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1986 450cc Nighthawk will not run

9810 Views 60 Replies 13 Participants Last post by  bailbob, 
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Hi,
I know this is mostly for goldwings but I have a problem not able to solve.
I have a 1986 450 cc Honda nighthawk and I am Stumped Big time!
I do not have any fire to the plugs, I have replaced the COIL- the CDI UNIT and wiring also new plugs, I have 150 LBS compression on each CYlander and I also can not get fuel into the combustion chamber. I rebuilt the carbs and fuel is getting there but spark plugs are dry! and even if I got fuel there NO SPARK, I have put in 2 different coils and 3 different CDI units and nothing alsochecked the Kill switch. I bought this so I could just tool around the neighborhood and leave my GL1100 parked. It was not running when I bought it and they said they had been on a 3 hour trip when it quit and would not start up, I thought itwould be something minor but I guess I was wrong.......
Please any one have an IDEA??????
This is a great forum for Goldwings but I do notknow of any for this type of bike.
Thanks,
Bailbob
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1500 winger
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bailbob, some of those older hondas have kill switch on side stand, it will start but won't let go when put in gear, there might some kind of problem there. Mel :waving:
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B
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thanks, Mel
I have it on the center stand
I had all ready thought of that but I really do appreciate your responce,
Bailbob
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O
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Sounds like the stator is bad.

If you cleaned the carbs and the plugs are dry, clean them again. Make sure you reassemble the floats in the proper direction.
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scotthohio
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Does it have a bank angle sensor? Perhaps it is bad or has a bad connection?
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B
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Thanks all,
Floats are right.
whats a bank angle sensor?
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StevenRose
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I`m guessing you checked to make sure you have fuel flowing from the tank, But after everything is completly dry you can get an air lock in the system. Take a short hose and wrap a rag around it to make a seal and blow air in the tank just to make sure. Also is it possable you may have grounded your ignition? Its easy to do sometimes.Good Luck!! Its bound to be something you just missed
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B
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Yes I have a manuel and yes I have gas flowing, that's whats weird. Everything I know about trouble shooting I have done and yet I must be brain warped as this escapes me. An engine needs air, gas and spark along with compression to fire, but why am I not getting gas into the combustion chamber and spark???? I love trying to solve these problems but this is beyond me! NO GAS NO SPARK both different problems but still the same. I think I will sleep on it tonight and try again tomorrow.......thanks everyone!
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DaveO430
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If you have power to the coil ob1quixote probably nailed it, the ignition pulse generator is built into the stator. Check the wiring connectors between it and the CDI unit. Try getting it sparking first then work on the fuel problem.
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B
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Thanks I will check that in the AM, I know if you want to eat an elephant you have to take it a bite at a time! and sometimes the longer you chew the bigger the bite becomes!!
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O
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Now for the bad news... a stator can read "good" by measuring resistance and still be bad. Check the pulse generator switch by the manual.
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B
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Good morning all,
Well I went to check the pulse generator switch and then I found that Honda does not provide specifications for all models mine being included. I have the Clymer service repair maintenance book covering 1978 thru 1987. I have a place that sells used parts for motorcycles and I think I will see if he has a stator and how much it will cost. The CDI unit was $140.00 used but it does not help so I do not know how much a stator will be and they are closed until Tuesday. Thats the plan as of now......Thanks everyone for all your help.
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Well heres a stupid question.....I just noticed that there is oil leaking out of the stator cover and down the side stand (took it off center stand to move it) and left it over night on the side stand.... Question is should there be oil in the stator? its not a lot of oil but enough to leave a smudge on the garage floor. I am going to check to see if the guy that sells used bike parts has a used stator tomorrow as they were not open today....any ideas on the oil leak???
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O
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Could very well be a "wet" stator. The weep may mean someone has been in there before...
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B
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On closer examination I think you are right as there is silicone around the stator cover as though someone did not have the proper gasket or was trying to stop the oil leak. I plan on taking a closer look tomorrow and will keep all posted as to what I find.
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UPDATE:
I had to wait to get a tool to remove the bell housing off stator, replaced stator, replaced CDI unit, replaced coil, new plugs, battery full charged still no spark at plugs and on top of that no gas in combustion chamber (spark plus are dry) no oil on old stator as I thought might be the problem why no spark. I have raked my brain trying to figure this out even if no spark why NO GAS??? Carbs have gas and cleaned and serviced them before having no spark as well as no gas before servicing them. Compression is at 150 to 180 LBS. the rubber intake manifolds have some damage (Brittle) but still seem to fit snug. I have tried spraying starting fluid into the air cleaner to no avail as no spark. Give me a GOLDWING ANY DAY!! anyone out there with any ideas? As I said before I know this is for GOLDWINGS but I have received a lot of information that could apply to a lot of different bikes..... THANKS EVERYONE
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wpgfire
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Don't know what the pulse generators do on the 450 but I believe on the Goldwing one of the generatorssends a signal to the fuel pump. If the pulse generator don't go then no fuel. Could that be the reason you're not getting fuel? It would also explain no spark since the pulse generators are linked to the coils.
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Thanks, I will check that as I do not know either
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ldsgeek
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With no spark, and having checked the coils and CDI, you need to locate the electronic ignition pickups, also sometimes called pulse units. One or both will likely be bad, an ohm meter should show some resistance but not completely open (infinite) or shorted (0 ohms).
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Thanks, According to the CLYMER HONDA 400-450CC twins 1978-1987 my 1986 450 does not have pulse units but it must have something but I do not know what to look for.
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