PLEASE HELP! 1983 Yamaha Virago XV500 - NO SPARK (SOLVED)

[Michaelson]

Hello,
I am new to this group.. So give me a warm welcome.
I have a problem and it’s just killing my pocket. Please I need any help I can get.

I bought a 1983 Yamaha Virago XV500. Got it at a fair price not great just fair.

When I bought it was not running. by the seller word the carbs needed a quick over haul.
It was running fuel out the vent tubes under the seat.
So when I went to buy the bike the mechanic went with me to pick it up and take it back to his shop for the carb job. Any way I get a call from the mechanic saying the carbs have been done and when he went to start the bike…guess what it would not start!! Wtf.. ugh, he said there is no spark. He thinks the CDI igniter or the pulsar pickup coils. I went on a search and found the parts.. ( very expensive off e-bay) and bought them. Parts arrived took parts to the mechanic.. Waited
The mechanic informed me the CDI box I just got was bad. Still no spark. I went on the hunt again and found another CDI box and it’s in route to me.. These parts are costing me hundreds!! Its killing me.
I am confused on how 2 CDI boxes could be bad. The one I got the guy on ebay said it was off a running bike. He has a lot of positive feed back 100% and over 5k in sales. So I would assume hes trust worthy and I would take his word he sent a good part.
The mechanic tested the main coils and said they are good.. and being the only other 2 things it could be I just bought.. CDI igniter or the pulsar pickup coils.
What could be the problem??? Is there a strange chance that BOTH CDIs were bad?
It’s only those 3 things in the system… Wth can it be?? Any ideas. Anyone dealt with this?
Thanks you in advance.. I’m going broke and getting nowhere.

[totallyredvirago]

first off its not a CDI. if your mechanic keeps calling it a CDI then go get your bike and never let him touch it again. (we have a TCI). he sounds like a parts hanger and not a problem solver so you should get the bike away from him just for that reason.. ok off the soap box.

watch how easy this is going to be to fix.
turn the key on and check for power in the red/white wires at both coils and TCI. if you have power in the red/white wires then see if there is power in the orange and gray wires at the coils. if you have power then pull both plugs out of the heads place the plugs back in the spark plug boots. lay the plugs against the block or head for grounding. use new plugs. if the plugs are wet they will not spark. with the plugs out and grounded crank the engine. spark? no? go to the TCI find the black/white wire and cut it. tape both ends of the wire. turn the key on, bike on the center stand and trans in neutral, crank the engine.. spark? yes? then you had a safety switch/relay causing the no spark.
if still no spark after cutting the black/white wire. then unplug the 4 wire connector at the TCI the wires are red, blue, green, brown. these are the pickup wires. take a dvom and set it to 200 ohms (no k) put the meter leads in the red and blue do you get a reading if yes then take the meter leads to the green and brown do you get a reading? a reading will be 156 to 163 ohms. if the meter shows 0.00 then the pickup is shorted if the meter shows 1 or OL then the pickup is open. with a reading of 0.00, OL or 1 you will need to replace the pickups.
i really jumped the gun on a diagnosis. just do what i am telling you and post your results and we will go from there..........dan

[madhatter4119]

... Listen to him ... he is by far one of the best we have here...a real electrical guru...Good Luck...

[Michaelson]

Dan,

I send the info you posted to the mechanic... guss what spark!
I told him to follow what you said.

What is the next step i should tell him to find this problem.

[totallyredvirago]

did cutting the black/white wire fix it?
if so then its up to you.
with the wire cut. the engine will start in gear.
the bike will move with the side stand down. (not a good thing if you never rode before). with the bike moving with the side stand down it will not fold up if you lean to the left. what it will do is dig in and throw you to the right in a hard way to where you could be badly hurt or death.
if you are used to riding without safety switches then i say leave the wire cut and ride safe.........dan

[Michaelson]

I sure don't want that!
What needs to be done to correct it?
What is the fix to make it back to normal.

[totallyredvirago]

the neutral light has to work.
does the neutral light work?

next is to splice the black/white wire back together.
the left side under the seat there is a 2 wire connector for the side stand switch. unplug the connector. use a spare wire and strip both ends (this will be a jumper wire) at the connector going into the harness use the jumper wire to connect the 2 wires together. see if you have spark. if you do then you have a bad side stand switch. this switch is mounted to the top of the side stand. some have cleaned the switch and got it to work. this switch sticks from setting...............dan

[viragman]

That's AWESOME TRV !!! You defiantly know your stuff !! I'm not being a smart a$$, I'm sure that guy is happy to get that bike up and running !! for you to take the time and explain that in detail, instead of having someone tell him to buy a repair manual or suggest things to try, you nailed it !!

[Dave-the-rave]

[totallyredvirago]

is this solved?..............dan

[totallyredvirago]

TTT

[Michaelson]

is this solved?..............dan

You were RIGHT ON! The kickstand switch is currently bypassed.

Thank you for your help!!!!

[Baldrick]

Sorry to jump in here guys.

I am also going to try your solution posted Dan as I have exactly the same problem. 1983 750.
I have continuity on most electrical connections to starter, solenoid etc, however I do have a 6 wire connector under the tank that when moved gives me a click in the relays located together under the seat.

I will try first the side stand switch then the connectors you mention. Fingers crossed or off to garage it goes to be fixed by someone who knows better than me.

Regards Baldrick

[Jake]

Baldrick, please start a new thread detailing your problems.