cdi box..anyone anyone

Ok i'm still at it. and still havent gotten her started yet. FINALLY started to focus on engine, checking for spark and found that the pulse generators on my 87 were bad. well thanks to toecutter got a new one and they are now within specs. well i went to check spark again, and i am getting a small thin spark(weak), not the THICK BOLD spark i am expecting on all four plugs. battery is full charged, so ruled that out. i am thinking my CDI box is bad UNLESS the spark isnt supposed to be as thick as i am expecting. i checked a youtube video out and spark on there seems to match mines and he said, spark was good. so i'm kind confused. before i go and invest in cdi box wondering if i should expect THICKER spark on all four...i'll be checking compression this weekend and post results.

And does anyone have a CDI BOX they are willing to part with for something LESS than my right arm?

 

I can't remember if the '86 boxes were the same as the '87 due to the tach difference and the cam pickups but there are some '86 boxes up on the feebay right now at fairly reasonable prices.

 

Dukie, in your experience, could it be the cdi box...i know there is no definitive way of testing without tester outside of a new one. but would that thinner spark be an indication of issue.

 

If you are getting a spark I don't think the box is your problem, I would be looking more at the coils and caps, look to sse if you could trim 1/4" off the end of your HT wire at the spark plug end.
How old are your spark plugs?

 

I agree, trim a bit off the ht leads, on both ends if you can. also check the resistor caps, i think they should be around 5-10k ohms. 90% of the time it's just bad connections where the wires thread into the caps or once in awhile the coils. sometimes old plugs just give weak sparks.

 

spark plugs are all new. coils are within spec as well.

Okay i'll try to trim the HT wire a bit...1/4 inch it is.