Author Topic: Weird intermittent spark  (Read 5655 times)

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Offline Sdsbassist

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Weird intermittent spark
« on: March 18, 2016, 03:32:38 PM »
Found cyl 1 pipe was cold. When I hooked up a timing light to the wore, found that it was sparking, but inconsistent. 4 looks fine. Check connections?

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Gus, Austin, MN.
Current Bike:  75 750F

Past bikes: 76 750K - "Iowa Blue",78 750K Craigslist find - "Black Beth;" 77 CB750K Basketcase, with a 75K engine; 1970 Cb750 K1, "Rosa Luxembourg"
74 cb750, 75 cb550, 77 kawa 650, 81 virago 750, 83 virago 920, 80 Honda Twinstar 200, 71 Honda CT70, 1971 Honda CB750 Rat Project "Black Dahlia Bitsa"

Offline Gene

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #1 on: March 18, 2016, 03:35:48 PM »
Replace the plug cap?  Clip back about 1/4 of the wire for a good connection.  Cheap, easy check.
*1973 CB750K3 (Bow)

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #2 on: March 18, 2016, 03:56:13 PM »
Did you replace plugs, points, condensers & caps?

If no, C'mon Man!
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Sdsbassist

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #3 on: March 18, 2016, 04:08:48 PM »
It's just the one cyl which should Elim what steve just said. I tried two plugs in cyl 1 plug boot and it was arcing more widely than the others. Bad cap?

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Gus, Austin, MN.
Current Bike:  75 750F

Past bikes: 76 750K - "Iowa Blue",78 750K Craigslist find - "Black Beth;" 77 CB750K Basketcase, with a 75K engine; 1970 Cb750 K1, "Rosa Luxembourg"
74 cb750, 75 cb550, 77 kawa 650, 81 virago 750, 83 virago 920, 80 Honda Twinstar 200, 71 Honda CT70, 1971 Honda CB750 Rat Project "Black Dahlia Bitsa"

Offline Sdsbassist

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #4 on: March 18, 2016, 05:05:00 PM »
The other issue could be gas I'm guessing

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Gus, Austin, MN.
Current Bike:  75 750F

Past bikes: 76 750K - "Iowa Blue",78 750K Craigslist find - "Black Beth;" 77 CB750K Basketcase, with a 75K engine; 1970 Cb750 K1, "Rosa Luxembourg"
74 cb750, 75 cb550, 77 kawa 650, 81 virago 750, 83 virago 920, 80 Honda Twinstar 200, 71 Honda CT70, 1971 Honda CB750 Rat Project "Black Dahlia Bitsa"

Offline Sdsbassist

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2016, 05:16:35 PM »
Just pulled plugs and it's wet....flooded?

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Gus, Austin, MN.
Current Bike:  75 750F

Past bikes: 76 750K - "Iowa Blue",78 750K Craigslist find - "Black Beth;" 77 CB750K Basketcase, with a 75K engine; 1970 Cb750 K1, "Rosa Luxembourg"
74 cb750, 75 cb550, 77 kawa 650, 81 virago 750, 83 virago 920, 80 Honda Twinstar 200, 71 Honda CT70, 1971 Honda CB750 Rat Project "Black Dahlia Bitsa"

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #6 on: March 18, 2016, 06:26:18 PM »
Just pulled plugs and it's wet....flooded?

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Just wet, from not firing.. ;)
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Offline Sdsbassist

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2016, 06:28:42 PM »
So would the weird arching cause it to not even spark when it actually in the cylinder.

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Gus, Austin, MN.
Current Bike:  75 750F

Past bikes: 76 750K - "Iowa Blue",78 750K Craigslist find - "Black Beth;" 77 CB750K Basketcase, with a 75K engine; 1970 Cb750 K1, "Rosa Luxembourg"
74 cb750, 75 cb550, 77 kawa 650, 81 virago 750, 83 virago 920, 80 Honda Twinstar 200, 71 Honda CT70, 1971 Honda CB750 Rat Project "Black Dahlia Bitsa"

Offline Sdsbassist

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #8 on: March 18, 2016, 06:31:37 PM »
I'm considering plugging wire 1 to 4, and 4 to one to see if that makes any change. Would narrow it down to wires or carbs?

