I have a friend with a 98 FatBoy Evo. His ignition went out on him and he put a new system in. Now we need to set the timing on the engine. I have never done this and need some help from you.

We are trying to get him ready to go to Bikes, blues and bbq this weekend.

If anyone can help us out here I would appreicate it.

 

Its sort of a involved process are you tooled up for this stuff.....the first and best tool you will NEED is the factory service manual.

 

What kind of ignition did you install, & does it have any instructions with it?

 

No service manual. I agree he need one!
I am not sure what system he put in, but he has it running and he called me and just want some help setting the timing.
I have all the tools that are needed except a sight plug. I know that you go off of the front cylinder with an Inductive Timing light. What I don't know is what is the proper setting for an 98 Evo. engine. And I know were the plate is that need to be turned to set the timing.
Can you get by without the sight plug or will oil shoot out of the hole?

 

Front cyl. timing is marked on the flywheel. Pull the plugs & locate TDC, look in the timing hole to see which mark they used (either a line, or a dot). Late models usually use a line for TDC, & a single dot for 35 deg. advance. You time to the advance mark at 2000/2500 rpm. You can use a light without the plug, but you're going to take an oil bath (it won't hurt you). If he has one of the electronic modules like Crane or Spyke, etc. it should have a timing LED. You won't have to time with the motor running. Just find TDC & rotate the ignition module till the light *just* goes out.

 

Thank you Jinks, that is exactly what I was looking for.
So what I am looking for is 35 degrees advace at 2000/2500 rpms? Do you know if this is correct for a 1998 Evo. (is this considered a late model?)
And do you know if the timing plate turns clockwise or counter clockwise from TDC to advance?

Thanks again!

 

Standing on the right side of the bike and looking at the plate, it should be CC to advance.

 

Thanks Beeracuda!