61 Magneto timing help!!
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3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2008
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61 Magneto timing help!!
I have had a 61 Ironhead for many years, and recently decided to give her a new face lift. Upon doing so the engine was thoroughly refurbished and all electrical systems checked, but no spark was detected coming from the magneto. I had the magneto rebuilt, new coil, points and condensor installed. I am currently running AC Delco plugs gapped at .018 which is what I was told by an old biker friend of mine. The trouble is that I can't get th thing to run right, or sometimes even start at all. If it starts, the front cylinder fires extremely hot and the rear one not at all, or backfires blowing flames out the pipe. What is causing this? I have all the manuals for this bike, and have read them to a "T", but I still can't get the thing to run right. I have never had this type of trouble with this bike before, and I definitely do not want to take it to a shop. I have worked on my own bikes all my life, but this one stumps me....anyone out there that can give this old man some help?
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3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2008
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The engine was running perfect after the refurbish. In fact, it ran incredible up to last week when I went to the shop to start it up and go riding with a friend. That's when we found out that it wasn't creating spark. The timing was perfect before that. I figured out it was the killswitch grounding against the magneto. Removed the switch and had tons of spark, rebuilt the magneto while I had it off the bike and now it is doing this backfiring and popping, or not even starting......suggestions?
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3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2008
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Eliminated the spark problem today with new wires and plugs. I have tons of spark in both plugs and it will fire off on the second kick, but the rear cylinder is still backfiring, what is causing this?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
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From: Houston Texas
Backfiring makes me think the timing is off, but you say it runs on the front cylinder and starts right up, so now I suspect an air leak at the O rings on the manifold. If you have had the manifold off I can almost guarantee you this is the problem.....pg
PS: The points setting for the mag is .015 and for the spark plugs the gap is .020
Last edited by piniongear; Aug 11, 2008 at 08:11 PM.
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3rd Gear
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I'm going to go to the shop and check that right now. I did have to manifold off when I installed the new carb....Be right back.
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