I ride with a guy that has a 74 XLCH we put together about 10 years ago. It is truely a one kick bike (most of the time), just recently he has had trouble with the points/ condenser going out. When we open the ignition cover the points, condenser, and everything is covered in a reddish brown dust. Anyone ever seen this?

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the advance unit ( underneath the plate that the points and condenser are mounted ) is rusted/ frozen and not functioning properly. Replacement parts can be found but there is a lot of Chinese crap out there. Be sure to lubricate the advance mechanism and the rubbing block on the points when you reassemble it. Hope this helps.

 

Larrys answer Plus 1 - the advance unit is wiped out -- jz

 

Thanks for the feedback! I'll pass this along right away.

 

Like stated above, there's a lot of junk advance units out there and the cost difference between a good one and a junk one is like $20. Get yourself a nice stainless one.

Along those lines, anyone ever try the needle bearing advance units? I've been eyeing those up for my next replacement.

 

As advance units go the bearing ones actually work very well - the thing they do we see is the curv is the same every time during the life of the unit / no one take off is slugish and the next its peppy kind of thing - and they last twice as long as the metal on metal original type that with time becomes hap hazard in its operation - most of the bearing units we see come with 3 sets of springs but the black one is the stock set and should be used unless you have a stroker -- jz

 

Thanks john. I kind of suspected as much, but better to hear it from the field.