ignition diagnosis steps

So I am dealing with an early 86 VFR700 with no spark at the plugs. The bike had extensive work done so its possible I missed something on reassembly.

Could someone suggest a workflow, or sequence of steps, to diagnose ignition problems ?
Starting from basics, like using a known working battery.

Here's what I have done so far:
- charged the battery
- visual check for spark on the rear plugs, with the plug grounded against battery negative post (no spark)
- confirmed resistance of ignition coil primary windings are in the range listed in the FSM (3 ohm)
- checked coil seconday winding + plug caps are within range listed in service manual (18k ohm)
- checked pulse coils & camshaft pickup coil resistances are in range (approx. 500 ohm)
- when the engine kill switch is in "run" position, confirmed ignition coils receive 12V on the black/white wire

So it appears the ignition system is healthy from the passive checks listed in the service manual.
Its possible my visual check for spark wasn't very good. I would prefer to use a spark tester tool, but I can't find one to fit these threaded style spark plugs.

 

I think it would help to describe the scope of the "extensive work".

 

bad c onnections to or bad cdi box ?

 

Here is my list of ignition things to check:

- charge the battery
- check engine kill switch; when the switch is in "run" position the black/white wire to the ignition coils should have 12v
- check for worn spark plugs & measure plug gap (0.8 mm)
- check resistance between spark plug cap and the primary side of the ignition coils (~19k ohm)
- check resistance of the ignition primary winding (~3 ohm)
- check resistance of the engine pulse generator coils (500 ohm)
- check resistance of the cam pulse coil (~500 ohm)
- check ground wire to ECU/CDI box (green wire 6P connector)
- check 12v wire to CDI box (black/white wire 6P connector)
- check for shorted or broken wires between CDI & pulse generator coils (4P connector)
- check for shorted or broken wires between CDI & cam pulse coil (2P connector)
- check for shorted or broken wires between CDI & ignition coils (6P connector)
- measure AC voltage of pulse generator coils while cranking over the engine; it should be approx 1.5 AC volts

 

Any updates?

 

I tested the spark plugs for the front cylinders. It turns out I have spark on #2 cyl but no others. I swapped the #2 spark plug, and then the ignition coil, however still only spark on #2. If I use the AC setting on my multimeter, the #2 coil low side wire reads about 3V when hitting the starter button but the #4 coil reads about 0.3V.
I checked all coils have 12V on the low side when the engine switch is in "run" position.
I next moved around the wiring pins on the 6P connector to the CDI. If I move CDI output for #2 coil to #4 , I get a spark on #4.
So my conclusion is either the pulse coil inputs to the CDI, or the CDI itself has a problem.

 

i had similar on one of my "86 700s, years ago, it quit firing on just one cylinder, so i got cdi box apart to find its potted, no repair possible on circuit board -----@ abt 35,000 miles--- bad box u cant blame honda since they had it supplied by outside vendor---