My trike was running but not anymore. Help!!

[esnyder53]

I have a 1984 Honda ATC 200s. I put it in the shop to get a brake job and to fix a leak. It was running before it went to the shop and i when i got it back it wasnt running at all. I thought it could be the spark plug and they put a new one in and that still didnt fix it. It has a pull starter but no matter how long i pull on it just doesnt have any fire. I've been told it could be the cdi unit thats bad or the spark plug wire could be shot. Just looking for some other opinions. Thanks for looking!

[dougspcs]

Remove the plug, stick it in the plug wire and make sure it's grounded to the engine(ignition on of course). Is there no spark, weak spark, or good spark??

Chapter 14 in the manual has a troubleshooting section for the ignition..assuming no spark.

http://72.52.143.80/~trikes/Manuals/ATC%20manuals/ATC200S%2084-86%20Shop%20Manual.pdf

[esnyder53]

When it was at the shop they had the plug out and said it was getting good spark. It just wouldn't fire. I've been having trouble with my pullstarter and need to replace one of the setting springs inside the starter because only two of the dogs are engaging when i pull it. Its been sitting outside and i feel like the wire may be shot but i will try your advice and let you know. I had something else too. Theres a tube that comes off the choke and its just dangling there is that for when its flooded is should it be connected somewhere.

[dougspcs]

I think you are talking about the vent tube on the side of the carb..no it's fine just hanging there.

If you have spark you can forget about chapter 14..you have ignition.

So back to fuel then..is the plug getting wet or smell like fuel after pulling it over a bunch of time? It should be..if not then where's the fuel?

Try with some quickstart into the carb..remove the breather 1st of course. If it fires with that you can a carb problem to figure out.

[esnyder53]

Ah thanks for clearing that up. but i got the plug out and yes it was wet and smelled like gas so i'm guessing i dont have any spark. i tried the carb spray before and that hadnt done anything. On the recoil starter only two of the three dogs are flanging out because one of those setting springs is a little bent up and needs replaced so the recoil isnt catching as well as it could. i cant really think what other problem i could have besides some faulty wires or the cdi unit from it sitting out not covered up.

[tri again]

You can just lay the sparkplug on the metal engine and pull it over real easy like.

You should see spark at the plug. If not, unscrew the plug cap and see if spark jumps from the wire to the engine block or head.

Sometimes it's as simple as snipping the last 1/8 of and inch off the plug wire or a bad plug cap.

You say it ran before it went into the shop? Can't be too awful complicated.

If it lives outside, check all your wires and connections especially grounds.
wire into the coil could be cruddy.

Dielectric grease is what they used for elec connectors.

sunLpartsonline.com has cdi units from 69 CENTS on up.

Best to check them by trying a known working unit.