Topic: Why Are my Points Breaking/Snapping??

[Green Goblin]

Hello

I recently had one of my points snap apart, and attributed it to a cheap ebay point.  I went ahead and spend some money on some NOS Japanese points, hoping that it was just a fluke and that higher quality points wouldn't do this.  Unfortunately after I put the new points on and redid the timing, after about 80km, the exact same point snapped in the exact same spot.  Does anyone had any info on why this may be happening? Have I not gapped them properly with my feeler gauge?

[dave500]

thats odd?has the chrome cover got a dent and its fouling on it?

[lucky]

thats odd?has the chrome cover got a dent and its fouling on it?

Good guess Dave. I cannot think of anything else but maybe turning the engine over by hand would reveal something.

[Spanner 1]

Spoof/joke posting... didn't happen 

[Green Goblin]

thats odd?has the chrome cover got a dent and its fouling on it?

I inspected the cover and it doesn't have any dents in it.  Could it have anything to do with the point gap being too small?

[scottly]

thats odd?has the chrome cover got a dent and its fouling on it?

I inspected the cover and it doesn't have any dents in it.  Could it have anything to do with the point gap being too small?

No.

[Green Goblin]

That's what I figured. Don't ask newer sport bike guys for advice

[bollingball]

That's what I figured. Don't ask newer sport bike guys for advice

What does mean? Who is the newer sport bike guys you are referring to?

[Green Goblin]

That's what I figured. Don't ask newer sport bike guys for advice

What does mean? Who is the newer sport bike guys you are referring to?

My friend who suggested that I gapped it incorrectly and it caused failure.

So no one has seen this problem before??

[CycleRanger]

My friend who suggested that I gapped it incorrectly and it caused failure. So no one has seen this problem before??

If you had it gapped that wrong the bike wouldn't run!
Yeah, I've never seen that either and I'm puzzling how, aside from defective points, that could even happen.
What bike is this by the way?

[MCRider]

My friend who suggested that I gapped it incorrectly and it caused failure. So no one has seen this problem before??

If you had it gapped that wrong the bike wouldn't run!
Yeah, I've never seen that either and I'm puzzling how, aside from defective points, that could even happen.
What bike is this by the way?

I'd agree with that. Can't be too small. once they close they're closed. Can't be too big or it won't run. Never seen it either.

Having said that, the adjuster on that set of points looks to be way out of range. (2 posts on the plate v the notch on the points)

[mono]

pun aside.... how long did it take them to reach the "breaking point" ??

was it right away or after a while?

[Green Goblin]

The bike is a CB350F.  The first point lasted about 800km, and were brand new Daiichi points.  The second point only lasted about 50km.

MCRider, they look misaligned? The right side point has not broken, it's only the left side shown in the picture that has broken twice.

[Bob Wessner]

That's interesting, it's always the same set of points?

P.S.I don't believe in coincidences. 

[MCRider]

It may be completely unrelated. But at about 7 O'clock on your red circle, the red line passes thru the posts that are used to lever the adjustment on the points. Ordinarily the notch on the points wouldn't be skewed so far away from those posts. Just looks like an odd place for the adjustment to have ended up.

[Green Goblin]

Hmm, ok, I wasn't aware that those had a purpose.  I'll align my new point with that mark and set the point gap and timing.  Maybe it's something as simple as that. 

Thanks for all the help guys, it's greatly appreciated.

[bollingball]

Quote  The first point lasted about 800km, and were brand new Daiichi points. There is your problem.
McRider that may be why they were adj. so far out. I have never seen this and even though Daiichi is the worst points for adj. I would not think they would break like that. There is no pressure on them other than the spring. I am beginning to believe Spanner 1

Ken

[MCRider]

Hmm, ok, I wasn't aware that those had a purpose.  I'll align my new point with that mark and set the point gap and timing.  Maybe it's something as simple as that. 

Thanks for all the help guys, it's greatly appreciated.

yES, YOU PUT A SCREWDRIVER BLADE in the 2 posts and engage the notch in the points base with the blade as well. Then you can pry by turning the scredriver, and the point gap will change. You should be able to get a good setting in the range of that technique. If you have to turn the screwdriver so far that it loses engagement with the notch, as it would have in your picture, something is wrong with your adjustment technique. Or the quality of the points.

Again, may not be related to your problem. Just jumped at me.

Kinda like a troll would.   

[Green Goblin]

Hah, this 100% is not a joke posting, why would I waste everyone's time when the weather is starting to get nice and we could all be outside riding?

I'll adjust the point after work today and go for a ride to test it out. 

[MCRider]

Hah, this 100% is not a joke posting, why would I waste everyone's time when the weather is starting to get nice and we could all be outside riding?

I'll adjust the point after work today and go for a ride to test it out.

That's what trolls do.

You've got my benefit of the doubt for now. Good luck.

[bollingball]

OK I take it back. Go get some TEC points and see if they work my Honda dealer carries them They cost a little more but I have never had problems adj. them. There has been a lot of people complaining about running out of room on the slots the Daiichi points are crap

[Green Goblin]

Ya I just ordered two sets of NOS Honda Points.  Ive got a Hondaman ignition that I just received so I should install that too... Maybe... magically the problem will stop.

[lucky]

That's what I figured. Don't ask newer sport bike guys for advice

What does mean? Who is the newer sport bike guys you are referring to?

My friend who suggested that I gapped it incorrectly and it caused failure.

So no one has seen this problem before??

I used to work in a Honda dealership when bikes had points. Never saw this kind of failure ever.
The only thing that could cause this is if the points cam opened so far that the points lever hit the other contact.

Like I said if this came in my shop I would take the spark plugs out and turn the engine over by hand to watch and see what is going on.

If it is the wrong points set from a CB350 or something i suppose it could happen.
You just have to test it by hand.

[lucky]

Ya I just ordered two sets of NOS Honda Points.  Ive got a Hondaman ignition that I just received so I should install that too... Maybe... magically the problem will stop.

Things do not magically repair themselves.

[flybox1]

Maybe... magically the problem will stop.

no, it wont.
get your points system working perfectly.
THEN, install your HM ignition.