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CB550 Points - Arrrrggg

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Neilw:
I keep hitting one problem after the next when putting this bike together, and now I've stumbled across another little gem.  If I wasn't already bald, I would be now!

Got to the point of setting the points and timing, one step closer to finding out of the bike will start.

Well, when setting the points gap on 2-3 I noticed that the points were slightly bent, they didn't sit flat on the points plate, making it near impossible to set the gap correctly and then the timing. No worries i thought, i'll just buy a new set from David Silvers and away I go. Of course i've now discovered that the points are too big, so i resolved to take the original apart to see if i could straighten them.
Job done, refitted and set the gap. When setting the timing the points moved as i rotated the engine and looked to have bent again! The cause I've now discovered are the threads in the backing plate have at some point (not by me), been stripped and were only just holding the points in place.

So now i have stripped threads in the 2-3 backing plate and bent points again!

I feel i can sort the backing plate - either by buying a new one or by buying a helicoil set, but what about the points? - do i try and fix the ones i have (the face has some small pitting), or is there anywhere i can get the correctly sized ones for the 2-3 side?

Your collective wisdom is very much appreciated.
Neil.

McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
Fitting a helicoil on a relatively thin plate is fraught with difficulty.
I would be minded to find a used replacement.
I bought one from 400spares, it happened to have a decent set of points as well.(All Tec)
Iirc same plate on the 400 & 500

Bryanj:
Any points plate from a 400/500/550/75] will fit.
Setting the points and timing is the fidliest job on a Honda and when doing it regularly you develope a knack as when you rotate the plate the gap alters and when you alter the gap the timing moves, as you have discovered.
You have to buy a decent set of feelers to get the0.35 you need(14thou).
One thing i have done in the past is if the big plate is extra sloppy in the crankcase poles fit some very thin bent shims to reduce the diameter BUT it has to be an equal shim on each post

deltarider:
My advice is NOT to time dynamically. The plate will vibrate too much. Set and check by strobe, but kill the engine to make an adjustment. Then check again. You may have to repeat this. This way you don't have to shim.

Oddjob:
Probably got a second hand points plate for the 500/550 lying around somewhere. Should also have some stainless steel points screws as well. Complete with captive plain and spring washers.

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