No Spark

[flanker]

I was riding my V and the thing just cut out and died. I thought I was out of gas, but it turns out I don't  have any spark. Checked the kick stand relay and the CDI not them. Any thoughts or ideas or should I start checking wires?

[kwells]

might be a good time to replace your plug wires(copper cores), caps, and plugs.

Did both cylinders cut out?

[Kevin]

Not only can the side stand switch leave you stranded, the relay will also. My anwser to is to remove the side stand switch and unplug the relay. I don't own a bike with a side stand switch and I don't like neutral safety switches. Thank you for letting me vent. ;)

[kwells]

hmmm...sidestand switches keep ur machine from laying on its side. seen it...it's a painful lesson to learn.  If it's the side stand switch....when you hit the start button the lights will dim but  it won't start.

[inanecathode]

Well, that, and if you happen to have the kickstand down and you take off, the first left hand turn you make has the possibility of jacking your rear end up and causing a wreck.

[Rick G]

Inane , it will never happen on a Vision. The angle of the side stand is not far enough forward to cause a problem.  I have been riding off with the stand down for 8 years , with out a problem. it just pops up on the first left turn . If you worried just install something like Honda's rubber finger .
At first I just forgot to put the stand up, due to faulty memory , but now i don't even worry about it.
I don't recommend it on a bike you don't know , some bikes will pivot around the centre stand  , if its left down.

[inanecathode]

Well its at a frame fixed object extending out at a forward angle, it's a hazard no matter how its sliced. It might kick up for you, but if someone really honks it it might be a problem.

[Rick G]

Its not going to happen on a stock vision stand . don't let my advanced years fool you , nobody "honks" harder than me!! If your ever able to come out for  a spring or fall ride I'll demonstrate it for you!

[YellowJacket!]

Umm...I saw it happen on a Vision.  :o

David

[ironb12s]

Sounds like you lost power someplace in front of the CDI, or the ignition plate. I had the same thing happen on my GS750 some years ago.  Turned out to be a cheap pinch splice for the aftermarket Dyna breakerless ignition the PO had installed.  Once found, I soldered the splice.  Don't remember if the 1979 GS750 had a sidestand switch, or not, so YMMV.

I've also experienced this when the battery terminals wiggled loose on my 1997 VS1400.  I looked high and (not quite) low (enough) when it happened, I was on the way home with a fully loaded bike from Americade, I think, when it sputtered and died on the highway.  Checked all of the fuses and half unloaded the bike before I looked at the battery terminals (mounted below and behind the swingarm pivot) and saw the problem.  It was still tight enough for the lights and gauges, but not for the ignition.

[Rick G]

YJ , he must have stuck it in a pothole. I've never had mine catch . But I do like Honda's rubber finger, no relays of switches to go bad.

[flanker]

Ok guys, been real busy with work and rugby season, but back at looking at my V. I got power to my coils, back down to the TCI, the pick-up coils checked out. My sidestand switch was already by-passed. Has anyone ever had a problem with the clutch switch? And can you just straight up pull off the side stand relay with no conflictions?

[ironb12s]

Um, isn't the clutch switch in the lever?  That should be real easy to check out.