SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550

POINTS TIMING CB500/4

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hairygit:
I've always stuck with points, if it was good enough for Hondas racing bikes in the 60's, it's good enough for a road going bike! ;D I have even used car condensors (Lucas ones from a mini) and they have been just as reliable as (very expensive!) genuine ones, annual mileage is often 16,000 plus :) and NEVER a breakdown!

z1100r:

 I have given up with aftermarket electronic ignitions. I have had 3 blow. I mentioned this on the US site and ended up being accused of not knowing what I was doing by some yank arse. First to blow was a Martek on my Yoshi 460 race bike. Left it switched on for 2 hours by mistake...kaputsky.

 My bike is also still on its original points and condensors from new. OK there was a sizeable gap where Boyer, and Piranha had a go at providing the sparks - but in the end the points went back on. From 75-83 it had points and they did 30,000 miles, from 83-87 it raced with electronic ignitions, from 87-95 it  commuted 70 miles a day with last electronic ignition to begin with and then back on points after about a year. From early 2000 bike was left to die abandoned in an old lorry until begining 2011 when it was fully restored and is now back being used regularly again. That original 1975 points timing plate has seen some action I can tell you - and still is doing. I bought new points/condensors from DS but couldn't be arsed to fit them whilst the bike is still running great on the old ones.

 I wouldn't bother with aftermarket electronics.

K2-K6:
I understand all of the technical advantages claimed/produced by electronic systems, but most of those are quoted as a gain from some poor points systems.

These standard points equiped Honda systems were not poor to begin with and many of the gains are marginal. What is not marginal is a failure that strands you somewhere which you just don't seem to get with the original installation given basic servicing.

ST1100:

--- Quote from: K2-K6 on October 18, 2011, 11:01:25 PM ---...which you just don't seem to get with the original installation given basic servicing.
--- End quote ---

Which is the general base anyway... or should be...
Points were used for decades, worked flawless, as long as they received just a little TLC... (did have VeeDubs and such)
And since the combined experience of the owners doesn't indicate any weak point there, I rather save the quids for other essentials.

Besides that EI-farkel is not the true spirit of running CB500/4s  8)

cheers!

Oldbuthopeful:

Oh 'eck !! Sounds as though the 170 quid I've just spent on a Boyer system for my 550four was money down the pan !

I can't comment yet on whether I think it was worthwhile because I haven't managed to get the old girl round the block
without her being reduced to a spluttering, mis-firing apology for a 'four'.  In fairness, I must say the carbs are a bit suspect
as the guy who recently checked them out and fitted new Keyser refurb kits (Andy from NRP Manchester) had problems
verifying the float height.  He had two conflicting sources of (written) information - one saying it should be 12.5mm and the
other giving 20mm  -  the latter from what he called his 'bible'.  We settled for 14 and he rebuilt them at that, but after telling
him about the mis-firing and the fact that the plugs on the non-firing cyclinders are wet, he suggests trying the floats at 17mm.
So it's off with the carbs yet again.  I don't mind the dismantling so much, it's putting them back and knowing that I've still got to
wrestle with the b....y rubbers that sucks.

Stop Press  :  I fitted new plugs yesterday before I began the carb exercise and she fired up on all four, but I've not had chance
to get her out for a run, so watch this space .  The Boyer might have been worthwhile after all !

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