CX500 GL500 650 Global

Hello al. i have a 1983 CX650E that I am restoring. My bike sat for many years without being started. I have cleaned out the carbs and tried to jump start it with my car. It cranks over really well but will not catch. I pulled out the plugs and hooked them back up to the leads and crancked it over looking for a spark. There was none. I did smell gasoline coming from the cylinders so I know it is getting fuel. What could the problem be? The head light turns on and there is power to the instument panel.
Thanks...Ken

quicksilver wrote:Hello al. i have a 1983 CX650E that I am restoring. My bike sat for many years without being started. I have cleaned out the carbs and tried to jump start it with my car. It cranks over really well but will not catch. I pulled out the plugs and hooked them back up to the leads and crancked it over looking for a spark. There was none. I did smell gasoline coming from the cylinders so I know it is getting fuel. What could the problem be? The head light turns on and there is power to the instument panel.
Thanks...Ken

If I'm correct the 650s use TAI(Transistor Advanced Ignition) unlike the stock CX500s that use CDI ignition(Capacitive Discharge Ignition).There are two boxes I think near the Battery called,"Ignitors.Check all their connections and clean them.Also,but a bit of a bugger,is the Advance and retard unit which is housed in the rear of the engine under the plate at the back with the oil pressure vent hose coming out usually.If this is faulty the manual says you can get to it with the engine in but it's virtually impossible so it's an engine out or engine moved forward to check the unit.

Easier things that it could be though would be dirty coil connections and dirty plug caps so give them a good clean up with some scotchbrite/emery cloth/sanding paper abrasive to brighten the metal.
Another cause sometimes is a faulty Kill switch on the throttle assembly.

Also as the bike has been stood the battery could be at fault and the Transistor ignition bikes need a good battery and charge to start unlike the CDI versions.

Get a car battery and jumper leads and connect up correctly.Spray some WD40 type stuff or Carb/Brake cleaner or even Hairspray into the carbs with the filter out as an accelerant and crank the bike.Also use some fresh fuel as fuel decays when left in the tank for too long.

Also clean the Main fuse and the holder contacts.


Report back if any joy

Thanks for the quick reply Sheppola. I won't be able to check into it untuil next week as my schedule is hectic this week. I remember when I took the motor out 18 years ago to replace the cam chain tensioner, I think I took off the advance and retard unit. It has not been started since the change.I really did not know what I was doing. Possible that is the problem. I will check the other possiblities as you have suggested first.
Thanks again...Ken

quicksilver wrote:Thanks for the quick reply Sheppola. I won't be able to check into it untuil next week as my schedule is hectic this week. I remember when I took the motor out 18 years ago to replace the cam chain tensioner, I think I took off the advance and retard unit. It has not been started since the change.I really did not know what I was doing. Possible that is the problem. I will check the other possiblities as you have suggested first.
Thanks again...Ken

I recall it's possible to get the AAR unit 180 deg out.

Checkout out Chopper Charle's forum as well and use a Google search like this,

650 advance retard site:choppercharles.com/cs

any words before the word site will be used in the search.

Thanks a lot Sheppola. I will look that up. I was really clueless when I did the cam chain tensioner.

Hi everyone.

I am having the same problem here as quicksilver had in feb. My bike is a 1982 CX500 Custom, with the transistorised ignition (NO CDI here folks).

I can feel the spark units and coil pack getting very warm to touch when the engine switch is ON. I have checked voltage at the coil pack and spark unit which is showing 12v.

I have put an insualted metal screwdriver between the spark plugs and ground, to see if it sparks - no joy.

I'm not entirely sure what the unit does that is housed inside by the oil pump (advance/retard unit?) but it's possible it's at fault - how would one check that with a multi meter?
How could I check that the spark unit/pulsers are sending a pulse with a multi meter? perhaps with a light bulb....?

I'm not sure how to check the Transistor Ignition Advance and retard units but this should help,

http://www.genebitsystems.com/david/Mot ... /index.htm

Are you getting any sparks?

Is the main fuse holder/fuse getting warm?

Thanks, will check out that link.

Haven't checked the warmth on the main fuse holder yet, but I have blown the main fuse a couple of times by trying different things.
EDIT: Just in reading that article, yes - I have already replaced the glass fuse type with a blade in-line type.

Join Chopper Charles forum as well,


http://cx500forum.com/

It's quite busy and there's a lot of users on there who have the TAI(Transistor Advanced Ignition) models.I post on there as well.This forum tends to be more of a reference forum,which I don't mind.Feel free to post any pictures of your bike and rides in the Best rides section.I like to see where folks ride around the world.

I will do when I can, but that chopper charles forum is always down! Or perhaps it's fixed now

Yes I want to post photos, but the bike is in pieces - maybe people will still be interested in the progress.