1984 Honda Big Red No spark.

[anontux]

Hello, I need help with a Honda 1984 Big Red trike. I recently acquired this trike and am having issues getting it started. I don't know much about trikes so I got a real mechanic to have a look at it for me. First, I didn't have the key so we had to wire the starter directly. We charged the battery and the electrical seems ok for the most part. (lights come on, etc)The main problem we are having is not getting any kind of spark. Tried different plugs, didn't work. My mechanic said it was most likely the regulator/rectifier not working. So my questions are: Would it be possible not to get a spark with a blown regulator? Is there anything else I can try that he might have missed?

[EarlyBronocGuy]

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...shooting-guide

Basically, make sure it's in neutral and the run/stop switch is in "run". After that, it gets fun.

[atctim]

CDI could be bad as well. Keep in mind - if you are going to get another CDI unit - it is the one numbered 969 or 696 - this is a one year machine and ONLY that CDI will work for it. there are some on E-bay that are advertised for this machine - but they will not work.

[tri again]

i have one that someone CUT the entire harness to the headlight to sell it.

which includes the key, reverse and neutral safety etc etc

Fired Right up so fast it knocked backwards.

None of the wires need to be connected for it to run.

The wires are only there to Kill it

If you disconnect the battery, it will still run and should have spark unless you do something to ground out and kill the spark.

Might be called a reverse deadman's circuit, in a way.

[EarlyBronocGuy]

Yep, what he said. The '85 200x I picked up to restore was the same way - entire harness to the handlebars cut. Bike still started and ran.

Usually, the solid black wire in the harness is the signal from the CDI box, if it's grounded (connected with any of the solid green ground wires), that kills the spark.

[atctim]

Fired Right up so fast it knocked backwards.

None of the wires need to be connected for it to run.

The wires are only there to Kill it

This is very mis-leading - wires are not in question here anyway - electrical components are what are in question!

[minny]

First thing I would check is the primary stator coil (exciter coil)-the manual states if it's readng between 100-400 ohms it's good, but 215-240 ohms is more accurate. I've had no spark three times on two trikes-twice it was the stator coil and once the CDI.
Good luck!!