xt600e no start, coil question.
 

Don't seem to have any spark at the moment. my plug reads about 5k on the multimeter but i am having difficulty getting a reading from the coil. I have a secondary reading of 24k and can't get anything on my primary. Never tested a coil before and wondering if i have done it wrong. please help, mechanics around here not keen to touch it. Does this sound like a broken coil? thank you. Ben in Kent UK


here is it cranking.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF4CuAXzvD8

does this seem a fast enough turnover speed?

today i put a Tour Max coil in, and the spark seemed about the same as before. i then cleaned contacts from the generator and sprayed some easy start into the intake and the engine ran for a second or so. so maybe it is a fuel issue after all. my bowl drain screw is stuck so can't check if there is fuel in the carb at the moment.

Seems like it's time to pull the carb! :(

You DO seem to have spark, since it ran, but you're not seeing a spark when you test the plug? Something fishy, it should be a solid big fat spark. Have you tried a new plug, and make sure it's well grounded when testing?

I don't know XT's that well but I have a number of bikes where they won't start once the fuel in the carb goes 'stale' - something I've had happen in under a week. If it fires even slightly with Easy Start that's where I'd begin - work out how to undo the float bowl drain screw, drain some fresh fuel through it, and try again.

Not much of a spark when testing it, will get a new one tomorrow and make sure it's grounded well. thanks

thanks will have a go with the screw tomorrow.

Try a new coil. Even a cheap £10 chinese coil off ebay will do for testing.

The easiest way to determine if you have fueling issues is to get a can of powerstart and spray that into your airbox when cranking (without filter).

i have a new coil and the spark is the same as the old one. went to take the filter out the air box to spray easy start directly into it and found a load of oil in the bottom of the box. wasn't there yesterday. maybe came from the cranking i did.


https://ibb.co/nPCKXzQ

https://ibb.co/nPCKXzQ

cranking with easy start
 

this morning's effort

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU81ldXLauw

fires for a bit here and there.

with the new plug either get one spark every now and then or a couple of very small sparks and then nothing.



hard to see smaller sparks but there's a couple at the start and three at the second attempt

https://youtu.be/1lcfpB5atqg

you need to add what bike you have, some 600 are CDI igntion, some are TCI (google to know the difference)


if its CDI, a known problem source is the "power coil", it can give iffy spark symptom like you are describing



so determine what ignition you have, then download the relevant workshop manual and follow the testing procedure to a T.


Personally im against "throwing parts at" to solve issues without first knowing where the issue is. easy to bark at the wrong tree. on top, TCI and CDI coils are different, do you know which one you need?

Me too
 

Watching this with interest.
Not because I have the answer, but because I have a similar problem.
Engine will fire but only runs for 20 -30 seconds.
All the electrics test good. Including ignition box of tricks, passed as good by Mezo last year, so its very sad to hear of his death.
So I too am seeking the cause of fueling problems. Having determined to renew the search for my 1990 XT600E's problems, I have a fresh can of "Easy Start" on its way, and will report any success if I can.
We must hang on to the belief that "posessed" though the ruddy machine seems to be, there has to be a logical reason.

Me too
 

Having just seen Turboguzzi's reply, mine has the TCI system.

Maybe an exorcism is a good idea.

Thanks

I have a 2003 4PT so should have a CDI. I went looking for it yesterday and could not find it. Will run the ignition system checks tomorrow, will check the spark plug cap as it is still the original.