No spark 1990 3TB

[Hatrack]

My 1990 3TB, Vin. number:3TB010668 has lost its spark.
It was running Ok and gave no sign of anything about to pack up.
I tried an unused coil I had on the shelf, with new HT lead plug cap and plug. Still no spark.
I checked for current at the spade terminals on the coil, both were live. All other functions on the bike seem to be Ok and I have ckecked and cleaned all appropriate earth connections, including that to the CDI unit.
Looking at other threads dealing with similar problems, I saw that side stand and clutch cut out switches are a common problem, so I removed them and joined the wires running to each together. Still no spark.
I hope that somebody can confirm, that with theses switches, bypassing them and joining their supply wires together is the correct move.
So I am now running out of ideas.
I have been tidying up the wiring under the seat, but I cannot see anything hanging loose or unconnected.
The CDI unit is my next suspect, but I know from experience that there is a tendency to suspect it because A) iIcan't check it, and B) its expensive, but also I understand, there is the ignition pick up at the alternator.
Is the ignition pick up part of the stator windings or a separate item ? Is it an item that is simple to test ?
I am not good with a multi meter but can do continuity tests with a bulb and a lead.
Similarly, are there any simple tests I can do to the CDI unit to check if is the problem or not ?
Last of all, are there any other cheap and simple things that could be the cause, before I assume it is the expensive bits ?

[dzl]

Hi...generally as long as the engine is cranking when you push start button then your neutral switch is working ok and the side stand and clutch switches are irrelevant at this point if you have a no spark issue when cranking. Do you have a 12V feed to the ignition coil red/ white wire at all times when ignition switch on and stop switch is in run? The system uses a TCI rather than a CDI and requires a pulse from the pick up coil that is located behind stator cover next to the stator winding. Below pic from the manual to check its resistance. Check these 2 things first and go from there.....

[dzl]

Hi...generally as long as the engine is cranking when you push start button then your neutral switch is working ok and the side stand and clutch switches are irrelevant at this point if you have a no spark issue when cranking. Do you have a 12V feed to the ignition coil red/ white wire at all times when ignition switch on and stop switch is in run? The system uses a TCI rather than a CDI and requires a pulse from the pick up coil that is located behind stator cover next to the stator winding. Below pic from the manual to check its resistance. Check these 2 things first. Do you have access to the XT600 3TB manual?

[Hatrack]

Thanks.
I was puzzled about the TCI/CDI question as I found an alternator stator from a German supplier described as CDI and covering my model. Is "CDI" sometimes used for any such system regardless of actualy being TCI ?
Yes, I seem to have live feed to the coil on the red & white cable.
I do have a manual, but only on my computor. It takes ages to spool through it to find anything and it seems I can only print off the whole thing and not just the section I need to look at, which dosn't help.

[Hatrack]

Ok, as I said, not handy with multi meters, but I dug it out and found the resistance settings. No "X 100" but I selected "X 200" as the nearest available.
All I got was flickering readings between, 13.50 and 17.89.
Does that mean anything ? Good or bad ?

[motorang]

There are several versions of 3TB around, one is referred to as XT600E (electric start) and one as XT600K (for kick start).

XT600E has TCI
XT600K (kickstart only) has CDI

Different animals, different ignition coils, different stators etc

Andy

[Hatrack]

Yes, mine is the XT600E, electric start.

[motorang]

Should be TCI then.
Basically there are three stator/ignition types over the years:

1) CDI Kickstart, 80ies: (43F, 34L, 55W ...)


note that 2 cores do not have coils on them (no lelectric start, less power needed)

2) CDI, electric start, late 80ies to mid 90ies: (1VJ, 3AJ, 2KF, ...)



Note that CDI has 2 dedicated (bigger) condenser charging coils and the pickup unit has two pickup coils in itl.


CDI pickups are different for both versions, although electrically the same:





3) TCI, electric start, 1995 and later (3TB, DJ02, ... also the XTZ660 have that)


The TCI has only charging coils for the battery, all look the same. The Pickup has only one pickup coil.

Andy

[Hatrack]

Thanks.
but now I am more confused.
Of the versions you show, I would look to me as if, mine being a 1990 electric start 3TB, then " 2) CDI, electric start, late 80ies to mid 90ies" would be the correct one, rather than " 3) TCI electric start, 1995 and later"
If it helps, my "Ignition Unit Assy" has 2 multipin connectors, one with 6 pins and the other with 4 pins.

[Hatrack]

Looking at those pictures, maybe my only option is to have the alternator cover off and get a visual fix on which system I have.