Motorcycle electrical blog

Motorcycle crank no spark start ignition pick up coil cdi testing

Job i did recently shows some testing , some good tests in it but not the the best video. Ill do better later.

magnetic field detector tester, an excellent diagnostic trouble shooting tool for motorcycles

Here in the video below i show you one of my favourite tools for faultfinding it can be used for a lot of things , for example testing coils , injectors and solenoids.

In my opinion for the price of the its a must have tool.

Magnetic field detector tester

Testing motorcycle pick up coil signal with an oscilloscope ( no spark issue )

An oscilloscope is an excellent tool for fault finding and can show you reading of signals from sensors and injectors , well worth learning and ill add more videos and tutorial on there use as i go.

In the video below i connect the leads to the 2 pins of the pick up coil and turn engine over it give out a nice even pattern or waveform, which means its work as it should.

Buy handheld oscilloscope from here

Buy a Snap on scope excellent for diagnostic work try here

Removing and replacing Motorcycle fuel pump

I had to remove a fuel pump today so just a quick post on doing it as these pumps go quite regular job on motorcycles these days.

Make sure you have a good multimeter

First mark exact pipe outlet position with marker

Removing and replacing Motorcycle fuel pump

Remove the allen key headed bolts

remove clamp

remove the pump from the tank be careful of the sender units float

The fuel pump itself

Refitting is as easy as taking out just make sure the seal
below is fitted correctly .

make sure the outlet aligned with removal mark

finger tighten the bolts

then tighten the bolts in sequence

i would then fit pressure tester and fit to bike to line test pressure

Motorcycle battery keeps going flat ( troubleshooting )

Battery keeps going flat .

Make sure you have a good multimeter

you need a good battery it a must buy good quality , especially with newer motorcycles as they have no back up kick start , which is a step backwards in my opinion .

YUASA YB5LB (12N53B)

common problems Yamaha YBR 125 flat - weak battery

- Battery faulty or worn out , replace battery after checking voltage levels , fluid levels and specific gravity .
- poor terminal contacts ( happens a lot )
-excessive load ( remove some of them lights , stereos whatever )
-faulty ignition switch
-alternator stator coil failure ( test for open or shorted coils )
-faulty wiring ie short on loom or loose connections (check wiring and contact clean all connector blocks )

battery overcharging

- faulty reg rectifier
-defective battery
-wrong battery size

YEC-40 Battery Charger - buy on Ebay UK or Amazon UK

YEC-8 Battery Charger - buy on Ebay UK or Amazon UK

How to check gap on a motorcycle spark plug

I only use NGK why because it what i have always used and trust and i get them cheap trade supply
as i am stuck with them i am sure the other brands make excellent spark plugs but you tend to stick with what you know and trust .

i have had failed new spark plugs in the past though , which does not help diagnosis at all !! .

Check manual for gap size

How to check gap on a motorcycle spark plug

buy a spark plug gap testing tool

here at ebay uk

get loads more info on spark plugs at NGK website here .

Being able to "read" a spark plug can be a valuable tuning aid. By examining the insulator firing nose color, an experienced engine tuner can determine a great deal about the engine's overall operating condition.

In general, a light tan/gray color tells you that the spark plug is operating at optimum temperature and that the engine is in good condition. Dark coloring, such as heavy black wet or dry deposits can indicate an overly-rich condition, too cold a heat range spark plug, a possible vacuum leak, low compression, overly retarded timing or too large a plug gap.

If the deposits are wet, it can be an indication of a breached head gasket, poor oil control from ring or valvetrain problems or an extremely rich condition - depending on the nature of the liquid present at the firing tip.

Signs of fouling or excessive heat must be traced quickly to prevent further deterioration of performance and possible engine damage.

How to test the battery and if its charging on a motorcycle

checking battery and charging circuit on a motorbike is easy .

first remove side access panel .

test battery at 12v , then start engine and voltage at the battery terminal should rises to around 14v no more than 15v .