Topic: Hmmmm this CAN'T be good!

[Lumbee]

...check the timing, preferably with a light...when I first got my current 750 it had symptoms simular to yours, would run good for 5 or10 minutes, then it would slowly get worse.  Setting the timing correctly fixed it...

[TwoTired]

I'm going to dress the points (sand with emery paper, right?) then check the gap.

Unless you plan to replace your points soon, don't use silica on the point cantacts.  Tiny pieces break off and embedd in the soft metal of the points.  Silica is insulation and the points burn up faster due to the reduced electrical conract area.
Use a point contact file or a nail file from the drugstore.
You can burnish the contacts bright and smooth with rouge cloth ( or emerry cloth, very fine  or, non-waxed or non-painted cardboard.

Cheers,

[Green550F]

I saved a set of 350 points from alot of RUST by using a dremmel and a stainless steel wire brush. Seemed to work pretty good. it didn't do any thing for the pitting but that was fairly minor anyways.

[csendker]

Unless you plan to replace your points soon, don't use silica on the point cantacts.  Tiny pieces break off and embedd in the soft metal of the points.  Silica is insulation and the points burn up faster due to the reduced electrical conract area.

I second this; I used sandpaper and everything turned to crap.  Then I used a nail file and it all came back.  Sandpaper = bad.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Sounds like a points file is the way to go.  I'll pick one up tonight.  I also talked to the previous owner.  Good guy no doubt, bike was it REALLY rough shape when he got it.  He "eye balled" the points when he last worked on them.  Considering how well it runs for the first 10 miles, he did pretty good!

I'll definitely do a static adjustment after cleaning the point faces.