HOW TO: fix a quad/atv/pitbike that has no spark

Summary

In this video, the creator shares their journey of learning to rewire a Chinese quad, initially intimidating but simplified after watching tutorials and studying diagrams. They detail the process of setting up a basic spark circuit for motorcycles, explaining the function of each component and the color-coded wiring. The video guides viewers through assembling the circuit, testing for spark, and troubleshooting common issues without a kill switch or charging system. The creator also hints at future projects, including building a custom 'cross cart' and expanding their business, Columbia Customs.

Takeaways

• 🚀 The creator is starting a business called 'Columbia Customs' and will share more details later.
• 🔌 The video focuses on rewiring a Chinese quad, which the creator initially found intimidating but has since mastered.
• 🛠️ To simplify the wiring process, the creator suggests cutting components from the original wiring harness and using color-coded wires for clarity.
• 🔧 Basic tools needed for the rewiring process include wire cutting pliers, heat shrink wrap, a soldering iron, and solder.
• ⚙️ The video explains the essential components for a basic spark circuit: CDI, connectors, and a spark coil.
• 🔥 A safety warning is given not to ride the quad without a kill switch, as it could be dangerous.
• 🛠️ The video demonstrates how to connect the engine wires to the CDI and the spark coil, emphasizing the importance of correct pin connections.
• 🔍 Troubleshooting tips are provided for testing the spark plug, coil, and CDI using a digital multimeter.
• 🏁 The creator mentions that the demonstrated setup is not final and lacks a kill switch and charging system.
• 🔄 The video concludes with plans for future videos on more advanced wiring topics, including kill switches and charging systems.
• 🏍️ The creator also discusses an upcoming project involving a cross cart made from a 1984 250r two-stroke motor and an ATC three-wheeler.

Q & A

What is the name of the business the speaker is starting?

The name of the business the speaker is starting is 'Columbia Customs'.

What is the main focus of the video?

The main focus of the video is rewiring a small Chinese quad, specifically by simplifying the wiring process and explaining the basic spark circuit.

Why did the speaker initially find wiring intimidating?

The speaker initially found wiring intimidating because it was complex and required understanding of the connections, which they initially didn't want to deal with, opting to pay someone else to do it.

What are the essential components needed for the basic spark circuit?

The essential components needed for the basic spark circuit are the CDI, connectors, spark coil, and the wires from the wiring harness, which can be recycled and color-coded.

What tools are necessary to put together the basic spark circuit?

The necessary tools to put together the basic spark circuit include wire cutting pliers, heat shrink wrap, a soldering iron, and solder.

What is the purpose of the CDI in the wiring process?

The CDI (Capacitor Discharge Ignition) is in control of the spark, managing the spark timing and providing the spark to the spark plug.

How does the speaker test for spark when there is no kickstart motor?

The speaker tests for spark by attaching the spark plug to the coil, ensuring the plug touches a metal part of the engine head, and then turning the motor over to look for a spark at the plug gap.

What is the first thing the speaker suggests checking if there is no spark?

If there is no spark, the speaker suggests first checking the spark plug, then working back to the CDI and eventually the engine.

What additional components does the speaker mention will be covered in future videos?

The speaker mentions that future videos will cover building a kill switch, hooking up a possible key start, push button start, and setting up a charging system.

What is the speaker's plan for the 1984 250r two-stroke motor?

The speaker plans to use the 1984 250r two-stroke motor in a cross cart project, combining it with a frame from a three-wheeled ATC, adding a roll cage, and modifying the exhaust.

How can viewers stay updated on the speaker's projects and business?

Viewers can stay updated on the speaker's projects and business by following the official Instagram account mentioned in the video.

Outlines

00:00

🔌 Wiring a Chinese Quad: Basics and Tips

The speaker introduces their new venture, Columbia Customs, and shifts focus to rewiring a Chinese quad. Initially intimidated by wiring, they educate themselves through YouTube videos and diagrams. They aim to simplify the process for viewers, explaining that understanding the function of each component is key. The video covers the essentials of rewiring for both kickstart and electric start engines, emphasizing the simplicity of wiring once the components and their connections are known. The speaker demonstrates how to remove the plastics and expose the wiring harness for easier work, outlining the necessary components for a basic spark circuit: CDI, connectors, and a spark coil. They also discuss the tools required, such as wire cutting pliers, heat shrink wrap, a soldering iron, and solder. A warning is given about the dangers of not having a kill switch, advising viewers not to ride the vehicle in its current state.

