'80 GS 850GL owner

[sixxgunner]

Glad to be back on this forum!
I used it for a lot of information when I had to rebuild the engine/carbs after ring failure back around 2002. Rode it awhile in Ohio but after moving to Florida in 2004, I couldn't get it running again. It has sat all this time. I put a Dyna S ignition system on it back in 2002. I am not getting any fire to the spark plugs. I wanted to get this back up and running again. I know the carbs are gonna need attention and some other minor stuff. Hoping to start digging thru posts to resolve this issue. I would appreciate some help if you can point me in the right direction. Thanks!

 

[80GS850GBob]

Oh, been to Fort Meyer in the the winter....I wanna go back!{Chicago winters suck}
1st off, welcome back.
2nd, after installing the new dyna ignition did it work then?{02}....if it did, maybe something rattled loose later on or a rodent knaw away at a wire?

 

[sixxgunner]

Yes, the dyna worked fine. No issues at all. I will recheck that as well. After a bit of reading I am going to pull the coils and clean them up. I have never done that in all the years I have had this bike. Also checked the fuses in the panel on the rear left side. I was putting one back in and the brass retainer (?) clip came off. Dammit! I will get this resolved as well. Thanks for the welcome!

 

[80GS850GBob]

Ya gotta love the old barrel fuses. I'm going to convert mine soon to an 83 L fuse box with blade fuses. I'll either hunt down a used wring harness for the oem lower connector or make my own connections.
I'd say 1st to check that you have power to the coils and/or ignitor....no power- no run. I've heard that a few ignition/key switches can go bad too - but it's somewhat rare. Trace from the battery on out...ign switch...fuse box...coils...follow the path and see if/where it drops off at.

 

[sixxgunner]

Thank you Sir! Sounds like a plan! I am gonna "borrow' my lawn mower battery to start this process. Will have to check into that type of fuse holder. Thanks for that heads up!
I hope to revive it soon with not too much cost.

 

[terrylee]

If you haven't cleaned carbs since 2002 an it sat all that time, could be part of the problem.

 

[80GS850GBob]

If you haven't cleaned carbs since 2002 an it sat all that time, could be part of the problem.

Well, that should be a consideration too, but he said he had no spark....dirty carbs won't affect that.