How can I easily test the coil on a Yamaha "zuma"?

[Weeze]

got a older Yamaha zuma that I bought a few years ago with super[240} miles on it. It was some Ferrari Racing Club guy who only used it as a "pit" bike".
 at first I thought it might just be the plug. got a new plug, layed it out so I could watch it and turn the engine over and I get no spark so Ive eliminated bad plug as a problem. fact that the electric start, lights, gauges all work eliminates the fuse from having any problems. next in line would be the coil.
 isn't there a tool you can stick in the sparkplug connector that flashs or something?
any way to simulate that? you know hook a wire on and set some sort of bulbs in there? of course I think the amps would blow any bulb right?
 Im trying to not have to take it to the shop. Im thinking its the coil but that's what makes me a "parts changer" instead of a actual mechanic. I mean most people can "guess whats wrong and keep buying new parts until you figger it out. not the way to go, Im trying to determine if the coil is sending any juice or not?
 NO IM NOT GONNA HOLD THE PLUG WIRE AND TURN IT OVER> learned that the hard way on a Datsun Fairlady plugwire when I was in my 20s, I think my bones are STILL rattlin'!

[Weeze]

oh crap, I just remembered Ive got a timing light left over from my younger days! lets see if I hook that up , run to the battery, turn it over I should get the strobe shouldn't I ? that is if the coil IS ok.....

[FUNWIZ]

To test the coil, unplug the spark wire and insert an insulated Philips screw driver inside, holding the screwdriver with gloves away from your body, put the shaft within an inch of the frame, then turn over the motor. It should spark. There is also a tiny black electronic ignition box that could be bad, usually under the seat area, it's 2"x4".

[Weeze]

ok good to know. ive laid the plug out while cranking the engine and I cant see any spark, but then again its brite in the garage and my eyes aren't the best.
 so Im gonna hoop up the timing light see if it strobes. if not then Im either at the coil or the blackbox for the ignition altho that I doubt since the electric starter runs just fine so the "ONLY" thing that the whole bike doesn't seem to want to light up or react to electricity is the plug.....Im gonna try and get it tomorrow after I go to the range and shoot holes in targets which I try to do every other Friday with a couple of neighbors. I will probably try and see if I can get it to "arc" like you advised. should've thought of that myself actually but the older I get the more D"OH"s I seem to have
thanks dude!

[FUNWIZ]

You can lay out the plug like that, just remember the outside casing of the plug has to be grounded to the motor.

[Weeze]

ok so I finally got a few minutes to test this out and lo and behold, lots of spark.
 so,,,,,,,,we have spark, we have air obviously all we need now is it to go bang and blow up the gas.
 drained the gas last month and put in fresh.
 I guess the next thing to investigate would be the fuel line, I guess disconnect it right in front of the carb and see its its plugged  mabe give that gas line a blow job, there I said it!
 freaking shit to do, shit to do, shit to do, ............."Oh your gonna love retirement, do what you want, lots of time to do all the things you've wanted to do,etc".......................ah bullshit, theyre isn't enuff hours in the day!

[FUNWIZ]

Its probably the carb, our gas destroys them. Sometimes searching ebay, you can find a new replacement for under 25 bucks. You can't beat that, ordering parts, time involved in cleaning, it's used and still don't run right, not worth the trouble.  Remember to add SeaFoam fuel stabilizer with every tank, no more problems.

[Weeze]

well, what we should ALL be doing is hitting the "no alcohol" gas stations and using no alcohol gas in all things!
 Im glad the gubment actually tried the ethanol thing, really, I do appreciate that they at least tried. But its damaging and has cost the consumers billions of dollars in destroyed power tools, boat gas tanks, and everything else it is used in. we tried it, it was a good try, but its a failure.
so, anyway , gotta find my way to the carb and that choke, that froze up on me once before.
 Ill get it, just as soon as I get the freaking time to actually get in there and do it.
 

[ratsflif]

If it has been sitting then you're just going to have to do a full carb clean no other way around it.

[Rich Jax]

In addition to the cleaning/rebuilding the carb, you should also flush the fuel tank and petcock as well as changing your fuel filter and fuel lines. 

You need to get all of the gummed up old gas out of your entire fuel system or you will keep clogging the jets on your carb.

[Rich Jax]

Plus...if it is a 2 stroke, make sure your airbox is properly attached with the right filter in it and the gas/oil and air/fuel screws on the carb are adjusted correctly. 

You need the proper restriction from the air filter/air filter box to adjust the lean/rich mix right and you will seize the motor if the gas/oil mix is too low.  Too high and it will be blowing a LOT of smoke.