No spark!

NickyRudolph · Post by **NickyRudolph** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 4:17 pm

It was up and running great a few days ago. The other night I was trying to figure out a headlight issue and two days later I went to ride it and got no spark. I thought maybe my battery was dead so I hooked it to a charger. When I touch ground to positive I get a spark so I don't think the battery is dead. Any ideas?

Sam Green · Post by **Sam Green** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 11:17 pm

Nicky, you will get a spark from your battery if it's connected to a charger, it don't mean there is any life in the battery.
The easy way to test is, turn on ignition. A red light on the headlight near to the speedometer should come on indicating that the motor is in neutral and not in gear.
Press the starter button. If the motor turns over quickly, then the battery is good, if sluggish, it needs charging.
Also, check your fuse, it can be found to the rear of the battery on the strap that holds the battery in place.

Sam.

Roberd42 · Post by **Roberd42** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 8:13 am

Did you accidentally leave the ignition switch in an on position after you were troubleshooting the headlight? If left on for too long not running, with a good battery, the coil can be toasted.

NickyRudolph · Post by **NickyRudolph** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 11:25 pm

Roberd42 wrote:Did you accidentally leave the ignition switch in an on position after you were troubleshooting the headlight? If left on for too long not running, with a good battery, the coil can be toasted.

I did leave it in ignition. Needs a new battery?

frappy · Post by **frappy** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 1:14 am

As Sam mentioned, try charging the battery.

Roberd42 · Post by **Roberd42** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 6:29 am

Yes, charge the battery. Then if it doesn't spark, ohm test the coil.

ByTheLake · Post by **ByTheLake** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 1:53 pm

Roberd42 wrote:Did you accidentally leave the ignition switch in an on position after you were troubleshooting the headlight? If left on for too long not running, with a good battery, the coil can be toasted.

Right - I did that very thing after restoring a '72 Honda CB175. With the excitement of the first ride, I parked it but left the key on and burned up the ignition coil.

NickyRudolph · Post by **NickyRudolph** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 9:46 am

ByTheLake wrote:Right - I did that very thing after restoring a '72 Honda CB175. With the excitement of the first ride, I parked it but left the key on and burned up the ignition coil.

I am confident it is the ignition coil. Are these coils generic? Anyone know where to get one that will work for the bike?

NickyRudolph · Post by **NickyRudolph** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 8:10 am

NickyRudolph wrote:I am confident it is the ignition coil. Are these coils generic? Anyone know where to get one that will work for the bike?

Anybody know where I can get one??

ByTheLake · Post by **ByTheLake** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 10:17 am

Did you check eBay?

The hollow stamped frame of the CA95 provides an opportunity to install most any suitable 6-volt coil. Ideally, a NOS or used CA95 coil would be the best place to start. The CA160 also used a 6-volt system, so the coil would likely work fine, but avoid coils for the CB160 or CL160, since they were 12 volts.

Here's a used one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1965-150-CA95-Honda-Benley-Touring-Vintage-OEM-coil-pack-tested-/361167838784?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3AHonda%7CSubmodel%3ACA95&hash=item541747de40&vxp=mtr

Here's a new one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HONDA-6-VOLT-Ignition-Coil-Dual-Spark-Plug-Wire-Output-CA95-Benley-Tourer-/200931137486?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ec86dd7ce&vxp=mtr

If you can't find a Honda coil, there are generic alternatives. Just be sure to get a coil designed to use 6 volts where both high voltage leads fire at the same time, which suits the "wasted spark" system that's common to most small inline twins. For example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-Ignition-Dual-Twin-Coil-6-Volt-2-ohm-NEW-/170435324264]http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-Igni ... 0435324264[/URL]

If you use this style coil, be sure to secure the coil on both ends of the metal rod, since the coil expects to use the bike's frame as a heat sink to stay cool.

Here's another option that would work, but it might be a bit larger to hide in the bike's frame. This style tends to be cooled by oil contained inside the sealed canister.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lifeline-International-Motorcycle-Chrome-Ignition-Coil-6-Volt-/201239631305?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2edad115c9&vxp=mtr]http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lifeline-Intern ... c9&vxp=mtr[/URL]

frappy · Post by **frappy** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 7:13 pm

eBay is where I'd start too if i didn't have a spare. Here is another decent looking new coil on eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HONDA-6-VOLT-Ig ... ce&vxp=mtr

NickyRudolph · Post by **NickyRudolph** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 4:21 pm

Anyone have one lying around so I'm not butchered by these eBay prices?

Spokes · Post by **Spokes** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 7:17 pm

Regrets that I don't have extra's. Good CA95 & 160 coils are hard to come by and fetch good money.

Sometimes restoring vintage bikes takes a bite now and again....

Roberd42 · Post by **Roberd42** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 2:24 pm

You may be able to use a 12v coil on the 6v system. Not sure. If not you could convert to 12v and 12v coils are much more readily available.

ByTheLake · Post by **ByTheLake** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 3:11 pm

NickyRudolph wrote:Anyone have one lying around so I'm not butchered by these eBay prices?

I didn't feel that $68 with free shipping for a brand new part was being "butchered" - seemed like a very reasonable price. In the days before the Internet, you'd have to attend swap meets to find these parts, and negotiate with smelly guys that live in their vans.