Podtronics install

I am in the final stage of rebuilding a 1975 Mark 3. I've got the Boyer Bransden EI and have installed a Podtronics to replace the rectifier and Zenor diodes and also a new wiring harness. I originally had left the Zenor diodes wired and on the bike and I was getting spark. I removed the zenor diodes and cut and taped off the wires to them and now there is no spark. No where in the Podtronics installation instructions does it say what do do with the wires. Do I have to reconnect the wires or at least the ground wire?

The two Zener wires (white/green and green/yellow, Mk3) are not part of the actual ignition circuit.

The Zener ground wires (red) are returns for the Zeners so removing them should not affect the operation of the ignition system unless the red positive wiring is also missing some of its frame "ground" connections (head steady, and one either on, or near the starter solenoid in the battery compartment) or not making proper electrical contact due to powder coating? Ideally, the Boyer box and coil positive wires should be connected to the red return wiring rather than relying on a frame "ground".

Are you sure you haven't either cut or disconnected any brown/blue wires as doing that may have cut the power to the ignition switch?

Not sure about a MKIII (never checked one) but the red ground wires on the z-plate near the zener is a main ground connection for the battery on earlier bikes.

maylar said:

Not sure about a MKIII (never checked one) but the red ground wires on the z-plate near the zener is a main ground connection for the battery on earlier bikes.

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I have to disagree.
The "frame" ground connection on pre-MkIII models is at the head steady, however the return for the majority of electrical components is through the red positive wiring-which connects directly to battery positive. The points and spark plugs need a return, hence the "ground" at the head steady.
As the Z plate is bolted to the frame-it is not an ideal choice for a "battery ground". The ground wire near the Zener is a return for the Zener.

The MkIII has two Zeners, one on each Z-plate-therefore each Zener has a red return wire.