Ran when parked, saga of the missing spark

It's been a few weeks since I started the bike. I got home from work and wanted to see if I could get it started.

Normal starting procedure. Usually with a kick or two it would at least fart. But nothing.

Pulled spark plug. Placed on head. Turned ignition on and off. Got a spark (Boyer).

Put plug back in and pushed kill switch. Got loud pop.

Kicked and nothing.

Put an inline spark tester and saw the spark when turning the ignition on and off. Turned on ignition and kicked. No spark.

Ideas?

Battery

travelerjerry said:

Battery

Click to expand...

12.75v

Was on the charger before I tried.

If still got the boyah trigger leads that came in its box no one may be able to help you until ya check-replace them. Try key on to verify the spark snap out of gear of course, then flick-tug at trigger wires to see if more snaps gotten, if so start there first. IF not > with key on pound on tail light mount, kick at horn. Try starting in the dark and key on tugging jerking flicking jiggling sections of loom watching for little flashes of insight. Each kill button tap should snap the boyah with plugs on head. If glass fuse test its conductivity and make sure battery terminals secure. Could just be the unfinished paint job and missing primary plugs finally catching up on your Norton karma. What would Kenny Dreer do?

Put it on the charger for a couple minutes.

Kicked it and it lit. Did not want to run but after a few more tries it ran. Took it "around the block" and put in a couple gallons of gas.

Who knows what it was.

She's pissed at you. It was the whole 'been a few weeks' thing. :mrgreen:

I'm with the Hobot, the bike thinks a silver tank makes her look fat, and wants to stay in the garage. You still got the duke? How do they compare?

fuse holder corroded. oxidized ground. get to work ya bum.

Is it spinning over fast enough to create a spark, eg sump full of oil slowing down how fast it kicks over

splatt said:

Is it spinning over fast enough to create a spark, eg sump full of oil slowing down how fast it kicks over

Click to expand...

That is another suspect. Wet sumped and it wouldn't spin.

Another interesting clue: I noticed last time I rode it the brake light would sometimes stay on. Not sure why. If I turned the ignition on and off sometime it would work right.

This morning I tired to start it and it was dead again. Noticed the brake light was on. Turned the ignition on and off a couple times, made sure the brake light was working and it fired right up. Could be a coincidence.

We'll see how many more rides I'll get in this year. It was 45˚F this morning. (Although they are saying a few days in the 70s starting today).

But then it's off to Barber and high 70s forecast for the event.

swooshdave said:

splatt said:

Is it spinning over fast enough to create a spark, eg sump full of oil slowing down how fast it kicks over

Click to expand...

That is another suspect. Wet sumped and it wouldn't spin.

Another interesting clue: I noticed last time I rode it the brake light would sometimes stay on. Not sure why. If I turned the ignition on and off sometime it would work right.

This morning I tired to start it and it was dead again. Noticed the brake light was on. Turned the ignition on and off a couple times, made sure the brake light was working and it fired right up. Could be a coincidence.

We'll see how many more rides I'll get in this year. It was 45˚F this morning. (Although they are saying a few days in the 70s starting today).

But then it's off to Barber and high 70s forecast for the event.

Click to expand...

Repair/replace the ignition switch