Setting Ignition Timing With a Strobe Light

[Lynx]

Hi guys,

Today's question is when using a strobe light, what revs and timing marks should I use.

Regards
Steve

[Lobo]

From a 400F maintenance manual.
Hope it helps,
Simon

[Bryanj]

A strobe IS ONLY USED for checking the advance mechanism NOT for setting the timing

[Piki]

STROBE is good for  checking the advance and for "FIRE TIME" adjust, you can do both, "Timming and Advance".
Best Regards.

[Lynx]

Thanks for the instructions.
I always though setting with a strobe was MORE accurate than setting static as it is more real world, setting on a running engine. You can see when the spark plug actually gets the signal.

[Piki]

Yes, I just upload one PDF about it, look my last post!!!
Sorry for my English.

[Lynx]

Hi Piki,

Where is the PDF?

[Piki]

Is a Post called HONDA FOUR SERVICE in MISC/OPEN.

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

Bryan,
If like me you in previous years attended a Honda course was your course different to mine.The Honda training guys showed us on the course that using a strobe light was the best way of doing it For all Honda bikes so I don't know where you get your ideas from can you explain more for me as I am trying to remember all I was taught?I know about the dwell etc but for years have I practiced something the manufacture taught me and now is wrong.
Cheers
Bitsa

[Bryanj]

I did the training in the 70's and was told to set the gap with feelers, the timing static with a bulb and then check the advancer with a strobe BUT you had to be good with feelers to get the gap right (and have a set with a 14thou one!) have patience and practice to get gap and timing right at the same time and to be honest unless a problem was reported by the customer rarely bothered to use a strobe as it took too long to set up the Honda box!--likewise the dwell box

i always found that the advancer started opening very early so using a strobe set the timing advanced but still in the marks on full advance.

You have to remember I was apprenticed in 69 and brought up on old Fords to the extent that i proved to an apprentice in the 80's who tried to tell me it was impossible to set points and timing without a dwell box and a strobe that i could do an essex v6 (capri 3.0) in half the time it took him and get better results.

A dwell box and strobe may well be easier for someone who does not do the job often but seems like witchcraft to this old timer mate

[Piki]

I have the "Honda Box" and 10 Minute is enought for a Perfect Tune-up.

[fisjon]

I used to find that my CB750 K1 was a bugger to time up.

The only way I could get the ignition timing spot on was to set different points gap !

I even bought several point sets but to no avail, they always had to be set different.

I found out later that the gap is not as important as the dwell and if you did not get the timing right the pipes would go blue very quick.

I have a dwell meter and a strobe with a power source and after setting/checking the gap I alter it to get the correct dwell then adjust the timing regardless of the gap. If the dwell is correct you will always get a fatter spark.

Dwell more important than gap! But if you fit Boyer electronic you would think you were riding a more powerful bike.