Topic: When points go bad

[iron_worker]

I would say DeltaRider is probably correct in his initial assumption that your condenser connector is likely grounding out to the points plate the way it is positioned. Try loosening the little bolt that connects the condenser wire to the points and making sure neither the power wire connector or the condenser wire connector are in such a position that they can directly touch the points plate.

Something else to watch out for is there are two fiber washers and small fiber insulator "tube" (that goes around the little bolt which attaches the condenser connector) which keeps the the condensers and points from grounding directly to the points plate that you also have to be aware of when installing.

IW

[Spanner 1]

Nothing wrong with the way you have wired each point.... the point wire and the condenser wire do not need to be 'in order'..... both under the nut and washer is good, one under the head of the bolt and one under the nut also good !..... again it's just a bad condenser that fails with heat, change it out and done 

[Sandy]

Golly gosh, I've created a monster .  More than 600 views of this thread tells me I have several people who might think I know something about the SOHC ignition system.  Well, I do not and here is the latest update.  New condenser and 2-3 points came in today.  Installed the condenser and also the points after I filed the contact surfaces and gapped them.  Started it and there was no change.  Pipes 1 and 4 had no heat, pipes 2-3 had heat.  So I came to a brilliant conclusion - it is not the 2-3 that is my problem, it is the 1-4.  Took the new condenser and placed it in the 1-4 slot, took the old condenser and re-installed it on 2-3 slot.  Engine started right away.  Still some backfiring, but my #4 slide seems to get stuck and the motor revs very fast for a very short time, so I must address that issue.  I will put a new coil on the 1-4 slot and see what happens and I will let everybody know.

About #4 carb slide - when I first put the carbs on I had the throttle pull above the frame and I thought that was correct.  A Honda mechanic had placed the throttle pull cable below the frame and I think that is causing the sticking.  Where do you gentlemen place your 4-1 throttle pull cable - above the frame or below it?  Thanks to all in advance.

Are we having fun yet ?

[toobad]

I posted a couple weeks ago that I had developed the exact same problem.   I gave up and bought a Dyna S.  Well after Deltarider bruised my ego a bit, I decided to give it one last shot and tore into my wiring yesterday - which I should have done at the very beginning.   Checked every wire for continuity and sure enough, the 2/3 (yellow) wire from the coil to the points was bad!   Decided to keep the points and condenser system and will either return (if they will accept a return-never opened the plastic bags) the Dyna S or keekp it in case it starts acting up again.  After I got it all timed up it runs great.  Need to put some reliability miles on it.  So if you have not done so already, go do a continuity check on your dead points wire - I believe you said the 2/3 (yellow).  I think you said you also replaced your coils and if they are afternarket they will probably have connectors vs hard wired into the coil case as the stock coils do.   Make sure you have the blue and yellow wires attached to the negative connectors indicated on the coil and your black and white wire to the positive connectors.  Also make sure you are connecting the blue wire to the 1/4 coil and the yellow to the 2/3.  Good luck and hope it works for you.

[Sandy]

toobad:

Thanks for the response.  I am still working on it.  I am mostly positive that I did not have a problem with the 2-3 side.  I was not getting any heat in the 1-4 pipes - almost cold to the touch whereas the 2-3 was hot.  So, I am now OK with the points/condenser for both sides and I will install a new coil on the 1-4 side, just to see if that solves the issues.  MY petcock developed a leak - I rebuilt it and the stop, run and reserves work just fine, but in the morning there was a gallon of fuel on the floor.  Installed a new one and it leaks also, might have a severe problem here .  I will keep everyone informed.  Thanks to everybody for all the assistance.

[Sandy]

All is well that ends well.

Was totally mystified why the #1 cylinder was not getting hot, but found out the fuel tank was grounding one of the coil wires.  So, today I installed the new petcock and cranked the bike.  Started quickly and revved smoothly, but I need to get my gauges on the carbs to see if they are all in sync.  So, to bottom-line my issues, it was indeed a bad condenser that caused my issues and I now think I am on my way.  And I am using the 45 year old coils.   A gracious thank you to all who responded, and I hope we are all now better mechanics.  Well, I am much better, for sure .  Thanks, everybody.