98 formula III 600 sudden loss of power/no spark - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

tripletriple · 10-04-2008, 09:19 PM

I got my 98 formula III 600 triple out of the trailer today and started it up in preparation of selling it. I was supposed to have some guys come look at it, and i thought i better get it running before they came by. So it fired up, and ran great. i threw some wheels under the skis, and went for a slow cruise for about 100 feet down the driveway and on to the road. then, it just shut off. pulls over fine, has no spark. this happened a few years ago turned out to be the CDI box i believe. What steps should i go through to determine this myself and get it fixed so i can get it sold, and make even less money from selling it?

tripletriple · 10-05-2008, 02:44 PM

OK. i couldnt wait anymore, and i went ahead and removed the cdi box from under the engine. i am assuming this is the problem since it was an immediate shutdown, and not a punch of backfiring and loss of power like a coil or stator would produce. is there anyway to test the cdi box once it is removed from the sled, to see if it is bad or not?? i probably should have waited to take everything out, but my impatience got the best of me. if anyone can help it would be great

JheLrey · 10-06-2008, 08:08 PM

Kill switch off? Key off? Etc... Rare for that to occur like that!

**RJ Gleason** · 10-06-2008, 10:30 PM

Do you have another sled you can test it in?

**smallengineguy** · 10-07-2008, 07:25 AM

It happens. Usually CDI's just go, no warning.

tripletriple · 10-07-2008, 01:35 PM

I made sure to check the key, and kill switch, and still wouldn't start/no spark. I am working on getting another sled to test it on, and also getting another cdi to test, so i can troubleshoot both the sled and the cdi box.

KNECKEL · 10-18-2008, 06:44 PM

I Had That Happen Last March And I Thought I Ran Outta Gas On The New Rebuild But The Stator Went And I Bought Another And It Ran Again And Then Went Out Again In The Same Spot No Less But I Am Almost Positive That Will Fix It And They Cost About 70dollars At The Salvage Yard

tripletriple · 11-10-2008, 09:27 PM

well i got the new cdi box in, and now the dess light is flashing. so i am assuming i have to go get the dess key re flashed for the new cdi box???