SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550

Ignition timing

<< < (2/3) > >>

Spitfire:
I've always used static timing to set up bikes, but when I restored my F1 I did try out a strobe with very little sucess so I have gone back to the old tried and tested method.

Cheers

Den

Seamus:
Not to get into an argument,  ::) but all I said was that the engine was timed running and not static. I thought better of going into advance at higher revs as it was not really appropriate to the question. Just a simple explanation of the terms.

You can check the advance with a strobe, but only if it is working and at what revs it happens (if you use an accurate rev counter). The only way that you can time at full advance in reality is if you mark up the plates with a timing disc etc. to give a reference point.

Anyway, these old motors seem to be pretty tolerant with respect to timing being spot on, otherwise they would not have survived the 70's (or the folk that worked on them)  ;)

Cheers

Seamus

Bryanj:
Using a strobe at tickover is not a good idea as the advance weights start to move almost as soon as the engine is running, they may not be supposed to but they do---especially with 30 year old springs

florence:
Thanks for your contributions, to conclude it seems we think static timing is a good method.

For some reason I cannot ever get the timing correct with the recommended points gap of 14 thou because the points never close at that setting.  I have to set the gap really small to allow them to close as the points cam doesn't seem to have much lift.  Is this normal?  Also with a larger gap there isn't enough adjustment in the second set (i.e 2,3 ) to allow them to be timed.  Is it possible that my points cam is worn out or maybe that the pattern points are not quite to the same spec as the original fittings?  I've never known points cams to wear out before but then I suppose anything is possible.  Your thoughts and experience would be very much appreciated as I have never come accross this on any other vehicle before and I do work on a lot of engines.

totty:
I've just gapped mine to the lower end of the book setting which from memory was 0.3mm, the gap was adequate but I only just got the second set timed as it was right on the limit of adjustment. I'm new to these bikes but I have seen a worn points cam on a Ford (cracked cap possibly allowed something abrasive in) so it's worth checking

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page