01 650l hard to start-spark problem!

[award900]

With spark plug pulled, I only get a spark when I hit the starter and when I let go of the starter. It does'nt keep sparking as I hold it. Trying to start it when cold takes some patience ( and a few backfires!) but once i get it to run, it runs fine, and starts up when warm. Typical mods, dave,pipe,de smog, k & n. etc. Thanks for your time!

[martinfan30]

Sounds like one of the safety switch's may be activating the KILL.

[XR650L_Dave]

With spark plug pulled, I only get a spark when I hit the starter and when I let go of the starter. It does'nt keep sparking as I hold it. Trying to start it when cold takes some patience ( and a few backfires!) but once i get it to run, it runs fine, and starts up when warm. Typical mods, dave,pipe,de smog, k & n. etc. Thanks for your time!

Someone on here posted a similar problem, if you're getting spark when you wack the starter on, nothing while cranking, then another spark when you let go, seems like a weak spark vs. no spark.

To rule out the safeties, you can ground both wires that go to the clutch-lever switch. This will bypass the kickstand switch, the neutral switch and (of course) the clutch switch.

This sounds more like a bad ground, bad coil, bad plug, bad plug-cap resistor, bad CDI or bad piockup problem, though.

Investigate from cheapest to most expensive-

Dave

[Red4x4neck]

I am having the same issues right now.

Think that I may have a dying CDI or Pulse generator.

Rob

[award900]

Thanks Brothers! It is hard to find motivation to wrench when it just warmed up to 6 degrees! We are takin the mini's out to the lake this weekend!

[martinfan30]

Thanks Brothers! It is hard to find motivation to wrench when it just warmed up to 6 degrees! We are takin the mini's out to the lake this weekend!

The mini's?

[award900]

The mini's?

Kawasaki KLX 143s, of course! I would guess you don't have many options for riding on ice in Nevada, huh.

[martinfan30]

Kawasaki KLX 143s, of course! I would guess you don't have many options for riding on ice in Nevada, huh.

The lakes do freeze here, only do some ice fishing. Ice riding, no way!

[Denn10]

whats wierd is it runs fine but starting only sparks intermittend, if its running strong all the time you may wanna check electrical out. I know thats alot but it has to be in there somewhere. Got another CDI box to try out?

[Charles Nalley]

I chased a similar problem on my Wolverine for years. Finally figured out today that the wires on the source coil were backwards. I bought it new so it came that way from the factory. I switched the wires around and now the instant you push the starter button, it roars to life. 

[baldy110]

Thanks for reviving an 11 year old thread.

[Charles Nalley]

So, who are you, the thread police?  Maybe this is not a place for learning how to fix your own machines. 

[XR650L_Dave]

Only problem replying to an old thread is seeing how many of the posters in it aren't here anymore... and wondering if maybe the thread police chased them away.