No spark
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Stage IV
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4
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From: Anchorage
No spark
Hey I lost spark on my ironhead what should I check first? Coil points? She just kicked while I was riding, sounded like running out of gas at first and then nothing. Thanks any input would be good.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
Unless you remove both plugs and put the plug wires back on the spark plugs then ground the plug body to the engine as you kick it over you cannot just assume it is a case of no spark.
So if you find no spark at the plugs, the first thing to do is use a volt meter.
Remove the wire coming from the ignition switch where it is connected to one side of the coil.
(The other side of the coil will have a wire going down to the points. leave this wire connected to the coil.)
Now place one of the meter leads (red) against the end of the wire you removed.
Place the other lead (black) against a good ground surface.
Turn the ignition switch to 'run'.
If you read 12V on the meter then the coil may be suspect.
If you do not have 12V on the meter, then there is a broken wire, a broken connection, or a malfunctioning relay in the system between the battery and the coil.
Get a wiring diagram and trace this electrical line and all components on this line.
If the coil is suspect, and coils almost NEVER fail, then you need to test the coil ohm rating, again using a multimeter.
The primary resistance should be between 4.7 to 5.7 ohms.
The secondary resistance should be between 16K to 20K ohms.
If the readings are within these range(s) then your coil is good.
pg
Last edited by piniongear; Jul 15, 2012 at 12:55 PM. Reason: Added items.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 481
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota
An easy way to check spark, remove the wire from right side of coil that goes down to the points. Attach a jumper wire to that stud on the coil. Then as PG already said, attach a jumper wire to each spark plugs ground strap and connect the other end of jumpers to a good ground on the bike, preferrably the neg batt cable.
Then turn the ignition switch to on and momentarily touch the jumper wire on the coil to ground, then remove the ground (repeatedly) and watch the plugs. This does what the points do. This will tell you if the coil, plugs and plug wires are working.
Still leaves the points, condensor and the lead from the coil to be checked, which is also easily done.
To check the whole system in one shot, pull the timing cover, make sure points are closed and then with a non metalic stick of some sort, carefully open and close the points manaully and you'll be able to watch the plugs spark.
A lot easier to see and do than trying to kick and watch.
Then turn the ignition switch to on and momentarily touch the jumper wire on the coil to ground, then remove the ground (repeatedly) and watch the plugs. This does what the points do. This will tell you if the coil, plugs and plug wires are working.
Still leaves the points, condensor and the lead from the coil to be checked, which is also easily done.
To check the whole system in one shot, pull the timing cover, make sure points are closed and then with a non metalic stick of some sort, carefully open and close the points manaully and you'll be able to watch the plugs spark.
A lot easier to see and do than trying to kick and watch.
Last edited by Blackcherry Low; Jul 15, 2012 at 04:15 PM.
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Stage IV
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage
It was the bolt that runs through the points to the advance weights that broke your supposed to grease them every 1200 miles or so I suggest if you own an old iron take a look thanks guys
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