No spark....Resolved!

[JDT]

The black and white wire is the way you shut off the engine's ignition.

The key switch and/or kill switch will break the a connection to ground that will stop spark when the white wire is connected to ground.

From what you have stated I would say you either have a bad key switch or the wires are not on the correct terminals on the switch.
Or....
If the black wire on the CDI is connected to ground you will always have spark. It has to open to stop spark.

[orourkean]

Thanks Todd I will double check this tomorrow.

Would disconnecting the plug from the back of the ignition switch break my connection to ground?

[harleysportster]

Disconnecting the switch removes the ground wire from the circuit. I'll try and get some pictures of the correct wiring.

[harleysportster]

Back in 1977 there was an improvement made to the wire harness. This change was basicly wiring the black wire from the CDI box directly to the white wire coming from the back of the ignition switch, by-passing all the junction points starting at the main engine connector and the terminal board on right side. I took a picture of the back of my ignition switch for the proper placement of the wires. I have electric start, that is why there are more wires than yours. I also have another picture of the black wire from the cdi box.

[JDT]

Yes, there was an issue with corrssion on the blk/wht connection on the terminal strip which lead to a non-grounded CDI box and hence no spark.

Making the conenction direct eliminated this problem.
But you still have the key switch, the kill switch and the teather switch(on some sleds) to deal with.

Your heading in the right direction.

[harleysportster]

The black and white wire is the way you shut off the engine's ignition.

The key switch and/or kill switch will break the a connection to ground that will stop spark when the white wire is connected to ground.

From what you have stated I would say you either have a bad key switch or the wires are not on the correct terminals on the switch.
Or....
If the black wire on the CDI is connected to ground you will always have spark. It has to open to stop spark.

Todd,
You thoughts are backwards on this. The ignition will fire as long as the black wire from the CDI box is NOT grounded out. All the switches, the ignition and the kill switch are normally open and ground out the igintion when turned to off or pushed in.

[JDT]

Harley has reminded me I am getting old.

Yes, this is a open system as he stated.

Maybe I need to add some ginko to my high fiber diet.

[harleysportster]

Harley has reminded me I am getting old.

Yes, this is a open system as he stated.

Maybe I need to add some ginko to my high fiber diet.

I know you knew better, your just have a senior moment...

[orourkean]

thanks guys this will be very helpful when I start chasing where my connection is broken er...or not broken.

[harleysportster]

Catch up with us in the chat room.

[JDT]

Harley those are happening more and more these days.

Went to the store yesterday and forgot why I was there.

So I bought milk and bread.

I have three loaves on the counter now.

[orourkean]

Ok......so I figured it out. After a very lengthy discussion with Harley last night we decided somewhere I did not have a ground hooked up or a ground that was broken. Sure enough, after a look at my ground at the "engine coupler" I determined that hey maybe that should be hooked up to something. Referring back to my diagram it showed it going to a symbol that I am not familiar with. A quick google search revealed that this is a "common ground". Spliced a wire to my black at the "engine coupler" then grounded it at the engine gave me a spark with the key on and no spark with the key off. Thanks guys for your help!

[harleysportster]

Great diagnostics, I knew you would find it.

[JDT]

Grounds, grounds, grounds.

Bite a guy in the rump way too often.