Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Last week I rode my bike about 7-8 miles in the rain. I was coming home from the shop where I had the bike looked over, new plugs and the carbs synced. Once it warmed up it ran pretty good.

Two days later I go out to start it up and keep the battery charged and from sitting for too long. It wouldn't start. I pulled the pluggs and there is no spark what so ever. How can I tell if I have a regulator problem or coil problem or any other problem?

its a stretch, but i suppose its possible the rain couldve shorted out your coil(s)/ignition system. one thing you might try is jumping your voltage regulator. where it plugs into your regulator from your alternator, jump the wires from that input over to the output wires and see if that solves it. as long as you keep the engine running at idle, there will be no overcharging. at idle, the alternator should only be putting out maybe 10 volts, but i think it varies from bike to bike...but i would do it without much hesitation.

if that doesnt let her run, make sure you check all the wires to your coil thoroughly, and then, if you happen to have a manual for your bike, like a haynes, they usually have a resistance test you can do to your coil to check if its good, so try that...otherwise, jury rig a cheapy 12 volt car coil to it and see if that will get it started. assuming your bike is a 12 volt...? good luck

If the TCI in my bike even gets damp that will happen. That's until I sprayed it down with wd-40 and it went away.