NO SPARK ON XJ550 AND NEED HELP ASAP

Ok guys, Im not getting any spark at all, I tested the resistance on the coil and we are fine. Bike is cranking and everything but my dad says the sparks plugs look really good. What could it be?

 

A whole BUNCHA sh*t.

Start in the fusebox; pull all the fuses and gently try to squeeze the contacts together, you'll find the cracked ones (you couldn't see) right away. (They break right off.) Then you can repair it with some stuff from Radio Shack or more properly retrofit it with the blade-type fusebox chacal carries.

I forgot which 550 you have (put it in your sig, willya) so I can't give you a location but you need to unplug the "safety" relay temporarily as a troubleshooting aid. That will (temporarily) eliminate the sidestand switch, sidestand relay, clutch switch, neutral switch and the relay itself.

Battery FULLY charged? One interesting phenomenon these bikes are capable of is the ability to spin the motor quite briskly but NOT HAVE ENOUGH JUICE LEFT to fire the ignition. Wouldn't have believed it but it happened to me.

Start there, put the petcock on "PRI" for testing too, want to be sure you've got fuel if you get fire...

 

brand new battery

didnt check fuses (but will)

maxim statement not in sig (but will) lol

I will work on finding that safety relay asap...


Looks like I got some work to do so if any more ideas please keep them coming.....back to the garage now.

 

PM me an email address and I'll send you a set of component location diagrams if you want.

 

Even if it is on prime the ptcock could be jamed up either way. pull the hose off the carb with the petcock on position then be prpared to catch gass and switch to prime.

 

But would messing with the petcock have anything to do with not getting spark? same applies to carb?

 

No, not at all. But you want to be sure you have fuel once you do get spark.

 

another thing to look at , which i had found after checking coils and fuses and interlock switch's where ok then scratching head, was inside spark plug caps , where it plugs on to spark plug , there is a cap that holds the resistor and small spring, they where loose and corroded, when opened spring and small resistor come out, after a lil cleaning to remove corrosion reinstalled and had spark.

xj550 restoration
1973 Mercedes sel 280 complete restoration
1980 phazer snowmobile complete restoration
1929 ford model a frame off restoration

 

Yakahop,
Funny u mention that now cause we believe that was the exact problem we just had, cleaned it out and wham we got spark but its still a pretty weak spark.

 

Hammer, check through this site as I recall there was an article about replacing plug wires.
required cutting the coil and then refitting the wire in and then epoxying it together.... or something like that.

I think I'd look at changing out those wires and ends.

Good Luck

 

Hammer
At least you have spark and can rule out many other things, yes i was not impressed with my spark either but she ran well all last summer until battery went south, wow what a difference a new battery makes.
I have wondered if charging system trying to charge bad battery lowered input to coil thus output lower, as i know she would turn over but not start unless aided by batt. charger. Maybe someone would have thought on this.
like i tell them at work "to fix will only take a few minutes but finding the problem may take a few days" good luck