No Spark

Dustywolf · April 07, 2025, 18:28:00 PM

Quote from: 53Indian on April 07, 2025, 03:32:23 AM
Try the basics first.

VDS sensor, as you say
Side stand switch wires OK?
Neutral switch illuminating?
Clutch switch, under lever, not disintegrated?
Engine kill switch, they look fine but fall apart inside housing
Fuel pump connection, does it sound with ignition on?
Ignition switch?
Starter relay/fuse?
Is the motor spinning if you jump the starter solenoid?
(ECU's rarely give problems)

Process of elimination, you'll find it.

Yes,
I have already gone through that entire list. The motor will spin over via the starter motor, it just has the spark issue.

VDS has no continuity, so that's a problem in the first place. Should be here tonight or tomorrow and then we will find out.

Thanks for the suggestions!

53Indian · April 07, 2025, 03:32:23 AM

Try the basics first.

VDS sensor, as you say
Side stand switch wires OK?
Neutral switch illuminating?
Clutch switch, under lever, not disintegrated?
Engine kill switch, they look fine but fall apart inside housing
Fuel pump connection, does it sound with ignition on?
Ignition switch?
Starter relay/fuse?
Is the motor spinning if you jump the starter solenoid?
(ECU's rarely give problems)

Process of elimination, you'll find it.

Dustywolf · April 03, 2025, 02:20:58 AM

Vehicle down sensor.

It has no continuity, so I went ahead and ordered a used but allegedly operational one on ebay. It was also half apart when I found it so...

Bucko · April 02, 2025, 16:20:14 PM

What is a 'VDS'?

Dustywolf · April 02, 2025, 03:23:40 AM

Update 2: Put VDS back together, no continuity in any situation. Bike will engage starter without it, but won't spark at all without it obviously.

Perhaps, this could be my issue?

Dustywolf · April 02, 2025, 00:41:49 AM

Battery tested good after a load test, also I found the VDS not together properly. Even with it messed up, it still tries to start. Could this be preventing spark? I thought a bad VDS would also prevent starter motor.

Dustywolf · March 30, 2025, 02:00:12 AM

Quote from: Bucko on March 30, 2025, 00:03:59 AM
Did you load test the battery?

Will do so Monday, will report my findings.

Bucko · March 30, 2025, 00:03:59 AM

Quote from: Dustywolf on March 29, 2025, 20:15:11 PM
It is a 1999 model, so no clock that I know of.

So it sounds like the battery isn't my issue, what other things could it be? Super weird thay it only sparks once. I had hope that the circular relay was the issue... but apparently it's not even connected to the ignition system.

Did you load test the battery?

Dustywolf · March 29, 2025, 20:15:11 PM

It is a 1999 model, so no clock that I know of.

So it sounds like the battery isn't my issue, what other things could it be? Super weird thay it only sparks once. I had hope that the circular relay was the issue... but apparently it's not even connected to the ignition system.

Bucko · March 29, 2025, 12:37:39 PM

Quote from: Dustywolf on March 29, 2025, 04:13:37 AM
When I mean external power, I am referencing a jump pack. Could a bad battery cause no spark even with the jump pack connected?

Assuming the Jump Pack is OK, it should work fine, but you should probably load test the Jump Pack too. You don't say what year your Drifter is but if it's a post 2000 model, with a clock, a real quick 'charged' battery load test is if the clock resets when you hit the starter, your battery is hooped.

Dustywolf · March 29, 2025, 04:13:37 AM

When I mean external power, I am referencing a jump pack. Could a bad battery cause no spark even with the jump pack connected?

Bucko · March 28, 2025, 14:03:15 PM

Quote from: Dustywolf on March 28, 2025, 10:03:09 AM
That's what I would think too... but even with a fully charged battery and even going as far as providing external power.. no change. I've also disabled the fuel system because yes, it kept flooding.

Not sure what you mean by 'external power' but you should load test the battery. A static voltage test on a 'charged' battery can tell you if the battery is bad, but it doesn't tell you that it's good. Measure the voltage drop while the battery is loaded (measure while cranking is a good test) - if the battery voltage drops more than a few volts, the battery is hooped.

Dustywolf · March 28, 2025, 10:03:09 AM

That's what I would think too... but even with a fully charged battery and even going as far as providing external power.. no change. I've also disabled the fuel system because yes, it kept flooding.

Troll · March 27, 2025, 15:35:02 PM

A weak battery will still turn the engine, due to it having compression release cams, but may not have enough power to fire the plugs. The injection needs little power, so the injectors will probably still work, and flood the engine.

Dustywolf · March 27, 2025, 12:48:26 PM

Update: I can see a spark only when I first tap the start button. If I hold it down, no spark. But if I tap it quickly it will spark once. Thoughts?

Dustywolf · March 26, 2025, 18:50:10 PM

Thanks! I don't see that relay I was talking about on there... perhaps that an entirely different issue in itself. Any ideas on why it wouldn't have spark? It did have spark at one point when I first got it.

Troll · March 26, 2025, 07:07:30 AM

Here is a schematic of the ign. system:

Dustywolf · March 25, 2025, 23:43:44 PM

Hi all, I just got this VN1500 Drifter from my friend, whose brother was recently deceased in a motorcycle accident due to an intoxicated driver. This was his baby, and his project. So I am honored to continue his work and hopefully get this thing going!

It had spark when I first got it, but now it does not. I just found that my ignition relay (The circular one to the right of the battery) has an ohms resistance at 10. Would this probably be a safe bet that this is my issue?

Thanks!