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Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:46 am

Have a 71 Westy with re-built engine. Many years of solid operation, with about 1000 miles per year (just for camping). Can't get it to start now. Spitted and sputtered the first several times. Eventually nothing although the engine still turns. Charged the battery (new) and went through the routine a few times. Now no spitting and sputtering at all. Checked and no spark leaving the coil, but relatively new blue coil? I am somewhat mechanically inclined but electrically challenged. Can a coild go bad with just about 25 hours of use? Back tracking from the coil, what else could it be? Recently changed brushes on the generator. Possibly related? The voltage regulator is 20 years old. Possibly related?

Thanks

OldBusguy

Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:53 am

Ever done anything with the points?

Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:56 am

Just replaced them. Had a 20 year old electronic ignition and thought that may have been the problem. Initially I just checked the plugs and found no spark. I put new plugs and points in it. No difference. Then I checked and found that there was no spark leaving the coil. Should have checked that first.

Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:31 am

Had same problem a few weeks back with ours. It turned out to be oxidation on fuse contacts in box. Twisted fuses after putting Ox-100 on contacts and cleaning contacts . Started after that just fine and no problems..

Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:51 am

When you connect a test light between the #1 and #15 terminals on the coil and crank the bus does it blink?

Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:58 am

@Boesen: well, there are no fuses in the stock ignition circuit, so you may be miswired somewhere.

No spark at coil? Does the coil have (more or less) 12.5 V at + terminal? Does the coil have normal resistance (about 3 ohms)?
Is there actually current flowing thru coil when points are closed? You can simulate points operation by attaching jumper wire
to coil - terminal and touching other end to a well-grounded point on engine, and then lifting wire - you should get a big fat spark
from coil secondary at that point. If not, then coil is defunct, I don't care what color it is!

Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:54 am

Interesting...and helpful. I'm going to give all of this a try this evening. Thanks.