84 Honda 200ES Big Red NO SPARK

[Ryanq55]

I just picked up a big red that is dumpy as hell. i finally cut and tied the wires together and got it cranking over since the run/off switch was broken and in pieces and the keyed igintion was taken out. I took the carb apart, and going to rebuild it this weekend, however i have no spark. Ive reasearched on here and found this infamous 969 CDI box is trouble. i just wanted to break it down and make sure i have this right.....from the stator it goes to the Voltage Regulator/Rectifier....then to the CDI Box....then to the Ignition Coil, and obviously out to the spark plug? I dont know if there is a way to test the CDI but from what ive read its probably bad? Just looking for opinions on where to start? Should i just look for a replacement voltage regulator/rectifier, "chinese" CDI that some have been able to make work, and a new coil?

I have a couple other coils from other bikes but didnt know if ignition coils are universal? i hooked two others up and got no spark with them either...


Thanks,
Ryan

[frankydodo]

http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/757...i-replacement/

This seems to be a good option if yours is not good anymore

[frankydodo]

Or you could always test yours

[Ryanq55]

Or you could always test yours

Thanks frank! Appreciate the info, I'll have to pick up a manual...I didn't know it contained all this info. Are those resistance/ohms values?? Does it happen to say any kind of testing for the coil or regulator?
Thanks!
Ryan

[Ryanq55]

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=121485544518

Has anyone seen/tried/had luck with these?? Or if they will even work? There is another I found with 2 separate connectors (a 4 pin & a 2 pin) and has them labeled with the same markings in the above drawing for the OEM CDI box (sw, e1, e2, ign, pc & dc)

[tripledog]

Ryanq55, this thread helped me get my 200es running.

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...ight=200es+cdi

It has a lot of good info, and should answer any questions you may have. I used a Chinese cdi and the connectors from Vintage Connections. Didn't even need to cut any wires... just released the barbs in the stock wiring harness connector and installed the Vintage Connections connector. I used an ebay Chinese cdi with a rectangular plug.

[Ryanq55]

Ryanq55, this thread helped me get my 200es running.

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...ight=200es+cdi

It has a lot of good info, and should answer any questions you may have. I used a Chinese cdi and the connectors from Vintage Connections. Didn't even need to cut any wires... just released the barbs in the stock wiring harness connector and installed the Vintage Connections connector. I used an ebay Chinese cdi with a rectangular plug.

Awesome thank you tripledog...I actually saw that post a while back and couldn't find it again. Sometimes you have to use a certain keyword for stuff to pop up :/ I just ordered the parts so fingers crossed!
Thanks again
Ryan

[tripledog]

Ryan, here's the site for your connectors. Hope your ES ends up running as good as mine does!

http://www.vintageconnections.com/

[Ryanq55]

As she sits...Just waiting on the CDI I ordered, carb kit installed with a 95 main, the one I pulled out was an 88, going to clamp an air filter on for now, and the exhaust baffle was removed and gone when I got it so hopefully this will compensate nicely for the couple sizes bigger main.

Can anyone tell me what kind of wheels came from the factory? The front is aluminum, both rear outer halves are aluminum but both the rear inner halves are steel. :

And anyone have any easy tips/tricks to getting all the caked crap off of it?
Thanks,
Ryan

[cosmohawk]

The wheel rims should have come from the factory as silver painted steel, 9"...taking the same 25x12-9 tire size as the '85 250ES (I believe).

In terms of getting the motor all cleaned up...you've got some options. The best thing you could probably do, is pull the motor from the frame, and clean it on a bench. I have chosen to do the best job I could with the motor still in the frame...LOTS of WD-40 to soak it all, flathead screwdriver for gently scraping out most of the outer "cake", then a combination of hard-bristled toothbrush, and small brass-bristle wire brush to scrub it all off. You will probably find that the aluminum will be corroded...and from there I have looked into a small homemade soda-blasting setup...that by the looks of it, will clean the aluminum up really nice.

It just depends on how much time and effort you want to put into it. Maybe just some citrus engine degreaser to soak, and then wash it off with water under some pressure???

Hard to say...but WD-40 has always been my best friend for cleaning / de-grunging....

[oscarmayer]

1 suggestion. they make anti rush checmicals. I would take the entire harness off the bike and take the ends and put them in a rust removal chem over night. then wash in hot water and spray with electrical contact cleaner.
do this for every connector. do not submerge the entire harness as it will desolve the tape glue and make a big mess. do the same for the electrical parts but do NOT submerge them, just the connector ends.
i get the feeling half your issue is bad connectors.

next, the sparkplug boot is known for rusting the wire. unscrew it form the wire end, cut off about 1" and re-screw it back on. (will be hard to screw on at first). this ensures you have a clean contact and fresh wire to get spark from.

[Ryanq55]

Thanks guys, just installed the CDI and it fired up. I sprayed it all down with K&N filter cleaner which actually did a surprisingly decent job of effortlessly taking a lot off. I'll have to take it to a pressure washing place. I actually swapped out the plug cap with a different one as I originally wasn't getting continuity throught it. Swapped out the old crusty plug wire with a new malleable piece too, and she tested fine after that.
Now to just get some odds and ends for it and she should be decent to do some work with!
Thanks again everyone!