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« Last Edit: March 18, 2016, 06:43:22 PM by Sdsbassist »
Gus, Austin, MN.
Current Bike:  75 750F

Past bikes: 76 750K - "Iowa Blue",78 750K Craigslist find - "Black Beth;" 77 CB750K Basketcase, with a 75K engine; 1970 Cb750 K1, "Rosa Luxembourg"
74 cb750, 75 cb550, 77 kawa 650, 81 virago 750, 83 virago 920, 80 Honda Twinstar 200, 71 Honda CT70, 1971 Honda CB750 Rat Project "Black Dahlia Bitsa"

Offline Sdsbassist

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #9 on: March 18, 2016, 06:42:49 PM »
here is a bad interpretation of what I see what I ground plugs to head to test them. #1 shoots the spark more randomnly then the others.
Gus, Austin, MN.
Current Bike:  75 750F

Past bikes: 76 750K - "Iowa Blue",78 750K Craigslist find - "Black Beth;" 77 CB750K Basketcase, with a 75K engine; 1970 Cb750 K1, "Rosa Luxembourg"
74 cb750, 75 cb550, 77 kawa 650, 81 virago 750, 83 virago 920, 80 Honda Twinstar 200, 71 Honda CT70, 1971 Honda CB750 Rat Project "Black Dahlia Bitsa"

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #10 on: March 18, 2016, 07:14:57 PM »
Did you replace plugs, points, condensers & caps?

If you are not going to give it a proper tune up, you are just going to chase your tail.
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Sdsbassist

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #11 on: March 18, 2016, 07:15:46 PM »
No.

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Gus, Austin, MN.
Current Bike:  75 750F

Past bikes: 76 750K - "Iowa Blue",78 750K Craigslist find - "Black Beth;" 77 CB750K Basketcase, with a 75K engine; 1970 Cb750 K1, "Rosa Luxembourg"
74 cb750, 75 cb550, 77 kawa 650, 81 virago 750, 83 virago 920, 80 Honda Twinstar 200, 71 Honda CT70, 1971 Honda CB750 Rat Project "Black Dahlia Bitsa"

Offline calj737

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #12 on: March 18, 2016, 07:48:11 PM »
Yes, swapping 1/4 plug leads might produce different results. If the problem follows the lead, then you have a cap or wire problem (likely). If not, then you have a plug problem (likely).

You said the plug was, but was it clean and wet? Or fouled and wet?
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline Sdsbassist

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #13 on: March 18, 2016, 07:55:24 PM »
Are any of you suspecting coals?

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Gus, Austin, MN.
Current Bike:  75 750F

Past bikes: 76 750K - "Iowa Blue",78 750K Craigslist find - "Black Beth;" 77 CB750K Basketcase, with a 75K engine; 1970 Cb750 K1, "Rosa Luxembourg"
74 cb750, 75 cb550, 77 kawa 650, 81 virago 750, 83 virago 920, 80 Honda Twinstar 200, 71 Honda CT70, 1971 Honda CB750 Rat Project "Black Dahlia Bitsa"

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #14 on: March 18, 2016, 07:57:16 PM »
Are any of you suspecting coals?



I would bet it's not coals
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Sdsbassist

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #15 on: March 18, 2016, 07:57:54 PM »
I'm cool with that. Does honda carry boots? Any better value or brand?

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Gus, Austin, MN.
Current Bike:  75 750F

Past bikes: 76 750K - "Iowa Blue",78 750K Craigslist find - "Black Beth;" 77 CB750K Basketcase, with a 75K engine; 1970 Cb750 K1, "Rosa Luxembourg"
74 cb750, 75 cb550, 77 kawa 650, 81 virago 750, 83 virago 920, 80 Honda Twinstar 200, 71 Honda CT70, 1971 Honda CB750 Rat Project "Black Dahlia Bitsa"

Offline Sdsbassist

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #16 on: March 18, 2016, 07:58:31 PM »
Are any of you suspecting coals?



