No Spark

irvan · Post by **irvan** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:37 pm

I just bought an old 1968 305 Dream Sunday, got it home and cleaned it up and bought a battery. No spark. I guess the first step would be to clean the points or is there something these bikes are know for having a problem with I should check first. Nice old original bike with 4963 miles. I'm pretty excited since my first motorcycle back in 1966 was a new 305 Scrambler. Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions. I also noticed the electric start button doesn't seem to be functioning, doesn't feel like engaging and I don't quite understand how the throttle works at the handlebar end. Any ideas on where I can find parts book type drawings/pictures?

irvan · Post by **irvan** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 4:19 pm

ok, filed points, still no spark.

joeweir1 · Post by **joeweir1** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:18 pm

Hi- I will assume you have the key in the proper position and a new battery and the fuse is good and new plugs.Are you checking for spark by hanging the plug along the side the engine while kicking it?Did you gap points to .o14?Do the points start to open when the timing pointer is on the "F" mark?Condensor wires hooked up.Lights work?

As far the as the starter button goes.Do you mean the starter won't engage(can you hear it turn?) when you push the button or nothing happens when you push the button?

Throttle is just a twist grip.Has a spiral wind in it as you turn it.Buy Bill Silvers restoration guide.It has all the info and more you need.Or Ebay has parts books usually.

Let us know. Help is allways here.Joe

rrekr · Post by **rrekr** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:09 pm

Irvan,
Sometimes..... the wire to the points is put on the wrong side of the insulating washer. I've seen this more than once, just something to check.
Thanks,Randy

irvan · Post by **irvan** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 8:00 am

Thanks much for the replies. I will follow the advice and hope for the best. Seems like it has to be simple. Thanks again.

irvan · Post by **irvan** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 4:03 pm

Ok, GOT FIRE. Had a couple of bad wires on the coil side. Put gas in and now need to get tank to let gas flow and carb is cruddy so needs (hopefully) cleaning. So next is drain tank, remove, get gas to flow into petcock, look for petcock problems that will probably arise and clean carb. Other good news was that electric starter worked when jumped. Thanks for help.