I just recieved a 98 Polaris 400 2 wheel drive 2 stroke bike. It needed a new battery and had not run in a couple of years. Now I cannot get it to start. I am not getting any fire to the spark plug. Any ideas about where to start? Where can I get a manual for this bike? I am sure I will need it.

 

i would start at the kill switch. make sure its not full of dirt and not letting the contacts move. check all wires for bare spots loose connections shorts etc... are you trying to start it with the starter or the pull rope? try it with the pull rope and see if there is any difference. sometimes the starter takes too much juice from the ignition system to give enough spark to the spark plug. if the rope does let it fire, pull the flywheel and check the gap on the pulse coil.
hope this gives you a starting point

 

Check with a new plug first, then remove plug cap,check spark with wire touching head,If no spark,check connections underneath front cover at coil and cdi,remove black kill wire from cdi and check for spark after that if no spark probably need resistance specs to check stator pickup and charge coils. cdi and coil least likely to fail usually bad plug wires,connection problems,or pickup(trigger coil) that fails. Clymer or Haynes makes a manual,but shop manual better detailed.Other Members that may have their own may be able to give you the specs if needed. Good luck

 

It is a 95. Sorry. It has a new plug. Connections at coil and CDI are good. The kill switch appears to be clean and making good contact. I am trying to start it with the button, but I will try the cord. Those places give me somewhere to start. I will post back when I get more info. I will need the specs for pulse coil gap, stator pickup and charge coil location and resistance specs. Thanks guys!!!

 

OK, I did some investigation with my DVOM. The coil is getting about 12 volts during cranking, and putting out, as best I can tell, 1200 volts. However, I am still not getting a spark at the plug. The plug wire boot is bad, but the wire is good, and I just put that right on the end of the plug. Still no change. The bike ran just fine two years ago when it was parked.

 

tried replacing the wire just for kicks? even just taking a screw driver and using it as a wire just to see if it can get a fire?

 

I tried that with no success.

 

Where can I get a new plug boot?

 

its an NGK boot. might try napa. they might have a crossover part. other than that either try auto parts stores or a dealer

 

I will make up a new plug wire with a new boot tomorrow, and check the pickup for the stator. Do you have to pull the flywheel to get to the pickup?