact that you're using an LED for your light, are you sure you have the polarity right? Try hooking the light up in reverse to the way you had it.
Maybe recharge your battery as well by the sound of it.

[Dave-and-his-550]

Thanks for the insight Broshi 

- does your light come on when you connect it right to the battery? (if yes, your light works and your battery has voltage)
- does the light come on if you connect it to the blue wire and you hold the 1.4 points open with your fingers?
- is your key on and your kill switch set to RUN?
- does you light come one if you touch across each fuse? (if yes, that fuse is blown)

Light works when connected to battery.

Light does not come on when I connect it to the blue wire and hold the points open

Kill switch is set to RUN. Does it make sense the bike turns over even with the kill switch set to off 

What fuses are you referring to?

Was it or has it run in the recent past? Are you using a "good" ground. This is a static set-up you are using correct.

By has it ran in the past, you mean my bike? Yes. Last year early 2009. The ground is good, I've moved it around a bit in various places. It is static set up.

I plug one of the alligator clips to the small bolt that holds the blue wire, is this ok? I read in the shop manual you disconnect the blue wire and hook up the alligator clip to the wire itself.

I'm charging my battery up again. I don't think there is a polarity issue because I hooked up the test light to the battery each way, and it lit up.

[NickC]

What type of timing light do you have?

[Dave-and-his-550]

I'm using a small L.E.D light that I put together. Doing the static method.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

With the kill switch off, the starter motor will still spin the engine, but the spark plugs will not fire.  Are you saying that you can start and run the motor with the kill switch off?  If so, then there is likely some modifications to your wiring.

[Dave-and-his-550]

No I haven't started it yet.

Still not sure why the test light never lights up. Can it possibly be a wiring thing? Coils bad or something? Shouldn't there be a little spark jumping from the points every time it rotates at the right moment?

What was this fuse you mentioned before Oldschool?

[scottly]

With the points open, you should have voltage on the blue or yellow wires. If not, check for voltage at the black/white wire going to the coils. This is where the ignition switch, via the kill switch, feeds the 12V to the coils. If the starter button works, then the main fuse and ign switch are probably ok....

[OldSchool_IsCool]

I'm talking about the fuses under the left side panel.  Do you have dash lights? Head light?