Eldovert no spark

[lazlokovacs]

hi everyone,

Was riding the late, great Mike Tiberio's fantastic eldovert today and after about 10 minutes of riding, I lost all locomotion.

Battery has plenty of juice, there is fuel, the distributor rotor looks good and the points are opening and closing as per normal. (single set of points on this bike)

But no spark on either cylinder.

I'm guessing the coil has died and will replace it in due course.

Have been riding the bike daily with zero problems for some time so might have expected the coil to give me some weirdness and warning prior to letting go though.

Any other theories, or things to check welcome in the meantime.

Ride safe out there

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Check for power to the + side of the coil. If no power, then check the fuse (inside the headlight, if Mike didn't move the fuseblock).

The points may be opening and closing, but is the gap correct and are the contacts clean?

If a tachometer is fitted, it may be grounding out internally. Disconnect the black wire from the tach.

Condensers can fail, but usually not all of the sudden.

[lazlokovacs]

thanks charlie

most of mike's modifications were made with ease of maintenance in mind

eg no fuse block and no tachometer

Just removed the coil and it's getting 12v allright. Also tried grounding the main HT lead from the coil to see if there was a spark so I think that rules out the distributor, but ready to stand corrected.

Looks like I'm just waiting on the postman now.

I'm betting a new coil and she'll fire right up.

Bike is currently my only vehicle, feels like being 15 again having no transport.

Well, I have my pushbike

Thanks again. 

[Moparnut72]

Even though I have a PU this is the main reason I have two bikes. No telling how long I may have to wait for a part especially in August.
kk

[nc43bsa]

I had a GM HEI coil fail suddenly with no prior symptoms.  I left the car running while I went back into the house for something and it quit while I was inside.

Coil failures happen.  Infrequently, fortunately.

[Kiwi_Roy]

An Eldovert, I can't see that in the wiring diagrams.
Eldorado?
or
Convert?
Roy

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

An Eldovert, I can't see that in the wiring diagrams.
Eldorado?
or
Convert?
Roy

Convert drivetrain in an Eldorado chassis. Built by the late Mike Tiberio.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Thanks Charlie Ill pick the Convert wiring then
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/guzzi007/schematics/1975_Convert_USA_police.gif
This schematic shows 2 sets of points but could easily be a single set with distributor.
A small lamp say 5 watt should light when connected between one of the points terminals and chassis as the motor is turned over slowly past TDC
I had to replace both coils on my 76 Convert with a pair of Harley coils.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Thanks Charlie Ill pick the Convert wiring then
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/guzzi007/schematics/1975_Convert_USA_police.gif
This schematic shows 2 sets of points but could easily be a single set with distributor.
A small lamp say 5 watt should light when connected between one of the points terminals and chassis as the motor is turned over slowly past TDC
I had to replace both coils on my 76 Convert with a pair of Harley coils.

Wiring is Eldorado, with modifications made by Mike.

[lazlokovacs]

Mike's wiring is absolutely minimal, kind of like an old 60s brit bike.

If I ever get to drawing it out I'll be sure to post it here, probably the most pared back wiring loom on any guzzi out there

Anyway,

New coil and she fired right up, then ran rough and died further down the road.

As much as I mistrust the new ones, a condensor is on it's way

(and a new set of points)

Will keep you all in the loop

[DoubleGuzzi]

Will keep you all in the loop

No pun intended? 

[Frenchfrog]

Mike's wiring is absolutely minimal, kind of like an old 60s brit bike.

If I ever get to drawing it out I'll be sure to post it here, probably the most pared back wiring loom on any guzzi out there

Anyway,

New coil and she fired right up, then ran rough and died further down the road.

As much as I mistrust the new ones, a condensor is on it's way

(and a new set of points)

Will keep you all in the loop

over on our side of the pond the condensor issue has only been sorted out by these devices....several variations on it from different manufacturers but I think they are all essentially the same. https://hmb-moto.de/Capacitor-module-V7-models-V7-Special-850-GT-etc