No spark...helping a friend fix his scoot

[diesel883sporty]

I am well versed on Harleys, but am helping a friend fix his 82 GS 450. I came after he replaced some parts

Here is what happened:

Bike was laid down on the right side and the engine guard severed the wire coming from the magnetic pulse unit under the little cover. He replaced this part with an aftermarket part and I am in the process of repairing the wires on the old part.

He replaced the iginitor box with a used one. Doesn't have the old one. THe new one was marked gs550 by the salvage yard.

He indicated the coils tested fine, but the bike isn't getting spark.

All connections appear to be good. The bike was running when it was laid down.

I can't imagine the severed wire fried every part of the electrical system. I am used to dealing with a magnito and points, etc...

Can someone help point me in the right direction? This is his only mode of transportation and he needs it to get to work (just getting on his feet).

Cost effective solutions welcome.

Please let me know, all ideas welcome.

Thanks DIESEL

[tom203]

What happenned to his original ignitor? Anyways,no spark, maybe kill switch/wiring in right switch got damaged during laydown, so make sure you have 12 volts positive on orange/white wires connected to ignition coils -this is fed by right hand switch stuff.

[spyug]

The ignitor is likely not correct for that bike. They are somewhat specific to the bike and also need to be matched to the correct pick up coils. They are not all interchangeable.

You should take a look at the parts fische for that bike (on line dealers like Bike Bandit etc), find the part number and compare it to other models. Better yet, see if you can get the correct unit. Perhaps put up a part wanted ad. here.

Good luck.

[diesel883sporty]

The motor turns over when you hit the starter. I don't think its the kills switch, or it wouldn't turn over, right?

Is there an aftermarket solution?

I am thinking of replacing the aftermarket pickup with the repaired unit (just need solder and heat shrink).

Thanks for the input... keep the ideas coming.

[diesel883sporty]

What happenned to his original ignitor?

When he got the replacement, they took the old one.


I will check the kill switch wires.

[tom203]

Could be break in wiring right after kill switch- starter button gets juice but not coil circuit, always best to check at coils themselves to be sure.
But as spyug said, it seems doubtful that you can mix and match ignitors and signal generators from different models.

[mike10]

twin or 4

Is the 450 a twin or inline 4 cylinder. 550 I think is a 4 cylinder wrong igniter I think.

[hjfisk]

I believe a GS250 and GS450 are the only 2 bikes which share that particular igniter, if I recall correctly. It is one of the harder units to source. And they are not that durable.

[diesel883sporty]

It is an inline 2 cylinder.

[chef1366]

Sorry wrong igniter
Go trade back