Captaineasy520

So I guess I'm coming to the conclusion that the TCI, for all practical purposes is good at this point. If w ree have juice at the coils via the ignitor them the TCI is doing it's job. One thing that bothers me is I think I read somewhere that the regulator receives a signal from the stator that is time fired thru the brown wires of the rectifier and finally thru the plugs. Don't hold me to this idea cause it just kinda flowed out my mouth before i could pinch my lips closed. Also, where are the three major grounds located on the bike, I've just heard about them but never seen them. Any ideas???

Always be proud of who you are, live in peace with your personal history as it is just right for you. Never look back, never regret, and never ever forget the wonders of God, the love of your true brothers, and leave a soft kiss of understanding on their brow before the day comes to morn you. J.C.Davis 09/06/2018

Thanks to Flyinfool, Yamahalarry and another friend who is a fellow Arizona desert dweller, Videoarizona. I took all of your collective suggestions and tried them out. Here's what I came up with. The plugs are out of the heads and I have each one grounded to the same. The voltage across the battery terminals is 12.86volts and drops to 12.06 while cranking and the longer I crank the lower the voltage goes. The starter turns even and strong Whit out the plugs screwed into the heads. I sprayed a good amount of cleaner into both the starter and kill switch and then proceeded to do the same while cranking both while engaging the starter and kill switch..at first I began to get a very brief and faint spark at all four plugs, then, repeating the process I had nothing at all. I also tried rasing the stand and engaging the clutch with a end result of no change...should I consider changing the retifier while I'm at it. At this point I'm open to any and all suggestions. Thanks again gentlemen for all your help..

Yes, I grounded all four plugs to the heads...lol...geeze, I had to think about for a min..

Hello from Arizona, I closed my last post stating I had fire to all four cylinders and was dancing a little jig. Well the dance is over the spark lasted about one turn of the starter, so at this point I'm rechecking Bongobob's and Puc's amoung others who offered up some great info. I'll tell you what I've done and maybe someone can guide me thru this no fire nightmare. From the beginning: Puc sent me a TCI, plug wires, caps, up grade for the fuse box. I installed everything plus a new stator, new battery, regulator/rectifier, no for all that I have checked out. Primary coil test at the coils: 1= 2.5, 2= 2.5, 3= 2.5, 4= 2.5 Secondary test at the coils; 1=13.64, 2=13.46, 3=13.76, 4=13.58 Test at the TCI plugs: for the ignition side I got an average of 2.6 On the pickup side in order: 112.6, 115.4, 113.9, 112.9 I checked the red/white power lead into each coil with the battery reading an average of 12.30volts and a drop when engaging the starter to 10.36volts. I checked the regulator and it had no power at the brown wires while starter was engaged. So that's where I stand and I still have no spark to the plugs. I did have a short burst from the nr.1 plug only and a little end spark as I released the starter. All of these test we're done with the plugs removed from the block but still attached to the plug wires. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.. Bobgobob, Puc, guys where do I go from here. I don't have a spare TCI, Puc and I were both pretty sure the one he sent me was in working shape and as far as I know at this minute it is still good. Thanks everyone for your help.

The rain has stopped, the sun is out, so I went out and topped off the oil after changing the stator, and went ahead and put a different regulator/rectifier in place of the very old one. As instructed I pulled all four plugs and grounded them to the block, turned the key and hit the starter...and guess what.... Huston, I'm glad to report we have fire to all four plugs (did a little victory dance). I'm still going to go thru the entire system one more time just to make sure everything is operational. Bongobob, I not sure what to think as far as the stator swap is concerned. What I do know is that as soon as put the new one in I immediately had fire to all four plugs, could it be that messing with all those connectors multiple times may have somehow cleared up an unknown issue in the electrical system. At this point I'm not real sure. Since I've yet to fire the beast up I won't know for hat other problems are in store for me. But with the help, guidance and support I got from our members I am confident I can solve most or all of pitfalls that may come my way. I'm not sure how strong the spark is because I did the check in the day light with little shade. However it was bright enough to be seen coming from all four plugs do I would think that is a plus.. I would like to hear what you think my next tasks should be. I do plan on doing the compression check as soon as I'm able. So I await your opinions and ideas...Thanks again everyone. I'm going to do one final check, prime the carbs and try to wake up my sleeping beast...

