Topic: cb550 ignition UPDATE at bottom

[xruss]

In trying to get my new to me old bike to fire, it appears that I'm not getting spark.  New plugs all around and I wasn't able to get a spark off 'em.  Looks like, at a minimum, my condensers are shot.  Put an ohm meter to them as noted in the manual and got nothing.  Also tried the 9v battery test (although I'm not sure I'm doing it correctly) and got no spark.  

Hoping to get some guidance on my best course of action.  New points and consdensers?  Drop in a Dyna S?  Any other thoughts on what I should check before replacing anything?

Thanks.

[TwoTired]

How are you checking for spark?

Do you know 12v is getting to the Blk/wht wires?
Do you have STOP-RUN-STOP switch in the Run position?

[xruss]

To test for spark, I pulled a plug, left it in the cap, grounded it to the motor and checked for spark.  I tried this both with a new plug with the terminal bent out 90 degrees as well as a new plug left gapped correctly. 

I do not know if 12v is getting to the blk/white wires, nor am I sure where exactly I need to test for that. 

I did move the stop-run-stop switch to run.  In fact, I tried both run positions.

Thanks, TT.

[Stev-o]

battery fully charged?

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Are you running stock points or electronic ignition?

If points, with a fully charged battery and a light bulb or volt meter:
- take off the points cover
- key on
- run switch on
- light or volt meter connected between the blue wire and ground
- slowly rotate the crank
- light/meter should turn on and off as the crank rotates through 360 degrees
- does the same thing happen when connected to the yellow wire?

[xruss]

Fully charged battery.  I'm jumping to a fully charged car battery (no battery in the bike - jumping straight to the cables).  No problems getting system lights on and starter to turn. 

Stock points.  I'm considering going to the electronic ignition, but don't want to invest in it till things are up and running and I think the bike is worth the investment. 

I'll have to run those suggested tests in a couple of days.  We're heading out to my wife's family's Christmas in the morning.  I'll be back with you on Sunday. 

Thanks, all.

[xruss]

OK, I installed new points and condensers since the old ones were obviously worn.  I gapped the points at .013.  

I then tried the test that Old School recommended using a test light to check the blue and yellow wires at the points plate.  I am getting light from the yellow wire on 2 and 3.  The blue wire on 1 and 4 is not giving me anything.  I checked the plugs also for spark.  Spark is getting to 2 and 3.  

Does this mean I have a short or loose connection somewhere in the wiring harness between the battery and the points?  If so, suggestions for tracing it efficiently?  If not, where should I look for my issue?

Thanks.

[TwoTired]

The points get power through the coils.

With a given points set contacts open power should  be present on the blue or yellow wire.
When points are closed, the voltage potential across the points should be zero.

If you never see a voltage at the blue or yellow wire while the points are open, you need to track the wire back to the coil and see if the points can provide the voltage to the  yellow/or blue wire. The voltage would be coming through the coil.
If you still don't see voltage at the coil's points wire then check the black/white wire feeding the coil a voltage.

If the blue/yellow wires are energized at the coil but there is no voltage at the points (when contacts open), then the fault is in the wire between coil and points.

Is this enough explanation?

[xruss]

Thanks, TT.  I sat down to start backing up through the system to determine my problem.  I happened to take a good look at the points and realized that I accidentally had a connector from the coil touching the points plate.  Loosened the nut, cleared the connections from the points plate and viola...spark at both blue and yellow wires as well as at all four plugs.

Now it's on to fuel.  Carb rebuild kits are here.  I just need to go through the manual to make sure I'm tearing them down correctly. 

Again, thanks for the guidance.