Bayou 220. Will not start. Pretty sure no spark. Has fresh gas and spark plug is wet. Even tried a little starting fluid. What controls spark? Also compression is 80 psi. I know that's low, but it should still run, correct? When it did run, it would pop and cackle like a popcorn machine at higher rpms Ran great at lower rpms. Thanks for any help!!

 

On bayous theres a pulse coil next to the flywheel that pulses everytime tdc rolls by. That pulse is sent to the cdi which is then sent to the coil. My advice start with the spark plug , pull it from the engine hold it against the engine and crank it over watch for spark. Then move back piece by piece. Although generally on bayous the pulse coil fails.

 

KLF220 is an unusual one for Kawasaki as it used AC CDI ignition, the 300s used 12v coil and a negative pulse "ignitor" system like 1980s cars. As nny wrote, check for a spark, before assuming it is that. Regarding low compression, set the valve clearances, you never know it could just be that. Bikes are a lot worse to start as compression goes down and you may have "wet the plug" trying so, if you are getting a spark, fit a new plug, then try without choke and see if it fires up.

 

Listen to Merryman hes arguably got way more experience with ATVs than I do. I'm just a mechanic who recently got into atvs again. i have a 220 i havent been able to dive into yet and a 300 so i guess im looking at some fun when i get to that bike.

 

OK. Silly question time. Where is the coil and cdi located?

 

Which coil? If your talking about the one for the plug just follow the plug wire. If your talking about the pulse coil that resides with the stator under a cover on the left side of the motor. The CDI is a nondescript black plastic box either behind the airbox

 

Normally, you do resistance and/or voltage tests on the pulse coil and power coil rather than start taking the engine apart to get at them. With ignition coil you check resistance, and whether a power pulse is going to it from the CDI when engine is turning. If the pulse and power coils test out but there is no power pulse to ignition coil, your CDI is at fault, unless the kill wire is somehow earthed when it shouldn't be, or the earth wire not earthed. All these tests are outlined in the help diagnose stator sticky on the Chinese engines page of the forum. Actual values for resistance and voltage will be different, but no resistance, or open circuit, when there should be some, is bad. My wiring diagram is rather low res so I can't be certain of wiring colours but at CDI it looks like blue and black wires are pulse coil, red is one power coil wire, unsure of other, black/yellow is earth, green/white? to coil. The yellow/? goes from kill switch and ignition switch to CDI,

 

Awesome info, merryman!! Hopefully I have time to check it out this weekend.

 

Well, apparently the problem is intermittent. I went to start diagnosing it tonight. Just for ***** and giggles, I put the spark plug back in and tried to start it. Fired right up!! It did pop through the carb for a few seconds like it did before it wouldn't start, but then that cleared up. I took it for a ride, seems like it had more power than before and didn't pop and cackle in the higher rpms. Guess I'll ride it and see what happens.

 

Looks like my first thought was right, with low compression they are worse to start, and if you "wet the plug" trying, you have no chance until the plug dries out, or you fit another plug.