Thanks Steve, You have a good idea with pulling the plugs to save the starter life. And I will also do a compression check on all four cylinders. I'll get back to everyone as soon as I run these other checks and test and see what we come up with. I've come to the conclusion that everyone loves these lovely beast because you sure as hell earn your stripes when you own one, I say this with pride not regret....

I swaped the old stator for a new one, as I cracked open the side cover I remember someone (Puc) saying the old first gen's had problems frying and we're later converted to oil bath, grabbed a pan just in time. Yep there is a bunch of oil in there. I finished the install but needed to head into town for fresh oil, but I couldn't resist the urge to crank her over one quick time. I knew the carbs were dry and the chances of her actually starting we're zero. I put a spare plug in the #1 wire and grounded it. One quick turn of the key and bright blue spark jumped from plug to block. I did a little dance. I got the oil but mother nature stopped my forward motion with a thunderstorm. I've got a list of things from Bongobob and Puc that need to be checked out before I get ahead of myself cause I want to make sure everything is done right and is right. Thanks again guys for your guidance. So, if it stops raining I'll be out there yet again tonight trying to get it right and get it finished cause I sure do need to go for a very long ride.

And by the way, I have a new battery that is fully charged. So I'm gonna start at the beginning (one more time) and I will record all the values for everything I test. If I miss anything I trust you guys will call my arrention to anything I over look or didn't get right..thanks

Ok Puc, I see what you are saying, in that case he load for the ignition coils comes directly from on a fully charged battery. I was thinking the load came from the stator thru the regulator to the TCI which fired the ignition coils. I seem to have trashed the K.I.S.S.(keep it simple stupid) methodology concerning "work smater, not harder". So after I finish installing the new stator what should my plan of attack be by the numbers.

Hi bongobob, Thanks for the advise and info. I did down load the service manual, the wiring schematic and also the schematic for the TCI. I went ahead and removed the stator this morning because I figured that if the original stator was still in the bike it could have developed a problem in the last 34 years. So far it looks like it has a few fried windings that I can see and there is one in particular that really stands out. Would it be possible for this to affect the firing of all four ignition coils. Before it went down it was running on what sounded like three cylenders, then two and finally cranking over good and belching out a backfire.. soooo. I will follow your advise as soon as I install the new stator and let you know where i stand after I check everything else out....wish me luck

Hi bongobob, Thanks for the advise and info. I did down load the service manual, the wiring schematic and also the schematic for the TCI. I went ahead and removed the stator this morning because I figured that if the original stator was still in the bike it could have developed a problem in the last 34 years. So far it looks like it has a few fried windings that I can see and there is one in particular that really stands out. Would it be possible for this to affect the firing of all four ignition coils. Before it went down it was running on what sounded like three cylenders, then two and finally cranking over good and belching out a backfire.. soooo. I will follow your advise as soon as I install the new stator and let you know where i stand after I check everything else out....wish me luck

Ohhh. Alost forgot. I saw a test a guy was doing on his stator that looked like a possible test that could be done on a venture. He hooked up a test light to the pick up coil/coils, grounded the clip end of the tester then touched the pick up wire with the probe end while rocking the fly wheel back and forth to see if he had out put from that point. In his case he did. He proceeded to move up the harness and check the other related connections. It may be worth a try, I'll let you know what I come up with.

Hi Puc, Thanks for the come back. I'm also no real sure if the TCI you sent me works or not, but I will assume (yeah, I know that old quote too) that it is good. With that said, I also agree that the pick up coils could be the problem too, so I ordered and have received a new startor and rectifier, and a full set of much needed brake pads. If I can find some shade time and break away from my "honey do" list long enough to pull the side cover and do the install I'll see if it breaths new life into the ignition coils. My beast is stripped down to the frame, head light hanging down, I swear she's got a sad look and it's like she's begging me to hurry and find what's ailing her so I can get her dressed back up in that new paint job. As I went out the door this morning I saw a note my wife had posted on the refrigerator......it said, " Dear Lord, please keep a watch over my husband, as I'm almost positive he's having a sorted affair with.....his......damn......motorcycle." I had to go back in and give her a kiss cause I guess she had finally caught me...... I'll keep ya posted...

I did in fact remove the black and white wire from the connector and still had no fire. I checked the kill switch and got a close and open response when testing the switch itself. I'm still thinking it may be the regulator but I'm not real sure about that either. I'll keep at it until I find a cure as I'm no where near thinking about putting the old beast out to pasture...Thanks guys..