d4xycrq
07-31-2011, 01:21 PM
Folks,
Ray here in South East PA. You folks helped me just after Christmas with a ATC185S. That 185 is a sweetheart and is doing fine. Meanwhile, I picked up a '84 Big Red off Craigslist. $175. I'm sure at that price most buyers would have put it up part by part eBAY. I'm trying to save her. PO listed it as "not running, but runs, no reverse, and has new tires." He was right. When I picked it up it turned out his son lost the key days before. So they hot wired it. Presumably it ran after it was hot wired but who knows for sure. I have a key switch coming, but continue to troubleshoot in the meantime.
Bike happily cranks over when you push the start button. (PO simply would remove the 10A fuse to 'turn off' the bike. So, I put the fuse back in. Head light comes on, that's a good sign. push the button and the bike cranks just fine.)
Compression is 95 or so PSI. Low, but it should run.
If it can happen, it will happen: The spark advance assembly has one broken spring. these springs are kinda small. The broken spring made its way to the pulse generator on the end of the cam. It stuck there, then beat up the pulse sensor! I gotta get in there and sort that out.
Questions:
1.) No spark. Coil secondary fails Honda's ohm meter test. I see about 15k ohms on the secondary. Primary is perfect. My question would be; Is the 15K ohms a dead failure, or is there wiggle room? Honda specifies 3-5K ohms. Coils are cheap, but I would like to know if this one may still function.
2) Whilst troubleshooting the no-spark, I noticed there was no 12v to the coil. I test for 12v while cranking the bike with the 10A fuse in. My question here is; The neutral and reverse interlock (switches) must be ok, otherwise the bike wouldn't crank, right?
3) What's the next logical place to look for the missing 12V at the coil? The manual says alternator (after checking to see if the engine stop switch is in the run position).
4) The trailer hitch was detached when I brought the bike home. Do the trailer hitch vertical stays (arms) go to the back set of grab-bar fasteners, or to the front?
More obervation on the Big Red:
Pluses +:
For $175, the bike was relatively intact. Nothing of note missing. (except the key switch!)
Gas tank has no rust inside. Best I've ever seen. The outside looks fair to good.
Original seat is not bad. (Whereas the 185 has a home-made mess)
Tires are new!
Breaks are fantastic.
Rear gear housing oil looked good. Now drained and replaced.
Battery is healthy - one less thing to buy.
Minuses -:
Hacked wiring in the vicinity of the battery and the key switch.
No parking brake.
PO reports no reverse.
Recoil starter needs to be rebuilt.
Plastic is fair. I'm not sure to list this as a plus or minus - seeing where I gave $175 for the bike!
Thank you for all your help! I'd be interested in hearing what you guys think regarding the coil/no 12v.
Best regards,
Ray
Ray here in South East PA. You folks helped me just after Christmas with a ATC185S. That 185 is a sweetheart and is doing fine. Meanwhile, I picked up a '84 Big Red off Craigslist. $175. I'm sure at that price most buyers would have put it up part by part eBAY. I'm trying to save her. PO listed it as "not running, but runs, no reverse, and has new tires." He was right. When I picked it up it turned out his son lost the key days before. So they hot wired it. Presumably it ran after it was hot wired but who knows for sure. I have a key switch coming, but continue to troubleshoot in the meantime.
Bike happily cranks over when you push the start button. (PO simply would remove the 10A fuse to 'turn off' the bike. So, I put the fuse back in. Head light comes on, that's a good sign. push the button and the bike cranks just fine.)
Compression is 95 or so PSI. Low, but it should run.
If it can happen, it will happen: The spark advance assembly has one broken spring. these springs are kinda small. The broken spring made its way to the pulse generator on the end of the cam. It stuck there, then beat up the pulse sensor! I gotta get in there and sort that out.
Questions:
1.) No spark. Coil secondary fails Honda's ohm meter test. I see about 15k ohms on the secondary. Primary is perfect. My question would be; Is the 15K ohms a dead failure, or is there wiggle room? Honda specifies 3-5K ohms. Coils are cheap, but I would like to know if this one may still function.
2) Whilst troubleshooting the no-spark, I noticed there was no 12v to the coil. I test for 12v while cranking the bike with the 10A fuse in. My question here is; The neutral and reverse interlock (switches) must be ok, otherwise the bike wouldn't crank, right?
3) What's the next logical place to look for the missing 12V at the coil? The manual says alternator (after checking to see if the engine stop switch is in the run position).
4) The trailer hitch was detached when I brought the bike home. Do the trailer hitch vertical stays (arms) go to the back set of grab-bar fasteners, or to the front?
More obervation on the Big Red:
Pluses +:
For $175, the bike was relatively intact. Nothing of note missing. (except the key switch!)
Gas tank has no rust inside. Best I've ever seen. The outside looks fair to good.
Original seat is not bad. (Whereas the 185 has a home-made mess)
Tires are new!
Breaks are fantastic.
Rear gear housing oil looked good. Now drained and replaced.
Battery is healthy - one less thing to buy.
Minuses -:
Hacked wiring in the vicinity of the battery and the key switch.
No parking brake.
PO reports no reverse.
Recoil starter needs to be rebuilt.
Plastic is fair. I'm not sure to list this as a plus or minus - seeing where I gave $175 for the bike!
Thank you for all your help! I'd be interested in hearing what you guys think regarding the coil/no 12v.
Best regards,
Ray