No spark in outside cylinders

B

Bainesy

New member
Hi all
Have just purchased a 3cl 1000 from New Zealand - I understand that it was originally sold in Australia and then went to NZ. It has been modified a bit with later model wheels and I am told Jota cams.
It started up here, but was very rattly - the timing chain was adjusted and it sounded better..
I have only ridden it a few kms..
The other day I started it and it ran briefly - I turned the choke off and it stalled and I was unable to re-start it.
There appears to be no spark in the outside cylinders - but the middle cylinder has a good spark.
The ignition system is an IIS TA 180.
It this likely to be a coil problem - or could it be an ignition system problem?
I should mention that I am not even close to an expert mechanic/auto electrician. I have been looking through some of the older posts and been unable to fully understand much of what has been written about the electrical system of these bikes.
I would appreciate any advice.
Regards
David

Sydney Australia
 
First thing to do is new plugs.  NGK B8ES.  And report back what it does.
Outer cylinders are fed by one coil, could be a problem of pickup, amplifier circuit inside the IIS, wiring, or coil, but first thing to do is give her fresh plugs.  Probably been running on the choke too much or something.
Congrats on the new purchase and welcome to the forum!
Cheers
Steve B
 
Hi David,
Welcome to the forum and the murky world of Laverda ownership.
You have come to the right place for advice, may not all be relevant but advice you will get.

Is good you have an IIS system, makes trouble shooting a bit easier.

Pull all three plugs out, install them back into their plug caps, earth out the plugs onto the engine cam cover.
Look at your IIS module (orange box), there is a selector dial on it, with a fine screwdriver rotate the dial so it points to "F", this is your system test setting
Let me know what number the dial is set to at the moment, for your bike you should be running 2 or 3.
Turn on the ignition switch, if everything is correct all 3 plugs should start to fire, they will start to fire at 1000 rpm and then start to increase in intensity in 1000 rpm steps until they are firning at 10,000 rpm, cycle takes around 30 seconds.

If you don't have spark on the outer two spark plugs could be a dud coil but first, check you have power to the coil.
Look for the orange/white wire going to the coil, if possible test it for power with the ignition switch on and kill switch on.

what year is this 3CL. ?
is it a Series 1 with right hand ignition or Series 2 bike with left hand ignition.?

we have a few IIS spares in stock so if it is the module should be able to get you going again though I think you will find it is a broken wire somewhere

send me a direct e-mail if you wish, e-mail link to the left of this message
We are based in Brisbane

Good luck
Red
 
If your interested tomorrow night is club night for the NSW Laverda Club,its at Mascot,goggle the club for the address of the restaurant.730 is the time and the foods not to bad
 
Dear All
Thanks for the advice - I will try work through this and let you know what happens.
I can't make Mascot - but will keep in touch.
The plugs look ok but I will replace them.
It has been running on 2 (although hasn't run all that much since I got it). It is a 1977. I don't quite understand the right hand vs left hand ignition? Do you mean the side the switch is on?
Once I try the testing I will get back to you.
Thanks again for the help
Regards
David
 
David - the right hand / left hand ignition referred to the location of the ignition trigger components.  Since you've said yours is a '77 bike it is a series 1 machine with the ignition under the alternator on the right hand side (as you sit on the bike).  Makes no difference to the advice you have been given.

Good luck!
 
I one lost spark on the 2 outer plugs,coming up the coast from Bega and the Snowy Run.Stopped for fuel and it wouldnt restart,checked the spark and came to the conclusion it was the twin coil supplying them,
had a fiddle and while tightening the coil mount the spark returned.I asked Mr Wilson if the coil mount was an earth but dont remember the answer.Worth nipping the mount and checking though
 
I had a similar problem on my 120, the left hand cylinder wasnt firing,had good spark with plug out, initially went down the strip carb route , still no joy, with help eventually discovered that coil mount was fractured, 120 has 3 coils all mounted together in a cradle, put a screwdriver to bridge gap of fracture and hey presto fully working bike, so yes i think coils are earthed on the cradles.
Put new cradle on bike and it is now working fine.
 
Aha, thanks Ferret.
Your comment has helped me understand my 120 a bit more. My cradle was fractured in the corner, so they do tend to break fairly often then.
welded it up and has not broken again.
 
Thought I should put in an update. Thanks to Red especially, I ran the test sequence with the IIS and one of the plugs wouldn't fire in any position. One of the other plugs must have been a bit dodgy also, to have made it appear that there was no spark from the double coil. Anyway, I have replaced the plugs and the engine started immediately...I am off for a ride this morning - hopefully all  will go well. Thanks to all for their help!
Best wishes
David
 
cold fouling then?
i.e. the motor has been run a few times but only for a few seconds and not up to operating temp,causing the crap modern fuel to "cold foul" which seems impossible to see with the eye.
CLEM
 
I actually ran the engine for more than a few seconds - rode a few kms and back home. Maybe the plugs were just old?? Anyway, the ride on Sunday was just terrific - no problems with the engine..all seems OK now.
Looking forward to more of the same!
Take care
David
 
almost certainly cold fouling,
there is a need to run the engine for a good while ,assuming that you dont ride off of course (which is always best) starting the motor in the garage to show your friends what a glorious noise they make (we all do it!) makes for cold fouling.You cant realy put a safe time on it, but it pays to never do it.
CLEM
 
Bainesy said:
Thought I should put in an update. Thanks to Red especially, ..........Anyway, I have replaced the plugs and the engine started immediately...I am off for a ride this morning
Click to expand...

And the first line of the first response says....

Enjoy
Steve B
 
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