Nube

APW1222

Member
Couple questions:
1. My donor bike has an ignition switch, but no key. Is it a good idea to go ahead and get it keyed and install it? Was thinking it'd be much easier in the long run, as opposed to connecting and unconnecting the battery as I run through the system.
2. I have a China carb on the bike right now, but a line on a OEM from ebay. What do you think? Should I make the switch? Again, I'm thinking of the long run.
 

-Nate

Active Member
Please remember :

My advice is FREE and worth considerably less no matter how well it works .

If you buy a new ignition switch you'll get FOUR keys with it *if* it's a factory Honda part .

On the other hand, your anti-theft steering neck lock should have been keyed to the ignition so I always prefer to buy N.O.S. Honda keys (there's still millions of them of you look) or have an original matching lock keyed .

Look at both locks, the lock's code # is stamped into the face of it in very small digits , if they match I suggest having your current lock keyed, not every where has lock smiths properly trained anymore .

Sometimes you can find N.O.S. replacement lock sets, ignition and neck lock with matching keys.....


It all depends on how much $ and time you have .
 

Old Guy Too Many Bikes

Well-Known Member
Don't worry about an ignition switch until after you get your bike running. (you can always use a toggle switch). You need spark, my friend! You need to bypass the ignition switch, hotwire your coil and see if you can get spark that way. If no go, next need to check condenser, grounded out points, wiring etc. We can talk you through it.
 

APW1222

Member
I chased voltage tonight. It got late and still no spark. I worked on another carb then came in to eat about 2000. Thirty minutes later I came to the same conclusion as your reply.
Amazing how time flies as a person sits and stares and converses with oneself. I'll check the coil , connections and then the condenser.
I think I watched a video using the voltmeter to check the coil. I'll watch it again.
Thanks for the reply.
 

APW1222

Member
Reason #1 I don't have spark. (see pic).
Tested the coil. I tested the leads and got 2.5 with the setting at 200.
PXL_20230204_213357299.jpg
Then, I tested ground to plug (I tested the point of the break) and got 19.1 with setting on 20k.
I think the coil is good. I thought I'd just repair the break, but lo and behold, I can't find anything on the www to point me in a direction of repair.
So, I'm turning to you guys.
Thoughts?
 

Old Guy Too Many Bikes

Well-Known Member
Temporarily you can cut the wire at the break, take a tiny nail, cut off the head, sharpen both ends, stick each end into the wire, and use a bunch of electrical tape to hold it together. Chances are, that wire is as brittle as heck, so you can also replace just the coil wire, just get a piece of automotive old school plug wire, not compressor or graphite. I done it before with good results.
 

-Nate

Active Member
Okay ! you're learning to diagnose .

NGK makes a repair kit that contains a long new plug wire with end and a splicer .

Dr ATV sells them as do most dirt bike shops so price around before you buy, feel free to ask here if it's what you need .

These coils are normally very robust but new ones are $25 =/- if you're hesitant to try splicing on a new plug wire .
 

APW1222

Member
Another weekend and no spark. This is humbling. lol
I did the nail suggestion; everything tested as yesterday. Put it all back, but no spark. I started examining wires again, found the one to the points exposed. I fixed it. No spark. Then started looking at the wires again and, man, are they brittle. Started to get a bit frustrated, so I cleaned up my shop and worked on some other projects. When I get this damn spark it's going to be glorious. Ha.
 

Old Guy Too Many Bikes

Well-Known Member
I believe you have a volt-ohmeter, do you know how to use it? Are you still using the ignition switch, or are you hotwiring the coil?. Check the coil to make sure it's getting 6 volts. If not, use your tool as an ohmeter to check for continuity- do you know how to do that? You'll need to check the points to make sure they're not grounding out. We can talk you through this...
 

APW1222

Member
Appreciate it. I've been reading through the forum and you are already walking, at least one, person through the process. I'm reading those for now. I'll take the advice and steps you're giving them and let you know.
 

-Nate

Active Member
Once the insulation begins to crack it's time for a new harness .

Luckily you have a HONDA so reproduction harness' are available and not too $pendy .

Resist the urge to make your own harness .

You'll get there, you're just fixing old D.P.O. / D.P.M. errors .
 

APW1222

Member
Life been in the way of wrenching. Got a day set aside tomorrow. Going to follow advice from posts much like mine you all have given.
Hope everyone is having a good weekend.
 

APW1222

Member
I'm going to include pics. I hope they make sense. I think I have everything wired correctly.
There's no spark, but I don't see any more broken wires or ground outs.
 
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