timing light woes
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 161
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timing light woes
put a new compufire ignition on ole sporty. Runs great but wanted to put double check timing with a light. When I clamp on the front plug wire there is no "strobe" from light. Put it on back and it "strobes" of flashes. Thought maybe front wasnt firing properly, so I pulled plug while it was running and it spit, sputtered, and died. Obviously it was firing.Why will the light not work on front wire even though I know the plugs firing. I just bought the light about 2 months ago at autozone.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
RE: timing light woes
You might try this:
Remove both wires at the ignition coil and switch them....plugging them back in the coil.
Now try the timing light again. Does the front now light up and the rear does not? If the answer is yes, replace the offending plug wire........pg
Remove both wires at the ignition coil and switch them....plugging them back in the coil.
Now try the timing light again. Does the front now light up and the rear does not? If the answer is yes, replace the offending plug wire........pg
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
RE: timing light woes
The coil is above the front cylinder and the wire wont reach to the rear. I did take the rear one and put on front and put an old wire I had on the rear. So basically the wire on front now is the one I had on back. Cranked bike, ran up to 2000 rpm and no "strobe" on front still. Dropped it to idle and no "strobe" on front. The rear does still "strobe" even with old wire.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
RE: timing light woes
I also pulled plugs and plugged them in outside cylinder, and both do in fact seem to be firing well. I have iridium plugs in them and I'm getting a bright white arc on each plug
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
RE: timing light woes
Yeah, I know one wire is much shorter than the other. What I was trying to say was leave the plug wires connected to each spark plug, but switch them in the coil holes.....then try the light again.
The ignition coil fires both spark plugs at the same time, every time, This is called a 'waste spark system'. The coil is not like an auto's distributor where every wire can only go to a particular cylinder. On a Sporty either wire can go to either cylinder.
In the event that you still cannot get a signal from the front wire, about all you can do is discover the reason why (I have none) or just use the timing light to check the ignition timing using the rear cylinder.
When you do this you are going to be looking through the timing hole with the light and seeing the 'double dot' that indicates the rear cylinder rather than the 'slash' which indicates the front cylinder. Same difference.........pg
The ignition coil fires both spark plugs at the same time, every time, This is called a 'waste spark system'. The coil is not like an auto's distributor where every wire can only go to a particular cylinder. On a Sporty either wire can go to either cylinder.
In the event that you still cannot get a signal from the front wire, about all you can do is discover the reason why (I have none) or just use the timing light to check the ignition timing using the rear cylinder.
When you do this you are going to be looking through the timing hole with the light and seeing the 'double dot' that indicates the rear cylinder rather than the 'slash' which indicates the front cylinder. Same difference.........pg
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
RE: timing light woes
I guess for now Im going to consider it close. Been out riding and it runs good, but once or twice had a little stutter when opening her up. But I know I'll have to re-adjust the carburetor since messing with the ignition. Went to the trouble of painting the slot hi visibility yellow before putting ignition on. Guess I'll have to paint the dots also. LOL Its raining now, so Im remove the tank of the bike. Keeps plugging up. Suspect trash in tank so Im fixing to find out. Havent dismissed my stutter as being starved for gas for a second or two. Noticed on occasion my clear plastic fuel filter appears empty of fuel even though the petcock is open. The probelm is that the bike has a few sporatic problems, so you never know which one is causing what. New ignition should fix that problem. Now I'll tackle the tank. Seems to have some surface rust and some "floaters"in it. Not sure how the "floaters" got there? Thanks pinion.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
RE: timing light woes
Just don't let the pile of problems overwhelm you. Take it one bite at a time, doing the most important fix first.
I'd say a clean tank and free flow of fuel has to right up there at the top of your 'to-do' list.
pg
I'd say a clean tank and free flow of fuel has to right up there at the top of your 'to-do' list.
pg
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
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RE: timing light woes
Yeah, I put the original tank back on for now and "hid" away the wiring for the fuel gauge under the seat for now. Will miss the 5 gallon tank though. Even though I cant time it with a timing light, it should be real close since I followed the compufire instructions precisely. Once I get the tank cleaned and coated that should fix the gas problem. All I'll have left then is the starter problems, which are close. Since replacing alot of the starter parts its sounds like its engagingabout 80% now but sounds like it drags down and slips. U can watch the timing rotor and it starts to turn and then seems to slip as the starter whirrrs. Probably in the starter drive. Oh to have a kick start like my old 75 XLCH had, then I'd never give a rats a** whether the electric starter worked or not. Been eyeballing a 1952-1979 XLH kick start conversion kit in the V-Twin Mfg. catalogue(part#22-0207) and my mouths been watering. Too many irons in fire though, some things will have to wait. Dont think the wifes screened in porch will be one of them. But hey, I love it. It has problems, I find them and fix them (with ya'lls help of course). Should would hate to be one of those guys that runs his a** to the HD dealer everytime the bike hiccups or farts. Alot of pride goes into everything I do on my bike. Makes me feel good.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
RE: timing light woes
Been eyeballing a 1952-1979 XLH kick start conversion kit in the V-Twin Mfg. catalogue(part#22-0207) and my mouths been watering.
Don't get a strong hankering for the k/s kit from VTwin. The fit of the parts is pretty bad from what I have heard, and just like all of Taiwan Tedd's other items, it takes quite a bit of effort to make the danged thing fit and work..........pg
Don't get a strong hankering for the k/s kit from VTwin. The fit of the parts is pretty bad from what I have heard, and just like all of Taiwan Tedd's other items, it takes quite a bit of effort to make the danged thing fit and work..........pg