Batfink hasn't got a spark

[moizeau]

Gents, my newly acquired Z650 has no spark. It's an F1. Points look recent. I haven't played with points for years. Could someone put up a list of tests that I can work through to find the issue please?
Cheers

[KeithZ1R]

I am making an assumption that you spinning it with the starter ? if so take out the plugs and try "flicking " the points open with a screwdriver whilst watching them, this is because the drain on the battery may be taking the voltage to below the 10 volts necessary to trigger the coils to produce a visible spark , secondly have you actually got 12 volts to the feed side of the coils, this can be interupted by the kill switch on the bars . other opinions will along shortly .

[warren3200gt]

Recent points and condensers will be Chinese crap. Trust me I know from experience of several sets!
They only last 6 months or so and is the likely reason for taking it off the road.
Do the voltage tests suggested then if they check out you can get new points and condensers to just get it running again but if you intend to keep it put a fit and forget Dyna system on it. You don't need Dyna coils the khi ones work fine with it.

[moizeau]

Keith, I was spinning it with the starter but the terminals were connected to a car battery and spun it very well, I'll check for 12v at the coils.
Where, regarding the points and condenser, do I check? My first couple of bikes and my first car had points and I knew it inside out but that donkeys years ago.
The old chap even gave me a wired bulb he used to setting the ignition timing. He expected it to start so I don't think that was the reason it came off the road.
Cheers

P.S. I was late replying to this because I'd forgotten to subscribe to a topic I'd started. Could it be modified by admin so that your are automatically subscribed if you post, you can always unsubscribe if it was a one off. Just a thought.

[KeithZ1R]

Keith, I was spinning it with the starter but the terminals were connected to a car battery and spun it very well, I'll check for 12v at the coils.
Where, regarding the points and condenser, do I check? My first couple of bikes and my first car had points and I knew it inside out but that donkeys years ago.
The old chap even gave me a wired bulb he used to setting the ignition timing. He expected it to start so I don't think that was the reason it came off the road.
Cheers

P.S. I was late replying to this because I'd forgotten to subscribe to a topic I'd started. Could it be modified by admin so that your are automatically subscribed if you post, you can always unsubscribe if it was a one off. Just a thought.

I was under the impression if you started a topic you were subscribed by default, but I will check , didnt the F1 have hall effect cdi ignition and CV carbs, you may have a late C/D engine in it.
A simple way to check the coils is remove the green and black trigger wire from each set of points in turn and flick them to an earth point and watch for the spark at the plug, or clean the points facing up with glass paper and perform a similar action with the screwdriver across the gap, the condensor would need to be a dead short to ground to stop you creating a spark manually because the coil would be in effect powered all the time stopping the field collapse induced spark and would would need to be replaced, are you just assuming you have no spark just because it dont fire ? just asking

[moizeau]

Thanks Keith, I'll get the checks done later.
When it didn't even try to to fire I whipped no 1 and 4 plugs out to see if it was fuel or spark, twas lack of spark.

[moizeau]

It runs

Warren, they are kwak, just been through the bag off bits, this boy bought genuine, though I may have an issue with one condenser. Checked the 12v feed to the coils, crap, cleaned with contact cleaner, all good. One dead plug, all others coked. Checked the condensers, 1 showed 12v the other 9.5, also the 9.5 one, or rather the points for it, when I opened them the coil clicked, so guessing that's buggered.
No silly noises, ticked over nicely, Batfink lives.
Thanks Chaps

[warren3200gt]

Great news good work.

[KeithZ1R]

good stuff its always summat simple