1998yamahawarrior
Well-Known Member
As we have had a rash of no sparks/no starts come on recently I decided to do a right up on checking for proper spark. Just pulling the plug, putting it in the boot and holding it on the block is not always a good check. Especially when you have spark, but are still not getting fire with sufficient fuel.
A proper/ hot spark should be able to jump 1", whether it be our little single cylinder or a V8. The main reason is that it takes more voltage to have a strong enough spark under compression than it does in the open air.
If you have an HEI spark tester that is the perfect gap and a good tester. For must of us though we dont have one sitting around or dont want to buy one. For those of us in the latter, one way is a screwdriver inserted in the plug boot. Making sure to keep your hand on the handle. If not you'll know how strong the spark is first hand!!! LOL Make sure to hold it approximately 1" from the engine. If its strong enough to jump the 1" gap you have strong spark and need to look elsewhere. If not you need to back track doing checks for the boot and coil.
Battery, coil, even the wire form the cdi to the coil, dont forget the ground wire that goes from neg. cable to the coil base.
Ill get a video for you guys tomorrow as I have a very good ignition system since everything is on mine is up to snuff!!
A proper/ hot spark should be able to jump 1", whether it be our little single cylinder or a V8. The main reason is that it takes more voltage to have a strong enough spark under compression than it does in the open air.
If you have an HEI spark tester that is the perfect gap and a good tester. For must of us though we dont have one sitting around or dont want to buy one. For those of us in the latter, one way is a screwdriver inserted in the plug boot. Making sure to keep your hand on the handle. If not you'll know how strong the spark is first hand!!! LOL Make sure to hold it approximately 1" from the engine. If its strong enough to jump the 1" gap you have strong spark and need to look elsewhere. If not you need to back track doing checks for the boot and coil.
Battery, coil, even the wire form the cdi to the coil, dont forget the ground wire that goes from neg. cable to the coil base.
Ill get a video for you guys tomorrow as I have a very good ignition system since everything is on mine is up to snuff!!
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