84 200ES Firing Problems

[jclark23]

I am working on a good ol' 200es Big Red and having trouble getting fire to it. With the spark plug out of the cylinder and connected to the plug wire there is no fire when holding it in the air...but when the plug is held close to the motor an arc is formed. Is this normal?
The CDI looks to be good and has clean points. There is 2 boxes under the tank, I dont know what they are called. One is where the spark plug wire connects into and the other has just one round white connector going to it. What is the best way to trace it back to see what the problem is. Is there any way to test those? The motor has good compression, getting fuel, valves seem to be working, and has a shade tree mechanic.

Thanks

Jason

[team-red-rider]

that is fine it has to be grounded to fire

[jclark23]

Well what could be the cause then? It is not trying to fire or anything. I sprayed a little starting fluid in the carb and still got nothing, thats why I was questioning the fire. You can even smell gas on the plug. Thanks again!!

Jason

[icp4life162005]

Try changing the plug with a brand new never used one and when you do spray a little starting fluid down the hole where the plug goes then hurry up and get the plug in and give 'r a pull (when you do this make sure the kill switch is in the on position). it should fire right up then you can go from the by seeing how it runs (like spitting and bogging with it gunned and at an idle).

[jclark23]

Try changing the plug with a brand new never used one and when you do spray a little starting fluid down the hole where the plug goes then hurry up and get the plug in and give 'r a pull (when you do this make sure the kill switch is in the on position). it should fire right up then you can go from the by seeing how it runs (like spitting and bogging with it gunned and at an idle).

It is a brand new plug. Instead of pulling why not just hit the electric start? lol That pulling shiat gets old after a while. Thanks

Jason

[dirtface]

Good chance it is a bad cdi box, the 1984 Big Red is a one year only deal. I have had to replace mine, and I have also been told by a few people that they are known to go bad.

[Jamie R.]

When you say " cdi box" are you talking about the electrical box under the gas with the white plug in connector on it, right? I'm just trying to make sure. The thing sounds like it has very good compression just no fire. Is there any way to test a cdi box and where can one be purchased. We have access to a '85 200 m and a '83 200 e for parts if by chance the box on one of those bikes would swap out. Thanks for all the suggestions, me and Jason are trying to like heck to get the 'ole Red back to slinging mud in the creeks.

Jamie R.

[team-red-rider]

if its got spark the cdi is good!

[cowmilker]

If you can smell gas on the plug, then maybe it is flooded. The plug should be dry when you remove it (even though it has spark, it wont fire if it is wet). If the plug is wet, then the cylinder will be wet too. Leave the plug out and pull the rope as fast as you can (with petcock OFF), about 15-20 times to try to dry it out (be careful not to be standing over the plughole because you may get misted with raw gas). If there is too much raw fuel in the cylinder, putting "starting fluid" in it will not do anything different.
Also, there shouldn't be a spark through the air, only between the electrodes, and only if it is touching the block (or other ground).
Also do you have a key, and does the ignition switch work properly (turning the key to OFF opens the accesery [to run lights,starter, ect.] circuit, and closes the KILL circuit the same as the kill switch on your handlebars [grounding out the CDI box]).

[Tri-ZNate]

my old ES had a problem where some days it would have spark, some days we would have to pop start it. Turned out the kill switch was grounding out when it shouldnt. take that off, clean the componets and slap it back on and see.