No spark - K181 - WH800 - hoping for your help :)

[RasmusA 0]

Hi there

I have a WH800 im trying to start up, after 10-15 years in a barn.

I know it was running when it was placed there, but now i cant get a spark on it

Engine turns fine (new bat)

 

I have tried to replace the Coil - still no spark.

I have tried to replace the ignition switch - still no spark

I have replaced the plug - still no spark

 

I have removed the flywheel. Everything looks nice, but how can I measure that it is?

Magnets are fine, but how about the stators? (Blue on this engine)

 

Just under the ignition switch there is a rectifier-regulator. If this one is dead (and how do i measure that?) can my spark disapere there?

 

Please share your wisdom - i want my old WH back on the grass

(Used to drive it at my grandparrents farmwhen i was a kid)

 

[rmaynard 15,531]

You don't need anything but a battery, good coil, points, and spark plug to get ignition. Stator, regulator and all that are superfluous to having a spark.

Be sure that the points are opening and closing on each revolution, and that the contacts are clean. Make sure you have a good condenser. The ignition needs 12 volts to the coil and the points make and break the circuit to create the high voltage at the tip of the plug. As long as the battery is good and you have a flow of 12 volt from it through the switch to the coil you should get spark.

The other stuff mentioned is for charging.

Edited July 28, 2013 by rmaynard

[RasmusA 0]

Let me apologize for the (very) late response.
The WH has been sitting in the corner of my garage, not working and it should be ashamed of it self...

Status is after reading Maynards fine suggestion:
 - Coil have been replaced to another 12V coil
 - Points are braking fine and they are clean
 - There's 12.8V on the + on the coil
 - The battery is on 12,8V

Still no spark!!!

How do i check the condenser?
And will the spark be missing, if the condenser is dead?

I have 20-30 new condensers for 12V systems (for cars) - is there any luck that i can use one of them?

The reason that i have had a pause with the WH is, that i have spend a lot of time on my other red classic, a Volvo P1800S from 1964.
Imported from Oregon and now a running project here

 

[wallfish 17,023]

Yes, you can use one of those condensers and it should be connected to the - side of the coil, plus the body of the condenser needs to be grounded. There should be a wire from the points to the - side of the coil as well. MAke sure there are no breaks in that wire.

Sorry if you already know this stuff but without being there, I need to guess.

 

[RasmusA 0]

Thank you wallfish - i will try a new condenser then.

[squonk 41,171]

How do you know there is no spark. Do you have a spark tester? Sometimes using a plug laying on the head will fool you. Also you can put a 12v test light on the neg side of the coil. It should flash when cranking. If it doesn't the coil won't produce high voltage

[RasmusA 0]

How do you know there is no spark. Do you have a spark tester? Sometimes using a plug laying on the head will fool you. Also you can put a 12v test light on the neg side of the coil. It should flash when cranking. If it doesn't the coil won't produce high voltage

Well - i have tested with the plug on the cylinder head, and turned of the light in the garage (in the evening - dark night here in Denmark)
Would'n that normally show me a spark, if it's working?

[squonk 41,171]

If the plug is not grounded well you will get no spark