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Hi guys. Man I have tried everything but I cannot get this time set on this bike. 76 fxe stock engine. This is exactly what I did...
1 installed weights with "sleeve" in proper orientation (pin against flat so sleeve slides fully in).
2 tightened bolt and installed points plate and snugged pillars down lightly.
3 rotated motor to find cam lobe. ( I've used both several times small and large) set points to 18-20 several times.
4 collapsed front intake push rod cover and rotated motor again to find front compression stroke. After watching intake rod come all the way back down i went to other side of motor and removed timing plug.
5 bumped rear wheel in gear to show tdc. My bike is a 76 has 3 marks first is dot high, sec is vertical slash, third is dot low. I've been setting timing to slash just inside the window. Should I use the dot? If so which one? I'm trying to static time it without a light obviously. According to manual online that slash is the advanced mark.
6. Go back to other side of bike with test light. I rotate plate until light just goes off and points close. Tighten plate down.. problem I've noticed is that the follower is not even close to top of lobe when i go to rotate plate for light to come on.. i have to rotate motor with kicker just a touch to get it to move around. What do these marks mean on my bike.. I've read so much that its all soup.
Damn thing will not start. Just pops and shoots flames out the front pipe. Also coughs out carb some. Can't find air leak either. Had it running but very rough so I decided to try again. Help...
If timing to the advance mark (as you should) you don't turn the plate, you turn the advance unit until the points open (a cigarette paper in the points works well here) and adjust the plate until they just open when you have the advance unit cam turned fully clockwise....it's a bit of messing about but you'll get there.
The other method is to use a washer under the head of the retaining bolt of the advance unit to lock it fully advanced and then move the plate until the points open....don't forget to remove the washer afterwards though.
Last edited by Spanners39; Mar 20, 2024 at 08:22 PM.
If timing to the advance mark (as you should) you don't turn the plate, you turn the advance unit until the points open (a cigarette paper in the points works well here) and adjust the plate until they just open when you have the advance unit cam turned fully clockwise....it's a bit of messing about but you'll get there.
The other method is to use a washer under the head of the retaining bolt of the advance unit to lock it fully advanced and then move the plate until the points open....don't forget to remove the washer afterwards though.
thanks for the info. So what are the marks? High dot? Slash?? And finally low dot...looks like low dot is retard 5°. Slash is advanced mark. High dot...TDC?
thanks for the info. So what are the marks? High dot? Slash?? And finally low dot...looks like low dot is retard 5°. Slash is advanced mark. High dot...TDC?
Right in the screenshot of the manual you posted it tells you what the marks are, well, 2 of the 3 at least <G>.
12. Slash. Advanced timing mark
13. Low dot. Retard
This is what I found...
Rotate motor until air pushed out of front cylinder, looked in window, Backed motor slightly and saw slash mark which tells me that should be my advanced mark. Tried to set points. Locked down bolt with washer behind it to keep weights open. This is what it looked like.
No matter what I could not get the tipton top of that peak. Plate will not shift any more that direction.
So then I rotate the motor more and this appears
WTF? I cannot get this lined up. Pulled everything apart and did it by the book 3 times after. Same result. I thought maybe the weights shifted or the sleeve wasn't aligned with the pin. Nope.
Right in the screenshot of the manual you posted it tells you what the marks are, well, 2 of the 3 at least <G>.
12. Slash. Advanced timing mark
13. Low dot. Retard
Thanks. saw it too but still can't fig out why nothing is lining up.
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Cannot get timing right.
