Turns over but no start, now what?

[Lonesome7.3]

My 1989 Yamaha Pro-Hauler quad is giving me some trouble. It has been hard to start for a while. It use to start very easy. I would just bump the button and it would start right up. Even when it was cold or had not been run in a while I could trust it to start right up. I have charged the battery, cleaned the carb, tank, air box, and filter. I even changed the fluids while I was at it. This thing would start on staring fluid but that does no good now either. Now it just turns over and nothing more. I just checked for spark but nothing. I thought the plug might be bad but the spark tester I used did not light up either. So I am guessing it is the coil. Oh, I did check the fuse and it is good. I cannot throw parts at this thing right now so what else should I check? How do I check the coil? Is it possible the plug wire is bad?

 

[Boilerup15]

You're going to need a multimeter to check the coil. You want to make sure it is putting out enough volts when you try to crank the quad over. I think it should be somewhere around 7-8 volts. You should probably check to make sure you are getting voltage through your spark plug wire first though, I'm guessing somewhere around 7K ohms per foot of cable.

 

[Lonesome7.3]

I was just about to put my meter on it. I have been searching the interweb looking for the specs. Sometimes, it is not fun owning a rare vehilce of any kind.

 

[Black02Silverado]

Does it have a safety switch? That might have gone bad.

 

[Lonesome7.3]

No safety switch on this one.

 

[txab]

Check for ignition wires that might be grounding. Check the start/kill switch

 

[Lonesome7.3]

I will give that a shot shortly.

 

[Lonesome7.3]

Update:
I cleaned the kill switch and now there is spark. However, it still just turns over and not start. It sounded like it tried a couple times but not by much. So, if it is still an electrical issue what could it be? How do I know if the spark is weak? I have not yet ruled out a mechanical issue yet. I will check the valve adjustment next. If that does not do it I cannot help but think it is a fuel issue. Which annoys me because I have already gone through the fuel system. However, something could have been stuck some where and decided to come lose after I put it all back together. Any thoughts?

 

[Lonesome7.3]

So, I decided to pull the carb and check it. I found a build up of crap inside. I must have gotten some bad gads at some point. When I pulled it apart I found a clogged pilot jet. I tore the rest of it down and got it so clean it looked like a new carb inside and out. I re-installed it and the same thing. It juts turned over and no start. I shot some starting fluid and it started right up. Once I got the idle set it stayed running. My problem is I still need starting fluid to start this thing. I guess tomorrow I am on to the valves.

 

[Black02Silverado]

At least you got it running. That's a start.