my old 1994 polaris 400cc 2 stroke has stopped

fuel is OK but no spark

so any suggestions from experienced owners as to most obvious place to start looking as I roll up my sleeves tomorrow to try to get the beast working again

 

I'll be willing to bet that your stator has gone out if a new plug doesnt fix it.

 

I would pull the black wire to the reverse limiter first. They were known to go out a lot.

 

This sounds way easier than the stator so here's hoping

and as I recall I reversed at the time it stopped so that makes sense

are you saying that they can go faulty and short out the spark, so by pulling black wire it can no longer short?

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: thedoc

This sounds way easier than the stator so here's hoping



and as I recall I reversed at the time it stopped so that makes sense



are you saying that they can go faulty and short out the spark, so by pulling black wire it can no longer short?</end quote></div>

Limiters could short out and die when engaging reverse and when finally gone short out and no fire at all. If unplugging wire helps,remember you will have full power in reverse! Good luck

 

so back to it today, and with plug unscrewed and connected I am getting a spark when cranking engine, but not a "fat" spark I would say.

So off to buy a new plug but alas still just turns over and no take.

I am wondering [before taking carbie off again to check if floats etc OK], is it possible to simply have a weak spark [or no spark as soon as plug is back in and under compression] or is it all or nothing with an ATV spark.

All my knowledge is with ign systems for cars so no clues on magneto systems [or what spark should look like].

I have yet to try the limiter, just looking at most obvious first

 

I had the same problem on my 94 300 and it turned out to be the spark plug cap!! I got a new one cut back the wire about 1/2 inch and has been great since.

 

thanks for all responses and it seems the last one was it

I decided to do some maintenance so removed the coil, electronic unit etc and the LHS switch assembly

given I live in Steve Irwin country and it is wet season there was dead livestock in all the switches and corrosion on all contacts and it's a wonder the thing worked at all

but I was thinking the spark plug lead was a sealed unit as one now buys full sets for cars, and I found lead end to the plug was not screwed in but just floating free

so I will buy a new length of lead as well and surely all will be well when I put it all back together

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: thedoc

thanks for all responses and it seems the last one was it



I decided to do some maintenance so removed the coil, electronic unit etc and the LHS switch assembly



given I live in Steve Irwin country and it is wet season there was dead livestock in all the switches and corrosion on all contacts and it's a wonder the thing worked at all



but I was thinking the spark plug lead was a sealed unit as one now buys full sets for cars, and I found lead end to the plug was not screwed in but just floating free



so I will buy a new length of lead as well and surely all will be well when I put it all back together</end quote></div>

 

Just checking re correct plug and gap for this model

it is 1994 4x4 400 cc 2 stroke