no spark

[rwcebu]

I have an 86 GL1200 Aspencade and I am not getting any spark to the plugs. Switch on, everything works, even the starter. But it will not fire. I need help.
I am a retired vietnam vet and I now live in the Philippines. my bike is all that I have. It is impossible to find anyone here that can repair a big bike. And even harder to fine parts or anyone that will ship to the Philippines. At this point, I dont even know what the problem is much less fixing it.
Can anyone help me?

[WingAdmin]

Have you checked the plugs to be sure that there is actually no spark, or are you just assuming that's the problem because it isn't starting?

If there is actually no spark at ANY of the plugs, and you've got normal power everywhere else, it points toward the pulse generator being the problem.

[rwcebu]

Where do I find the pulse generator? And yes, when I can hold the plugs in my hand while the engine is turning over. I can assume that there is no spark.

[HALBUDD]

rwcevu Your pulse gen. is located in side your front timing belt covers . You will need to pull your timing belt covers off to get to them. If you dont have shop manual may I suggest looking at the top of this site in manuals and down load them. You can also get a manual for your bike from goldwing chrome site good luck. Hal

[WingAdmin]

Actually, isn't the pulse generator located on the back of the engine on the 1986?

Just checked, and it is on the back of the engine, underneath a cover:

Pulse generator

To check the pulse generator coil, disconnect the pulse generator on the left side (near the battery):

Pulse generator connector

Using an ohmmeter to measure the resistance between the pins on the connector, you should measure between 1.1 K and 1.3 K.

[HALBUDD]

Looked back at manual 1984 1200 aspy is located in rear of the engine from what is shown in book. Later models 85 and up said it is in the front timing belt covers . Just going from hayes shop manual,let me know if your manual said different. Thanks Hal

[WingAdmin]

This is the image from the 1986-1987 GL1200 parts manual for the pulse generator, showing it with the cover mounting it on the rear of the engine:

Pulse Generator 86-87 GL1200

[Mooseman]

1985 thru 1987 A & I, have the pulse generator mounted on the fron of the engine under the timing belt covers. You will see where the wires go in just to the left of center as you look at the covers from the front. The 86 SEI has the pulse generator at the rear. Your photo showes the SEI model diagram. I will post a picture in my photos.
Mooseman

[WingAdmin]

I pulled up a different parts diagram, and it showed the diagram I posted as belonging to the 85 Limited and 86 SEi only. It has a different rear-mounted pulse generator (with a roundish cover) belonging to the 84 Standard, 84 Interstate and 84 Aspencade.

As part of the timing belt assembly, it shows pulse generators under the timing cover for the 85 Interstate, 85 Aspencade, 86 Interstate and 86 Aspencade, and 87 Interstate and 87 Aspencade. So you are correct!

Gotta love unclear and contradictory Honda manuals.

[starfleetengineer]

I would also check to make sure you have power going to the coils when you turn the key on. It could be as simple as a blown fuse or broken wire.

[TDarby719]

I know this is an older post but gotta toss in my two cents.

A little clarity for the pictures posted in this thread........wingadmin's first pictures are 1984 and earlier, his second is the pulse generator assembly for LTD and SEi ( GL and GR) for pulse advance from the computer (sometimes called the cam angle sensor by people), and the pulse generator (no photo here) with a single lead is under the front cover for the LTD/SEi (PS) below the crank (sometimes called the crank angle sensor by people). The two-lead pulse generator is for the carb models and is also in the front cover from 1985 and later. Referring to the GL1200 in this reply.

[tj max]

1986 gl1200 interstate,
Where is the plug for pulse generators located and what are the testing procedures for this.any other info would be great.

[roadwanderer2]

im not sure if this is the right place for this question, but im going to ask it anyway, forgive me if it seems like im trying to hijack this thread. its not my intention, but i cant find any answers anywhere else in here.....i have a "new to me" 86 GL1200 aspencade SEi that i started working on and im looking at the crank sensor thats mounted on the front of the motor just under the crank pulley and im following the wires looking for where its supposed to be connected, and its not even connected to anything . does anyone know where this thing is supposed to be connected at? i cant find the other end of this connector. as far as i can see, the wire runs thru the front engine case via a rubber grommet and up the left side and into an area thats in the left side of the fairing and connects somewhere up inside the fairing wiring but i cant find the other end of the connector.

stuart.

Read more: viewtopic.php?t=30599#ixzz3qdgBuBGb

[Big Dogcrux]

Wow! No spark?! You guys with no spark are in good company. My dad wants to sell me his '85 GL1200 Limited. It was working just fine! And he changed the oil; ran it for a minute and it died. And dad was a mechanic for several years. He found the pins for the crankshaft coil to have zero ohms at room temperature. At the ECU under the seat. No ohms he says! At the coil? And we go into theory. Its a CDI I said...are they actual coils or solid state amps? That's my big question. The whole CDI system is modern now. Extrinsic and intrinsic amps run the logic with controlled direct current apparently. Could the coil have an open in it at the crankshaft sensor? The pins have an open! And this is as far as my genius father can go. They dont sell a new crankshaft sensor apparently. I only want to help my dad with this one. I will buy it for a 1000 dollars! So I was trained by the navy in submarine electronics. Why would an open exist if not a bad connection or a bad wire? Solid state devices are made to regulate electrical current with silicon...I think. Why would the voltage be so large at the crankshaft sensor tp short? Or open the circuit? The shear dissentigration of the material at the sensor? The outrageously high voltage? Why? Its just a switch that relays the position for timing.... So here I am with you. No spark? No replacement parts? And a machine designed with so many wires, connectors and sensors there's bound to be some bad connection somewhere.... Maybe I should take it all apart and spray everything with WD40 and put it back together again. Any theories?

[julimike54]

The 'Kill' switch prevents spark, think corrosion of contacts in switch.