1980 650 maxim ***No Spark*** !? !?

So i dont know too much about electrical. I do know i have a fresh battery. New Spark plugs. Power reaching my Coils. i get no spark on all spark plugs which baffels me. good fuses.

all i can think of would be the electric points that tell the coils when to spark ? i checked all my harness everything seems fine.

my cdi was burnt when i opened it up the ignition box ? so i went to the motorcycle salvage got hosed for $100 and it wasnt even the right one it has an extra clip. its of an 1982 1100 !?!? and of course they say no returns on electrical ...

im lost sorry guys. all i need to know is what i should generate attention 2 and eventually replace to solve the problem.

thanks for the time

 

Howdy 650! Could you post your general location, help could be close by!
Ok, a sizzled TCI (you don't have a CDI on your bike) is an indicator of electrical issues. I hope you didn't toss the burned unit, it might be salvageable (more on that later).
The correct TCI for your bike is really a must to get the correct timing curve but just about any similar TCI will work just to get the beast running.
I would just about bet that someone at one time or another put the battery in backwards (sorry, it has been known to happen). I would not use the TCI you picked up if you have an extra pin exposed in the connector. I haven't seen a TCI off of an 1100 so I couldn't say what would happen if you tried it but you may still be able to sell it if you don't smoke it. Stick it up on the For Sale forum. I have a TCI off of an 81 650 Maxim that I could get to you but I'd rather not sell it if I can help it. It would be easiest to have you send me the fried unit and see if it is salvageable. Without an operable TCI, testing of the rest of the ignition will be difficult. You can ohm out the pickup coils, the ignition coils and wires but the ultimate test is a running unit. I've seen parts test good with a meter and fail on the engine. Electronics are weird that way.

 

Thanks Robert, well i can send you my fried TCI although i dont think there is much hope, honestlly i'd prefer to buy a new/used one. i think i seen one on e bay for 30 bucks.

appreciate the info.

my next step is 2 order another TCI and tackle it from there. feel free if you have more info as i will keep you posted : )

 

One just got posted in the for sale section. of this site...

 

i'll check it out thanks ! maybe he can sell me some parts.

 

No trouble 650boy, I do hope you score a good unit. Some years and models share a common box and I belive yours is one of those basic models. However, your success may be short lived if you throw your "new" module into a system that is compromised. You NEED to check out your harness and make certain that your wires are going to and from all the places that they are supposed to. Get yourself a copy of the XJCD at your earliest opportunity, it will have your schematic and a very useful cross reference to find parts.
Good luck!

 

thanks, well i exchanged the old box with the correct one. new box still no spark even went as far as getting another relay. still nothing... im gonna check the wiring harness once more.

thanks bill for the heads up.

i got the bike for free cause i did my friends v65 carbs so he gave it to me the only reason why i took on this cause the custom las vegas strip pinstriped tank with a flame job on the top. so far i spend $140. but its still not running.

ohh and how do i get a picture and my past bikes posted like you guys ?

 

well i seem to be blowing a fuse at the fuse box labelled (headlamp) put in a new fuse....then turn my ignition on.... then i hear a pop out of the new ignition box.... take it off shake it and i hear a rattling sound in it. : (

hmmm... well i looked in my headlamp and everythings hooked up. although there arn't any turn signals on it.. neither are the wires.

im stumped. and getting a little ticked off.

 

I'd say you are off to a good start, but no bike is truly "free". If you have to sink $500 into it you still have a good deal.
Good luck on the wiring chase, it can be tedious but is well worth the piece of mind.
Again I'll remind you to post your general location since we have members everywhere. Help could be close by...

 

Thanks Robert. im gonna look for another box.

Anyone selling a 1980 650 ignition box ?

 

well im gonna get a new box. (they arn't cheap)
im gonna run smaller wires from a motorcycle battery instead of the car battery with booster cables. put in all brand new fuses. tape up all exposed wire. and double check my harness.

and pray...

 

Hey guys fixed my ignition box with some precision surgery and put it back in, still no spark, just a little update in case your reading this for the first time, the bike ran a couple years ago it was parked inside the garage, i checked the coils there good new plugs good battery starter cranks good i just get no spark.. ? i wonder if it could be the pick up coils ?

Also anyone have the Service Manual to set the timing ? for a 1983 xs650
the odometer read 63,000 km lol its been around the block lets just say...

thanks for reading : )

 

Now I'm confused. You started off, I thought, asking about an XJ, and now you're asking about an XS650? Do you have one of each?

No idea about timing on an XS. On the XJ's it's not adjustable, other than maybe moving the pickup plate around a bit.

On the XJ (if there is one), I don't think both pickups would go bad at the same time. Please read these other threads, as we've covered a lot about XJ ignition problems and troubleshooting in them:

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14844.html
http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=19297.html
http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=19151.html

Paul

 

You are definitely going to need a Manual for the XS Bike.

You have to set Dynamic Timing and Gap the Points.
There's a Step-by-Step to follow in the Manual.
Be sure you own a GOOD Test Light ... You need one to set the Points.

 

problem fixed lol i ended up just getting a 1982 xj650 yics with a blown motor and it was in such good shape i just swapped motors.... !!

i got it idling just had a few leaks on the headers connected to the motor i have to work out....

This site rocks time to set the valves and tune the carb !

 

Must have been an XJ after all....

Glad you got it sorted.