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Post by hopwheels on Feb 26, 2006 15:51:46 GMT -5
Hey gang:
My '78 is becoming just nasty to start (nastier than normal). I'm pretty sure it's a spark problem. So last weekend, on a guess, I put in a new plug, gapped properly. I also bought a charger and charged the batt over night. Still just a bugger to start. Almost no spark/ignition to speak of. What else should I check? Thanks guys as always.
Gary
Hopwheels
PS: I should note that it did eventually start. But even after warming up and running it for quite a while (put 45 miles on it last Sunday, and 31 miles today), turn it off and it won't kick over on restart. Hope this helps. Thanks again.
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Post by wotavidone on Feb 27, 2006 1:05:33 GMT -5
Hopwheels,
Elsewhere on this site is a link to a manual for these beasties. It has a pretty comprehensive list of electrical readings you can take with an ohmmeter, so you can confirm the stator/ rectifier/regulator/CDI/coil, etc, are good. Nice look-up table for deciding what the various readings are telling you about rectifier diodes, etc.
Before that though, I came across a site the other day, from which I downloaded the article, which talked about all the simple checks a guy did on an XT that wouldn't start. If I can find it on my PC at home I'll see if I can post the link. One of the things that stuck with me from the article was his point about cleaning all the electrical connectors and gently crimping them just a touch with pliers so that they all made good contact. Dunno that an SR has all that many bullet connectors, more like square plugs everywhere, but sure couldn't hurt to clean everything. Also, if the battery has a dead cell, charging it overnight still won't give you the full 14 volts.
If your plug cap is the screw onto the lead variety, you may be able to screw it off and see if you have spark from the end of the lead. You could get lucky and only need another cap. Or a coil.
Now here is a suggestion which may get a few jeers of derision. Years ago, when I entered motorcycling for the first time, I bought a DT360 in a box. When reassembled I was missing a coil. I wasn't going to wait a minute longer, so I hinted through the shed until I found a coil off a chrysler valiant. The local auto electrician said no way will it work with the Yamaha CDI. But I clamped it to the front down tube with a hose clamp and extended the wiring loom and with due attention to positive and negative the bike fired up and ran that way until I sold it two years later.
My point is, for the purposes of eliminating the coil, you could temporarily use any 12V coil that does not require a resistor. That way you don't have to go buy a coil just on the off-chance it will fix your problem. Need to watch it though, just use it long enough to see whether it has made a difference. An exploding coil is an impressive sight and the shrapnel is scary.
Hope some of this helps,
Regards,
Mick
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