Honda ATC 110 Weak Spark

[KI4UJO]

I went ahead and did that today, along with snipping a small amount of the coil wire (and succeeded in breaking the plastic screw on piece on the coil, anyone have a spare one?) Anyway, I am getting a good solid spark (for now) , but still no start. Just to ask, how big should this spark be?

[STiForester]

no start but does it sound like it wants to... does exhaust come out of the pipe?? is it all stock set up?

[KI4UJO]

It is completely stock, and it just randomly hits. It has only done that 6 times. A valve adjustment is in the future, since I am concerned about compression. When I pull on it, it just does not feel anywhere close to 60-70 pounds of compression.

[STiForester]

i had a 125 and it pulled easy but ran like new.... no way to tell unless you compression test and check valve clearance.... i hope we can figure this out... its really bothering me

[KI4UJO]

It bothers me too, otherwise I would probably not put this much time into it. What I do know is that the end result of this thing running will answer the question :
"Why was it parted in the first place, when it should have been better than the other unit?"

[fabiodriven]

Is the timing off possibly? Maybe the spark is firing but firing at the wrong time.

I've found that these little buggers are much more sensitive to intake differences than their bigger brothers. I watched my buddy toiling over an ATC70 (Very similar engine) for a long time and he couldn't get it to start. He had been at it for a long time before I got there. He was prepared to rip into the motor and was aggravated as it was freshly rebuilt. There was no air box or anything on the intake side of the carb. I told him "watch this" and covered the intake about 1/3rd of the way with my fingers and it fired right up. He immediately put the air box on and it ran great after that. Most engines run a lot better with the air box because it creates a "dead air" space. If it's been jetted to run without an air box that's a different story.

So are you running an air box? If not, put one on and work from there.

[STiForester]

Yes that was the problem with my Tecate... An also his intake boot is all cracked. He needs a new one asap

[STiForester]

Ypur running super lean as long as that boot leaks my friend...

[KI4UJO]

I'll admit that my 318i has been getting all of the attention, and I have not worked on it any. No, I do not have an airbox mounted, but I have one in my barn from my parts unit. So, maybe tomorrow night.

[KI4UJO]

The airbox does not fit, it is form a newer frame. My intake boot is not cracked, it is aluminum and it has a good seal (even though it is made from form a gasket).
At this point, I need to get a compression tester. There is one at my grandmother's house, but it is in Louisville, KY, 3 hours away. I will have to get it the next time I am up there, which will be on February 18th, to see the opening show of the 2012 Van Halen World Tour! Anyway, I don't expect to have any updates until then.

[tulsamike3434]

I have checked the cdi box I just don't see what im missing?

[tri again]

I've seen a couple with good spark but no fire with start fluid too.
In both, the spark advance plate was stuck in the advanced position so
it simply couldn't fire at the low revs of hand cranking.
Rusty dusty and one had a broken return spring.
Not sure if they use the same advance for both points and cdi
but it's an odd situation that messed me up for weeks.

Got compression?
x2 with nipping the last bit off the coil wire
or just inscrew the spark plug cap and see if there's better spark
direct from the plug wire to the case.

cdi spark seems to be about 1/2 of what a regular points setup generates.

[tulsamike3434]

I've seen a couple with good spark but no fire with start fluid too.
In both, the spark advance plate was stuck in the advanced position so
it simply couldn't fire at the low revs of hand cranking.
Rusty dusty and one had a broken return spring.
Not sure if they use the same advance for both points and cdi
but it's an odd situation that messed me up for weeks.

Got compression?
x2 with nipping the last bit off the coil wire
or just inscrew the spark plug cap and see if there's better spark
direct from the plug wire to the case.

cdi spark seems to be about 1/2 of what a regular points setup generates.

Thank you Ill try that ASAP!

[KI4UJO]

It's been a while since I've got on here, but my ATC still does the same thing. I have a compression tester now, but it is missing the adapter to screw into a 110. However, I did a valve adjustment and found that the intake valve was not closing all of the way. After correcting that, it still does the same thing. Also, the advance plate is working properly. Any more ideas?

[WJG1000W]

is your plug gapped properly
are the jets in your carburetor clean you should be able to see through them
as for the compression test i always use the universal type that they sell for like 20 bucks at car quest they have a rubber tip and fit all plug holes