i was so ready to tear into the pulse generator too! How many steps ago did you know it was the spark unit?! 😂

 

I wonder if I have to use a used spark unit or if someone makes an aftermarket one. I assume I can’t fix it myself or with a little help from my friends. Time to do some digging around. I want to thank you again for all of your help, time, patience and teaching me some things …Ok, a lot of things! I don’t know if the bike being laid down on that same side would have damaged the spark unit, but there are a couple spots where the metal is flat when it shouldn’t be.

 

00.3 green wire to ground
mall connectors are clean and tight fitting

what is this 3 wire thing behind the spark unit?

 

That's flasher-relay for winkers. With it disconnected, using winkers shows no lights right?

 

I suspected it when reading rlnelson5's post about fuel-pump issues. But couldn't rule out wiring or pulse-generators as contributors. Apparently, '87 Spark Units were more reliable as you never hear reports of those going bad. This '88 coincided with World-wide issue with massive batch of defective electrolytic capacitors being sent to market. Affected everything from phones to computers, to stereo systems to auto/moto ECUs.

I've thought about replacing these old Spark Units with modern ignitors from Accel or Delco, but there needs to be more logic and memory involved to generate 2D ignition curve.

Here's likely replacement: https://www.ebay.com/itm/185253637346

Once confirmed running, you can crack open old unit to see what's wrong. Probably bloated, leaking and busted-open capacitors.

 

Do you know/think I would benefit from finding a unit that specifically states it is from an 87 as opposed to one that indicates 88?

 

Yeah, good idea on looking for '87. Although by this time, any '88 unit that's going to fail will probably have done so. Any '88 unit you get will most likely be fine. Most of these vendors will give you 30-day warranty to try it out. Might even be able to repair original one by then to have spare.

1987-88 Spark Unit = 30400-MM5-006

 

@dannoxyz you did it!!!! Thanks for the guidance and making me do all this testing!

you are an electrical genius!

https://youtube.com/shorts/E5y-4VGvXpI?feature=share

 

Woohoo!!! You did amazing work with all this troubleshooting using remote instructions!

So incredible with being able to track it down to single bad component! No mass shotgunning of parts needed!!! Feels awesome to bring back these classic bikes!