Testing for spark, by myself, on a kickstart.

WitchKing · 08-05-2012, 10:21 AM

Is it possible to test for spark by my self on a kickstart only '76 honda mt125? Just got a brand new coil.

Shocktower · 08-05-2012, 10:28 AM

Hold the plug kick it over

Ok don't really hold the plug just the cap and look for a spark, low light helps, keep the anode that little bent metal piece toching the head or any other place it will ground

blaine.hale · 08-05-2012, 10:34 AM

Don't hold the plug unless you enjoy a good shock. If you want to see the spark, pull the plug, reattach the spark cable then ground the plugs threads against the cylinder. Either kick it or use your hand to kick it. You can safely hold the rubber boot that goes on the spark plug as you hold against the cylinder, or just find a place it will rest on the head.

WitchKing · 08-05-2012, 05:42 PM

Would it stay lit if I hold down the plug?

JeffS77 · 08-05-2012, 06:53 PM

lit ??

it sparks

PistonPants · 08-05-2012, 11:14 PM

Physically look at the plug gap as you kick it. If you cant do that then hold the plug.

Piston

Twin-shocker · 08-06-2012, 12:19 AM

The way to test for spark is to remove the plug cap, and position the end of the cable around 6mm away from an earth point (you can sometimes fit the cable between 2 fins on the head).

Never a good idea to have either the cap or plug involved when testing for HT spark as both parts can fail, and lead you to think there is a major problem when there isnt.

Sturgell · 08-06-2012, 12:08 PM

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00914130000P

Find a spark tester, if you work on small engines at all it's a handy thing to have.

blaine.hale · 08-07-2012, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sturgell

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00914130000P

Find a spark tester, if you work on small engines at all it's a handy thing to have.

Totally overkill.

Leo.G · 08-07-2012, 07:11 AM

Nah!

You don't need any kind of special tools for doing that, pull the plug, then put it again in the cap, hold the cap with the plug on it and make the "hook" of the plug touch some iron/steel part of the bike, like the frame...

Then, move the crank with the kickstarter, and check if there is any kind of spark between the electrode and the little "hook" in the plug..

The best sparks are the blue ones..

Good luck with that!
Greetings from Argentina!

Twin-shocker · 08-08-2012, 12:26 AM

If you test for spark with cap fitted and the cap itself is faulty then you wont have a spark. Lots of home mechanics back this mistake and spend lots of time and money on parts that arent needed, when all that was required is a new cap.

WitchKing · 08-13-2012, 04:36 PM

kay, no spark. tested for continuity from the frame to the coil, from the coil to the beginning of the wire to the cap, and it's all good, then I tested the spark plug with one lead on the part where the cap connects, and one on the other end, not on the side electrode, on the center electrode, and nothing. bad plugs? (please) and what i meant by stay lit was does it keep sparking, or is it just for a second?

stainlesscycle · 08-13-2012, 04:56 PM

if it stays sparking like a sparkler when you're not kicking it, let us know

2trally · 08-14-2012, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WitchKing

kay, no spark. tested for continuity from the frame to the coil, from the coil to the beginning of the wire to the cap, and it's all good, then I tested the spark plug with one lead on the part where the cap connects, and one on the other end, not on the side electrode, on the center electrode, and nothing. bad plugs? (please) and what i meant by stay lit was does it keep sparking, or is it just for a second?

I think you need to check for resistance in the plug wire instead of just continuity. If resistance gets too high in the wire, you won't get spark, but still show continuity. I've never tested a spark plug before, but if you think thats the problem just get a new one and test it.

It shouldnt stay lit, just a flash.

I'm not much help I can't remember this shit properly, used to know it pretty well but its been a few years.

WitchKing · 08-28-2012, 06:01 PM

The plug wire is brand new, it came with the coil. I got new spark plugs, still no spark. What's next? Stator? anybody know where to get one cheap?

08-05-2012, 10:21 AM	#1
WitchKing ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jul 2012 Location: Land of the Ice and Snow Oddometer: 51	Testing for spark, by myself, on a kickstart. Is it possible to test for spark by my self on a kickstart only '76 honda mt125? Just got a brand new coil. __________________ Sure it's quiet, for a diesel. But that's like being well-behaved... for a murderer. -Jeremy Clarkson

08-05-2012, 10:28 AM	#2
Shocktower Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Oregon City Orygun Oddometer: 8,220	Hold the plug kick it over Ok don't really hold the plug just the cap and look for a spark, low light helps, keep the anode that little bent metal piece toching the head or any other place it will ground __________________ Alexa Drew Nov 9 1995- Oct 28th 2004 Miss you baby '08 KTM 530 EXC 79 RD 400 Daytona

