New to me 1982 Goldwing Aspencade. Fuel, Air, NO SPARK

[nmarco32]

Hey folks,
I'm gonna ask a few questions because I am a newbie. I Rebuilt the carbs on the Goldwing along with running some fuel lines. I have air, and fuel, but no spark on all 4. I looped the clutch lever wires and the kill switch wires on the handlebars. At least that's what I think they are. I removed the coils and got about 1.2ohms primary for each and about 26 secondary. Does that seem a bit low? I ordered new coils because why not? Could the ballast resistor be an issue for not getting spark at all? I've been cleaning connections, but so far no luck. Does anybody have suggestions or in Northern Colorado?
-Nick

[DenverWinger]

Welcome to the forum!

Do you have voltage on the black leads to the coils?

Where at in N Colorado? "United States" doesn't say very much.

[Prlwng]

Double check kill switch. A couple times have pulled helmet off handel bars and then crank but no start. Kill switch flipped back to run and then it goes.

[nmarco32]

Welcome to the forum!

Do you have voltage on the black leads to the coils?

Where at in N Colorado? "United States" doesn't say very much.

I'm in Fort Collins, and the black wires that go into the ballast resistor should be hot correct? There is power going to the connection, but when I get home, ill have to double check.

[nmarco32]

Double check kill switch. A couple times have pulled helmet off handel bars and then crank but no start. Kill switch flipped back to run and then it goes.

I have flipped it back and forth. There are two wires under the brake lever/kill swtich. I twisted those wires together thinking that would bypass the kill switch. Is that wrong?

[OldguyGlen]

To confirm a few details noted above:
Yes the black wires on the ballast resistor should be HOT. The resistor is in the supply (+12v) path to both coils.
The kill switch is also in the supply (+12v) path and the 2 wires do connect for a RUN state. This part can be confusing because many bikes, outboards, power equipment motors, etc use a grounding switch as the "Kill" function, so an open circuit is required for RUN. But the Goldwings do require a closed connection which you have provided.
The spark plugs operate as 2 plugs in a series connection to 1 coil. Both plugs need to be connected (or ground the opposing plug wire) to test for spark in my opinion. But some disagree with that concept.
Next step would be to check for trouble in the ignition control modules as these bikes use solid state triggering.

[biguns]

Pretty sure the kill switch wire grounds out the ignition, twisting them together may cause no spark. someone check me on that

[DenverWinger]

Double check kill switch. A couple times have pulled helmet off handel bars and then crank but no start. Kill switch flipped back to run and then it goes.

I have flipped it back and forth. There are two wires under the brake lever/kill swtich. I twisted those wires together thinking that would bypass the kill switch. Is that wrong?

Double-check that you didn't simply twist the two wires for the brake light switch. To get to the kill switch wires you have to open up the housing the kill switch is mounted into.

However, if you have power at the ballast resistor, the power has to go thru the kill switch to get there.

[nmarco32]

Double check kill switch. A couple times have pulled helmet off handel bars and then crank but no start. Kill switch flipped back to run and then it goes.

I have flipped it back and forth. There are two wires under the brake lever/kill swtich. I twisted those wires together thinking that would bypass the kill switch. Is that wrong?

Double-check that you didn't simply twist the two wires for the brake light switch. To get to the kill switch wires you have to open up the housing the kill switch is mounted into.

However, if you have power at the ballast resistor, the power has to go thru the kill switch to get there.

I do have power to the black wire leading into the ballast resistor, still no spark coming out of the wires. I have 11.7 volts and it drops while I hit the starter. Guessing it must be coil related since I have power all the way through the black wire into the resistor.

[nmarco32]

To confirm a few details noted above:
Yes the black wires on the ballast resistor should be HOT. The resistor is in the supply (+12v) path to both coils.
The kill switch is also in the supply (+12v) path and the 2 wires do connect for a RUN state. This part can be confusing because many bikes, outboards, power equipment motors, etc use a grounding switch as the "Kill" function, so an open circuit is required for RUN. But the Goldwings do require a closed connection which you have provided.
The spark plugs operate as 2 plugs in a series connection to 1 coil. Both plugs need to be connected (or ground the opposing plug wire) to test for spark in my opinion. But some disagree with that concept.
Next step would be to check for trouble in the ignition control modules as these bikes use solid state triggering.

I do have power going to the ballast resistor. So that means everything else is in working order and the coil is bad?

[nmarco32]

Double check kill switch. A couple times have pulled helmet off handel bars and then crank but no start. Kill switch flipped back to run and then it goes.

I have flipped it back and forth. There are two wires under the brake lever/kill swtich. I twisted those wires together thinking that would bypass the kill switch. Is that wrong?

Double-check that you didn't simply twist the two wires for the brake light switch. To get to the kill switch wires you have to open up the housing the kill switch is mounted into.

However, if you have power at the ballast resistor, the power has to go thru the kill switch to get there.

The black wire to the resistor is hot at 11.7 volts while the key is on then drops while the starter is pushed. Bad coil I guess? No spark producing

[Rambozo]

Did it ever run?
Losing both coils at once is not likely.
With power at coils check for ground signals going to the coils. You can also test the coils for output by providing your own ground signal with a jump wire.

[Prlwng]

Could be weak battery. When the volt gauge on my 83 reads 11.3 or so need to hook charger to it to fire up.

After a new battery it will read 12 plus. Yes, I know I need a battery as have one dead cell.