05:00

🛠️ Building the Spark Circuit and Testing

The speaker proceeds to construct the basic spark circuit, detailing the connections between the engine, CDI, and spark plug coil. They emphasize the importance of color-coding wires for simplicity and safety. A kill switch is mentioned as an optional component. The speaker demonstrates how to test for spark by removing the spark plug and attaching it to the coil, then kicking the engine over to observe the spark. They also guide viewers on how to use a digital multimeter to test the spark plug, coils, and CDI for proper function. Troubleshooting tips are provided, such as checking connections and ensuring the engine's ground is properly connected. The speaker reiterates that the setup shown is not final and lacks certain features like a kill switch and charging system, which are crucial for electric start motors.

10:02

🏁 Future Plans and Closing Thoughts

The speaker concludes by reiterating that the wiring setup demonstrated is a basic starting point and not the final configuration. They mention the need for a kill switch, key start, push-button start, and a charging system in a complete setup. The speaker shares their plans to create a cross cart using a 1984 250R two-stroke motor from a three-wheeled Honda ATC, outlining their approach to combining two frames and budget constraints. They express gratitude for the opportunity to work on such projects and encourage viewers to follow their social media for updates and additional content. The speaker also invites viewers to ask questions or provide insights, particularly regarding the CDI's function, which they admit to not fully understanding. They commit to sharing more tips and tricks as they learn and work on their business.

Keywords

💡Wiring Harness

A wiring harness is a collection of wires and cables that transmit electrical signals and power from one part of a system to another. In the context of the video, the wiring harness is part of a Chinese quad bike that needs to be rewired. The script mentions that the original wiring was 'an absolute mess,' indicating the complexity and disorganization of the original setup. The video aims to simplify this by explaining how to create a more organized and functional wiring system.

💡CDI

CDI stands for Capacitor Discharge Ignition, which is an electronic system used in internal combustion engines to provide the spark needed for ignition. The video script discusses the role of the CDI in controlling the spark timing and how it connects with the engine's wires. It is a crucial component in the rewiring process as it determines the timing of the spark that ignites the fuel-air mixture in the engine's cylinders.

💡Spark Coil

A spark coil is an electrical component that transforms low-voltage current into high-voltage current to create a spark in the spark plug. In the video, the spark coil is highlighted as the device that 'actually provides the spark to the spark plug.' It is a key part of the rewiring process as it ensures the engine can ignite the fuel-air mixture, which is essential for the engine to run.

💡Solenoid

A solenoid is an electromechanical device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. In the context of the video, the solenoid is mentioned as an additional component for electric start systems. It is used to engage the starter motor, which then turns the engine over to initiate the starting process. The video suggests adding a solenoid for electric start functionality.

💡Kickstart

A kickstart is a manual mechanism used to start an engine by using the operator's foot to rotate the engine. The video script refers to the possibility of having 'kickstart electric start or both,' indicating that the rewiring process can accommodate different starting methods. The kickstart is a traditional way of starting engines, especially in motorcycles and some small engines.

💡Electric Start

Electric start refers to the use of an electric motor to start an engine, eliminating the need for a manual kickstart. The script mentions electric start as an option for the rewiring process, which would involve connecting the electric start system to the engine. This is a modern convenience feature that simplifies the starting process for the user.

💡Heat Shrink Wrap

Heat shrink wrap is a plastic tube that, when heated, shrinks tightly around an object to provide insulation and protection. In the video, heat shrink wrap is listed as one of the tools needed to put the wiring system together. It is used to insulate connections and protect them from the elements, ensuring a safe and reliable electrical connection.

💡Soldering Iron

A soldering iron is a tool used to melt solder and join metal parts, creating a strong electrical connection. The script includes a soldering iron in the list of tools needed for the rewiring process. It is used to create secure and reliable electrical connections between wires and components, which is essential for the proper functioning of the electrical system.

💡Multimeter

A multimeter is a test instrument that measures electrical properties such as voltage, current, and resistance. In the video, a multimeter is used to test the individual components of the wiring system, such as the spark plug and the CDI. It is an essential tool for troubleshooting and ensuring that each part of the electrical system is functioning correctly.

💡Ground

In the context of electrical systems, a ground is a common reference point for electrical potential. The video script mentions grounding as part of the rewiring process, where the green wire from the engine is connected to the CDI and the spark coil. Proper grounding is crucial for the safe operation of the electrical system, as it provides a path for excess current to be safely discharged.

💡Kill Switch

A kill switch is a safety device that allows the operator to quickly shut off the power to a system. The video script mentions the addition of a kill switch as an optional component in the rewiring process. It is an important safety feature that can prevent accidents by allowing the operator to immediately stop the engine in case of an emergency.

Highlights

The speaker is starting a business called Columbia Customs and will provide more information later.

The focus is on rewiring a Chinese quad, which the speaker initially found intimidating.

After watching YouTube videos and studying wiring diagrams, the speaker gained understanding and aims to simplify the process for viewers.

The typical wiring harness is messy, especially when components are missing or unclear which plugs go where.

