Help! No spark

**flyingcr250** · 20th November 2009, 17:46

does anyone know how to check the coil on a bike? ive had the plug out and pressed it up against the head then kicked it over to check for spark and there is none, ive checked all the connections, sanded rust and paint of the frame were the coil bolts to, still no luck, so is there a way of quickly testing the coil to see if its buggerd???

**p.dath** · 20th November 2009, 17:48

Have you tried testing the spark plug against your tounge while turning the bike over?

Just kidding.

**noobi** · 20th November 2009, 17:53

have you tried an ammeter on the end of the plug lead see if theres any volts coming through

**flyingcr250** · 20th November 2009, 17:58

Originally Posted by noobi

have you tried an ammeter on the end of the plug lead see if theres any volts coming through

no, but i assume iuf theres no spark then theres probably no volst comming through,

if i hooked the coil straight up to the battery and used a 12V light bulb to see if there was continuity would that be a sufficient test?

**noobi** · 20th November 2009, 18:12

Originally Posted by flyingcr250

no, but i assume iuf theres no spark then theres probably no volst comming through,

if i hooked the coil straight up to the battery and used a 12V light bulb to see if there was continuity would that be a sufficient test?

probably, do the other electrics on the bike work?

**secondfield** · 20th November 2009, 18:12

Christ no dont do that...

Take it to an auto elec to be sure, a continuity test wont prove much - there is a huge amount of inductance involved with the coil. They generally have a set amount of resistance also, dont know what this should be, due to their being thousands of turns of copper inside.

**barty5** · 20th November 2009, 18:19

Originally Posted by flyingcr250

no, but i assume iuf theres no spark then theres probably no volst comming through,

if i hooked the coil straight up to the battery and used a 12V light bulb to see if there was continuity would that be a sufficient test?

try another plug before you go to far with it they can just fail and sometimes even seen new out of the pack be fails.

**flyingcr250** · 20th November 2009, 18:23

oh my god! im such a tool!!!

in tightening up a bolt in the mess of wires behind the headlight i accidentally pinched the killswitch wire, so it was earthing on the frame cutting the ignition.

let the abuse and ridicule begin

EDIT: oh yea it goes now too

**IIIRII** · 20th November 2009, 18:27

FFS sake I was just going to tell you how to test the coil....
:P

I did wonder about something like that

**noobi** · 20th November 2009, 18:28

nice one noddy

**camchain** · 20th November 2009, 18:28

If no spark, use cigarette lighter instead
...to burn it.

Edit: er, and soak your finesse-less fingers in petrol first.

**barty5** · 20th November 2009, 18:36

a dont feel too bad im sure your not the first to do it although there is a good chance you are got watch them wires

**flyingcr250** · 20th November 2009, 18:43

Originally Posted by camchain

If no spark, use cigarette lighter instead
...to burn it.

Edit: er, and soak your finesse-less fingers in petrol first.

i had the fuel but no lighter, this is what happens when you only have one working light in your 3 car garage. lol

**camchain** · 20th November 2009, 18:59

Ha, you're right about working in low light. Last time I did that I left the carb intake stuffed with a paper towel plug after replacing air filter. Next day, I cursed what I thought was a fouled plug. Didn't think your electrics would have packed up while sitting on the bench. Don't feel too bad mate, super easy to make the odd daft mistake!