I would bet it's not coals
It's gonna be something simple. She sounded good on 3 cyl. She will sound amazing on 4

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Gus, Austin, MN.
Current Bike:  75 750F

Past bikes: 76 750K - "Iowa Blue",78 750K Craigslist find - "Black Beth;" 77 CB750K Basketcase, with a 75K engine; 1970 Cb750 K1, "Rosa Luxembourg"
74 cb750, 75 cb550, 77 kawa 650, 81 virago 750, 83 virago 920, 80 Honda Twinstar 200, 71 Honda CT70, 1971 Honda CB750 Rat Project "Black Dahlia Bitsa"

Offline calj737

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #17 on: March 18, 2016, 07:58:56 PM »
Are any of you suspecting coals?
I would bet it's not coals
And I doubt its the coils either  ;) Did you swap the plug leads yet?
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline Sdsbassist

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #18 on: March 18, 2016, 07:59:26 PM »
Yes and I really wanna try but got 4 kids sleeping. Before lunch tomorrow

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Gus, Austin, MN.
Current Bike:  75 750F

Past bikes: 76 750K - "Iowa Blue",78 750K Craigslist find - "Black Beth;" 77 CB750K Basketcase, with a 75K engine; 1970 Cb750 K1, "Rosa Luxembourg"
74 cb750, 75 cb550, 77 kawa 650, 81 virago 750, 83 virago 920, 80 Honda Twinstar 200, 71 Honda CT70, 1971 Honda CB750 Rat Project "Black Dahlia Bitsa"

Offline calj737

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #19 on: March 18, 2016, 08:01:16 PM »
That's no excuse, wake those brats up to the roar of your SOHC4!!!! You've got members waiting on you tick, tock, tick, tock...
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'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline Sdsbassist

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #20 on: March 18, 2016, 08:01:37 PM »
Don't do this to me bro!!

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Gus, Austin, MN.
Current Bike:  75 750F

Past bikes: 76 750K - "Iowa Blue",78 750K Craigslist find - "Black Beth;" 77 CB750K Basketcase, with a 75K engine; 1970 Cb750 K1, "Rosa Luxembourg"
74 cb750, 75 cb550, 77 kawa 650, 81 virago 750, 83 virago 920, 80 Honda Twinstar 200, 71 Honda CT70, 1971 Honda CB750 Rat Project "Black Dahlia Bitsa"

Offline calj737

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #21 on: March 18, 2016, 08:03:27 PM »
Daddy DayCare! Daddy DayCare!  :P  ;D ;D ;D

Well just update us on the outcome. If you can sneak away, something that you can do quietly is to test the resistance of each cap and post those results. If you need to be indoors and monitor sleeping angels, then that can wait too.
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline Sdsbassist

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #22 on: March 18, 2016, 08:04:21 PM »
I closed that up for the night. But that post was definitely the best ever.

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Gus, Austin, MN.
Current Bike:  75 750F

Past bikes: 76 750K - "Iowa Blue",78 750K Craigslist find - "Black Beth;" 77 CB750K Basketcase, with a 75K engine; 1970 Cb750 K1, "Rosa Luxembourg"
74 cb750, 75 cb550, 77 kawa 650, 81 virago 750, 83 virago 920, 80 Honda Twinstar 200, 71 Honda CT70, 1971 Honda CB750 Rat Project "Black Dahlia Bitsa"

Offline Stev-o

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Offline Sdsbassist

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Re: Weird intermittent spark
« Reply #24 on: March 19, 2016, 11:57:19 AM »
So put in a different plug, swapped the 1 and 4s and started for 2 min. 1 pipe still cold cold cold. Still damp with a bit of fuel smell.

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Gus, Austin, MN.
Current Bike:  75 750F

Past bikes: 76 750K - "Iowa Blue",78 750K Craigslist find - "Black Beth;" 77 CB750K Basketcase, with a 75K engine; 1970 Cb750 K1, "Rosa Luxembourg"
74 cb750, 75 cb550, 77 kawa 650, 81 virago 750, 83 virago 920, 80 Honda Twinstar 200, 71 Honda CT70, 1971 Honda CB750 Rat Project "Black Dahlia Bitsa"