Wiring is simpler than it seems; understanding the components' functions is key, regardless of whether the engine is kickstart, electric start, or both.

The speaker will demonstrate how to wire a basic spark circuit, which is essential for engine operation.

To start, all plastics are removed for better visibility and access to the wiring harness.

The speaker lists the components needed for the basic spark circuit: CDI, connectors, spark coil, and wires from the existing harness.

Tools required for the wiring process include wire cutting pliers, heat shrink wrap, a soldering iron, and solder.

The basic circuit does not include a kill switch and is only for testing if the engine will run; it's not safe to ride without one.

The speaker explains the function of each wire connected to the CDI and how to identify them by color and purpose.

A diagram is provided to illustrate the basic spark circuit, showing connections from the engine to the CDI and coil.

The speaker advises on the importance of proper grounding and avoiding sparks near gasoline vapors for safety.

Testing for spark involves removing the spark plug, connecting it to the coil, and kicking the engine over to check for a spark.

If no spark is detected, the speaker suggests testing each component starting with the spark plug and working back to the CDI and engine.

A digital multimeter is used to test for spark, coil function, and CDI resistance, with specific settings for each test.

The speaker emphasizes that the demonstrated setup is not final due to the lack of a kill switch and charging system.

Future videos will cover building a kill switch, key start, push button start, and setting up a charging system.

The speaker plans to combine a 1984 250R two-stroke motor with a three-wheeled ATC frame, creating a unique vehicle.

The speaker invites viewers to follow their social media for more frequent updates and shorter videos on various projects.

The speaker acknowledges the learning process and invites questions and comments for further discussion on the topic.

Transcripts

hmm

oh sorry i was too busy not making

videos to see you there

long story short i'll start a business

finally

i'm calling it columbia customs i'll

give you all some more information on

that later

but for right now we're going to focus

on rewiring this little chinese quad

now originally wiring was really

intimidating

and i honestly paid someone to do it i

just didn't want to have to deal with it

but after watching a lot of youtube

videos and looking at a few wiring

diagrams i finally figured it out and

i'm going to try and give you guys the

most clear and concise version of it

possible

the typical wiring harness is an

absolute mess

mostly just because they're made to plug

in but when you're missing components

and you don't know what plugs into which

it's a lot harder to figure out in

reality wiring is a lot more simple than

that you just need to know what does

what

depending if you have kickstart electric

start or both

there will be one to two circuits in

this entire thing this will work no

matter if your engine's kickstart

or electric start if it's electric start

only or you just want to use electric

start

it's a matter of adding this little

solenoid first thing i'm going to do

is take all the plastics off and get all

the wiring harness out it's a lot easier

to work on one of these things if you

can actually see all of it at once

[Music]

pretty much everything's off i just need

to take off the switches on the

handlebars

[Music]

[Music]

so

now i'm going to show you guys the

components you need for the basic spark

circuit

the easiest way to set this all up is to

cut these components

off this massive jangled mess of a

wiring harness and lay them out what

you're going to need are

the cdi and the connectors

and your spark coil

along with this you can recycle the

wires from your wiring harness

and keep everything color coded it's a

lot more simple that way

in terms of tools you're going to need

to put this all together

a pair of wire cutting pliers some heat

shrink wrap

soldering iron and solder

just to be clear this is the most simple

circuit it doesn't have a kill switch

this is just to see if your engine is

going to run don't ride it this way or

you might kill someone

and i don't want to get sued

while everything is disconnected i'm

just going to really quick explain what

everything does

so the cdi is in control of your spark

wires coming out of our engine this is

the wire that provides the spark red and

black the spark timing

is blue and white the white and yellow

are 12 volt

so this is your ac current that goes to

the rectifier and then the green one is

your ground

the spark coil is what actually provides

the spark to the spark plug

i'm going to explain the wiring for the

cdi in terms of location of the pin

because not all of these will have the

same colors and the setup

just so that it's more clear so from the

top left of your cdi

connects up with the blue and white

coming from your engine

the bottom right connects up to the red

and black coming from your engine

and then the bottom left the green

connects to the green

coming from your engine and then out of

that

you're going to connect up this green

cable to these two green cables

and then the top left the black and

yellow is going to get connected up to

the black and yellow

on the coil all right so this is a

diagram of the very basic spark circuit

i drew up

coming out of your engine you have your

black and red

which goes to your cdi you have your

blue and white

which goes to your cdi and you have your

ground which goes to your cdi

then you have your two 12 volt leads

we're not worrying about this right now

because this is for lights and a

charging system

and if you have a kickstart motor you're

not gonna have to worry about that

then coming out of the cdi

you have your black and yellow which

goes to the spark plug coil

and also a connection of the ground

which goes to the ground on the spark

plug coil

which then goes to your spark plug so a

quick

key to this if you can actually read my

handwriting

i'm gonna connect it all up

[Music]

