In my previous post, i've written about motorbike starting trouble. In that, i mentioned about ignition system. If you didn't see any spark coming through, you have to completely check the ignition system and its wirings. I'll try to explain in a simple way. Ignition is separate topic which is slightly complicated and consists many components in it. If we miss any small things, your bike won't crank up. So, i'll list out some parameters to check when you have problem in your ignition system.
Battery
As usual, first thing you have to check is battery. Make sure whether the battery has ample amount of voltage in it. Old DC ignition bikes with kick start can run without battery. But, modern vehicles without kick start mechanism needs battery. Make sure that there's no problem with your battery.
Fuse
You have to check for main fuses and sub fuse. The fuse will blow if there's any electrical complaint in your bike. Modern motorbikes have separate fuse for every individual components. Check for the blown fuse in fuse carrier. Replace if necessary. Due to vibrations, the fuse may be disconnected from its slot. Make sure that the fuse is plugged in properly in its socket.
Ignition and kill switches
After making sure that there's no problem with battery, slide your key and turn on the ignition. If you don't see any indications like neutral light, odo, side stand etc.. then you have fault in your ignition key set. Look for any visible damage in the lockset wirings. Next you have to go through kill switches. If there's any loose contact or any damage, your bike won't start. With the help of multimeter check whether the DC input is coming to the lockset and the output after switching on the key.
Corrosion
As said previously, inspect battery terminals. If there's any loose contact, sort it out. If you see any damages due to corrosion, try to rectify it. Clean the terminals. Replace the terminal wire if necessary.
Ground point
Its good to take a look at ground wire's contact point in the troubleshooting process first. Here the probability for fault is low. Anyway, you have to check it. Know where your bike's main ground contact is. Check for loose connections and rust. Clean it. If it is newly painted motorbike, make sure that there's no paint in the contact point.
Pickup coil
We can use a small LED or multimeter to check this parameter. In the left side of the engine case, just above the magnet assembly, pickup coil will be present. Follow its wire and find the socket. Disconnect it and insert a LED. When you crank up, the LED have to glow or the meter should show some voltage. If you didn't see any of these two, your problem is in the pickup coil. After making sure that the pickup coil is working, follow its line to the digital igniter or CDI. Make sure that there's continuity through out the wire. We can use multimeter for that.
Checking RR unit
Digital igniter or CDI unit needs DC input. For that, coil assembly and RR unit is used. The voltage produced in the coil assembly is AC. The produced AC voltage is sent to the RR unit and converted to DC. Then that DC supply is sent to the CDI unit. So make sure that the voltage is produced in the coil assembly and whether the RR unit is receiving that AC voltage and working properly. If yes, test whether the CDI unit is receiving the DC voltage from the RR unit. With the help of multimeter, make sure that you achieve continuity throughout every wire.
Ignition coil
In most of the bikes, ignition coil is located below the fuel tank. If DTS-i engine, it may have two or three coils. Check for any visible damage in the HT cable. The HT cable flows from ignition coil to the plug cap or adapter. The spark intensity will be very low if there's any damage in the HT cable. Ignition coil will be mounted in the body itself which acts as earth. Check for any visible damage and rust. With the help of multimeter, check the continuity of the coil. If there's no continuity, its time to replace it with a new one.
Sparkplug
As we know, you have to remove the plug from its sleeve. Make sure there's sufficient amount of gap. Clean the carbon deposits using emery sheet. Inspect the plug adapter also. Make sure that the spark is produced with good intense.
Battery
As usual, first thing you have to check is battery. Make sure whether the battery has ample amount of voltage in it. Old DC ignition bikes with kick start can run without battery. But, modern vehicles without kick start mechanism needs battery. Make sure that there's no problem with your battery.
Fuse
You have to check for main fuses and sub fuse. The fuse will blow if there's any electrical complaint in your bike. Modern motorbikes have separate fuse for every individual components. Check for the blown fuse in fuse carrier. Replace if necessary. Due to vibrations, the fuse may be disconnected from its slot. Make sure that the fuse is plugged in properly in its socket.
Ignition and kill switches
After making sure that there's no problem with battery, slide your key and turn on the ignition. If you don't see any indications like neutral light, odo, side stand etc.. then you have fault in your ignition key set. Look for any visible damage in the lockset wirings. Next you have to go through kill switches. If there's any loose contact or any damage, your bike won't start. With the help of multimeter check whether the DC input is coming to the lockset and the output after switching on the key.
Corrosion
As said previously, inspect battery terminals. If there's any loose contact, sort it out. If you see any damages due to corrosion, try to rectify it. Clean the terminals. Replace the terminal wire if necessary.
Ground point
Its good to take a look at ground wire's contact point in the troubleshooting process first. Here the probability for fault is low. Anyway, you have to check it. Know where your bike's main ground contact is. Check for loose connections and rust. Clean it. If it is newly painted motorbike, make sure that there's no paint in the contact point.
Pickup coil
We can use a small LED or multimeter to check this parameter. In the left side of the engine case, just above the magnet assembly, pickup coil will be present. Follow its wire and find the socket. Disconnect it and insert a LED. When you crank up, the LED have to glow or the meter should show some voltage. If you didn't see any of these two, your problem is in the pickup coil. After making sure that the pickup coil is working, follow its line to the digital igniter or CDI. Make sure that there's continuity through out the wire. We can use multimeter for that.
Checking RR unit
Digital igniter or CDI unit needs DC input. For that, coil assembly and RR unit is used. The voltage produced in the coil assembly is AC. The produced AC voltage is sent to the RR unit and converted to DC. Then that DC supply is sent to the CDI unit. So make sure that the voltage is produced in the coil assembly and whether the RR unit is receiving that AC voltage and working properly. If yes, test whether the CDI unit is receiving the DC voltage from the RR unit. With the help of multimeter, make sure that you achieve continuity throughout every wire.
Ignition coil
In most of the bikes, ignition coil is located below the fuel tank. If DTS-i engine, it may have two or three coils. Check for any visible damage in the HT cable. The HT cable flows from ignition coil to the plug cap or adapter. The spark intensity will be very low if there's any damage in the HT cable. Ignition coil will be mounted in the body itself which acts as earth. Check for any visible damage and rust. With the help of multimeter, check the continuity of the coil. If there's no continuity, its time to replace it with a new one.
Sparkplug
As we know, you have to remove the plug from its sleeve. Make sure there's sufficient amount of gap. Clean the carbon deposits using emery sheet. Inspect the plug adapter also. Make sure that the spark is produced with good intense.