08-05-2012, 10:34 AM	#3
blaine.hale Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Location: Atlanta, Ga Oddometer: 2,291	Don't hold the plug unless you enjoy a good shock. If you want to see the spark, pull the plug, reattach the spark cable then ground the plugs threads against the cylinder. Either kick it or use your hand to kick it. You can safely hold the rubber boot that goes on the spark plug as you hold against the cylinder, or just find a place it will rest on the head. __________________ 1974 BMW R90 /6 1968 Bultaco Matador MK3 1973 BMW R75 /5 Toaster LWB 1969 Bultaco Bandido MK2 2012 Husqvarna Terra TR650

08-05-2012, 05:42 PM	#4
WitchKing ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jul 2012 Location: Land of the Ice and Snow Oddometer: 51	Would it stay lit if I hold down the plug? __________________ Sure it's quiet, for a diesel. But that's like being well-behaved... for a murderer. -Jeremy Clarkson

08-05-2012, 06:53 PM	#5
JeffS77 cheap bastard Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Riverside , CA Oddometer: 2,996	lit ?? it sparks __________________ A n00b Races Hell on Wheels Vintage Scrambles A n00b Races Elsinore Grand Prix For a Cause A n00b Goes Flat Track Racing

08-05-2012, 11:14 PM	#6
PistonPants Crankcase Scavenger Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Cantwell, AK Oddometer: 296	Physically look at the plug gap as you kick it. If you cant do that then hold the plug. Piston

08-06-2012, 12:19 AM	#7
Twin-shocker Studly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2012 Oddometer: 993	The way to test for spark is to remove the plug cap, and position the end of the cable around 6mm away from an earth point (you can sometimes fit the cable between 2 fins on the head). Never a good idea to have either the cap or plug involved when testing for HT spark as both parts can fail, and lead you to think there is a major problem when there isnt.

08-06-2012, 12:08 PM	#8
Sturgell Urban dirtbiker Joined: Mar 2010 Oddometer: 81	http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00914130000P Find a spark tester, if you work on small engines at all it's a handy thing to have. __________________ That's not how you change a tire. He's suposed to be flailing around on a nasty garage floor with those cheapo 8" irons the rest of us have.

08-07-2012, 07:11 AM	#10
Leo.G Is still learning Joined: Apr 2011 Location: Marcos Juárez, Córdoba, Argentina Oddometer: 254	Nah! You don't need any kind of special tools for doing that, pull the plug, then put it again in the cap, hold the cap with the plug on it and make the "hook" of the plug touch some iron/steel part of the bike, like the frame... Then, move the crank with the kickstarter, and check if there is any kind of spark between the electrode and the little "hook" in the plug.. The best sparks are the blue ones.. Good luck with that! Greetings from Argentina! __________________ 2010 Honda XR 250 Tornado

08-08-2012, 12:26 AM	#11
Twin-shocker Studly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2012 Oddometer: 993	If you test for spark with cap fitted and the cap itself is faulty then you wont have a spark. Lots of home mechanics back this mistake and spend lots of time and money on parts that arent needed, when all that was required is a new cap.

08-13-2012, 04:36 PM	#12
WitchKing ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jul 2012 Location: Land of the Ice and Snow Oddometer: 51	kay, no spark. tested for continuity from the frame to the coil, from the coil to the beginning of the wire to the cap, and it's all good, then I tested the spark plug with one lead on the part where the cap connects, and one on the other end, not on the side electrode, on the center electrode, and nothing. bad plugs? (please) and what i meant by stay lit was does it keep sparking, or is it just for a second? __________________ Sure it's quiet, for a diesel. But that's like being well-behaved... for a murderer. -Jeremy Clarkson

08-13-2012, 04:56 PM	#13
stainlesscycle Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2008 Location: morgantown, wv Oddometer: 1,639	if it stays sparking like a sparkler when you're not kicking it, let us know __________________ current bikes 07 gasgas xc300-94 duc 900ss-86 morini camel (2)-84 IT200-83 IT175-78 guzzi lm1-77 pursang 250-76 morini 3 1/2 strada-76 frankentaco pursang 200-74 frankentaco pursang 200-74 morini 3 1/2 sport-74 mz ts250/0-74 puch 175 (3)-73 can-am 175tnt-71 guzzi frankeneldo-71 ossa Stiletto-70 frankentaco sherpa s(2)-66 morini corsarino(2)-63 morini corsaro + many more

08-28-2012, 06:01 PM	#15
WitchKing ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jul 2012 Location: Land of the Ice and Snow Oddometer: 51	The plug wire is brand new, it came with the coil. I got new spark plugs, still no spark. What's next? Stator? anybody know where to get one cheap? __________________ Sure it's quiet, for a diesel. But that's like being well-behaved... for a murderer. -Jeremy Clarkson WitchKing screwed with this post 08-28-2012 at 06:06 PM

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