all right so i don't have anything

soldered yet but here's your basic

circuit

red and black from your engine goes to

the bottom right

of the cdi your blue and white from the

engine

goes to the top left of the cdi your

ground and green from the engine

go to the bottom left of the cdi

um and then that ground also connects up

with the ground or green coming off of

your coil and then besides that you have

this little kill switch

which is optional there's other ways to

set up a kill switch so you don't have

to have that connected necessarily

these especially if you're trying to

start up the engine have them

disconnected

because they will they're the amount of

power that comes out of them they will

create an arc

and if you have gas lying around and gas

vapors that's going to be you know

[Music]

explosive

if you have a kickstart motor you should

be ready to test spark

to do this take out your spark plug

pretty sure this one's junk

but we're just going to use it for

demonstration purposes

plug it into your coil make sure your

spark plug

is touching a bolt or uh exposed metal

on the head for a decent crown

and then kick it over and look for a

spark

in that gap right there however

i don't have a kickstart motor so i'm

gonna have to set up the electrical

attach the other ground on the coil to

the frame make sure everything else is

connected

no leads are touching

so let's say you set this all up and

you're still not getting any spark

what we're going to do is really quick

go through and test all the individual

components

starting from the spark plug and working

our way back to the cdi and eventually

the engine

the only thing you're going to need to

test all this is a digital multimeter

first to test for spark

set it to 20 volts dc unplug your spark

plug

take the negative black lead

and make sure it touches the little

piece of metal that's in the back of

there

and then take your other one and make it

touch ground

once you're holding everything in place

turn the motor over and you should see

a massive jump in power

just like so you do that and it's still

not working it's not showing any power

on the multimeter

next step is we're going to be testing

the coils

now to do this go to the connection we

just made and do the same thing put the

black

on the oak connection on the black wire

and put the red on the open connection

on the green wire

turn it over if there's still no spark

it could be the cdi

to test this blue wire we're actually

going to switch

the multimeter to resistance

which is ohms this weird little symbol

right here

switch it to some absurdly high number

attach one lead

to the blue wire that's the other

to the ground on the engine this is a

lot easier to do with more than one

person but if you can get it all

once it's all in position turn the

engine over

and you should see a res change and

resistance

so the reason you test this one with

ohms is because this is the spark plug

signal

so as a little magnet goes around in

here each time it passes it

it actually disconnects it which then

lets the cdi know okay it's time to

spark

so let's say that's working but you're

still not getting any spark

move on to your black and red for black

and red

we're going to go back to current

same thing make sure the lead has a

solid connection

and make sure it's grounded before you

turn it over

that you have it held here hands-free

because if you're touching this

and some part of the frame it'll give

you a good shock

all right go through turn the motor over

and you should see a difference in

current

if both of those are working and you're

still not getting spark

go over all your connections once again

and then the problem is most likely the

cdi

the other possibility could be that this

ground

which comes out of the motor is not

properly grounded in there or not

properly actually touching the base of

the

block or the engine block all right let

me reiterate

that is not the final uh setup you

should use in terms of wiring because

there's no kill switch

there's also no charging system so if

you're running a electric start motor

your battery will eventually die unless

you get something like a six dollar

battery float charger from harbor

freight or whatever um

i'll do more videos updating on the rest

of it so

building a kill switch hooking up

possible key start

and push button start and then the

setting up a charging system which is

all pretty simple

it's just i didn't have time to put it

through this video i want to get it out

quick so i can

continue getting back to work and

pushing out these projects so i can make

some money to put into

wait for it the cross cart

i was blessed

this 1984 250r two-stroke motor

pulled right out of the sketchiest

vehicle honda ever made

the three wheeled death machine atc

i'm going to be frankensteining these

two frames together

basically chopping off the top adding

some kind of roll cage etc

having the exhaust come out the back

unfortunately not

independent rear suspension just because

control arms are very expensive and i

don't have all the materials or money

for that right now and i'm trying to do

this on a budget

but that's for another video let me know

if this helped you at all

um it took me a while to actually learn

what everything did

and i still don't fully understand

exactly what the cdi does i know the

role it plays but i don't know how it

does it and it's nice to know

so if anyone does know please leave it

down in the comments

or any questions you have leave them

down in the comments and i'll do my best

to answer them but for now

be sure to follow the official regarding

kid instagram account for all the

updates

i post a lot more on there than i do on

here

i'll also try and do little videos and

shorts on stuff like this

just wiring up speakers to some

handlebars

and putting it on my good friend's mini

bike with the

initial start and expansion of my

business i'm able to do a lot more and

have a lot more access to different

stuff

so i'll be learning a lot i'll be sure

to share any tips and tricks

with you guys as long as i don't forget

to make videos