CDI Box Igniter

Is there a way to test your CDI Box Igniter to see if its bad?

 

You can take the cover off and check the solder joins are intact and repair if needed, it's a not too common problem. If you can borrow a known good unit try that, it seems to be the only way to know for sure unless you are electrically minded and have access to the testing gear. I have had bad solder joins but could fix them luckily and now have a spare good unit.

It may not be the CDI, put in some more info about the symptoms.

 

Ill try that tonight, I'm almost to the point of giving up. I've replaced the wiring harness, coils, rebuilt the starter, checked all my grounds, checked all my relays, replaced my spark plugs and just about everything else but the CDI Box. My 81 xj650 turns over but i cant get it to start. I only have a few months left and would like to get it on the road this year. Do you have any other ideas on why it wont crank over?

Thanks,

Steve

 

"turns over" .. as in the starter is turning the engine in a willing and rapid way but it wont fire up, have you checked the plugs are sparking by grounding them to the engine

"wont crank over" .. not start?

What about carbs and valves, are they done as i spose you've read about here.

 

Yes, my bike will not start, the starter turns the engine over but it will not start. I have not checked if the spark plugs are sparking, how do you check that by grounding them to the engine?

As for my carbs, i clean them often and i do not soak anything to persevere my parts. Could this be a jetting issue?

Thanks,

 

Are the valve clearances in spec?

Have you done a compression test?

What intake and/or exhaust mods have been done to the bike?

 

If you haven't done one recently, do a compression test, or have it done if you don't have the tools. These engines need good compression to start. Tight valves (clearance lower than specs) cause low compression.

 

Where can i locate how to do an compression test?

What would make your bike lose compression?

Thanks

 

"replaced the wiring harness, coils, rebuilt the starter, checked all my grounds, checked all my relays, replaced my spark plugs " i'd take a closer look at this stuff. did it ever run? valves and compression don't just go away,
it should at least try to start. check for spark right after you see if there's gas
in it

 

ya it worked fine before i stored it. Before storing it i made sure to put gas stabilizer in the tank and exempted the oil out for an oil change come summer. the only problem was my starter button but i pushed started it for a year with no problem. so if your saying that you don't usually lose compression im thinking that's not a factor here. to me it seems like im not getting spark. i know the carbs are getting gas because i cleaned them yesterday and replaced all the gaskets. ive been trying to get this thing started for a few months now. If anyone is knowledgeable with this type of problem and lives close to the Grand Rapids MI area ill be willing to pay someone to take a look at it too.

Thanks,

 

some of the relays look the same but don't work the same, just pull a plug wire insert a old plug and see if there's spark. ground it good and look close

 

Crank over = Turn over

 

The easiest TEST, ...

Acquire a KNOWN Good Ignitor.
Plug it in.
Try it.
If she runs on the good box and don't on yours ... its the box.