Topic: Multimeter wizards... help?

[Tim in Ohio]

I know Two-Tired is a wiz with using one of these, prob plenty of you guys are.  Maybe you can advise me as I am just learning.
While I have my 1973 CB350F engine out and at the machine shop (see my resto post), I am tinkering around with my little(er) bike...  a 1979 Kawasaki KE100 that I have had since I was a kid. 
In checking the points, I am following the owners manual which reads:

"Connect an ohmmeter set to the R x 1 range across the contact breaker points by securing one lead to chassis ground (such as crankcase) and inserting the other lead into the hole where the black magneto output lead connects to the white plug. Be sure that the ohmmeter leads are connected with firm electrical contact... rotate the flywheel counterclockwise, when the needle on the ohmmeter starts to rise (should change by only about 3 ohms) that is when the contact breakers are beginning to open. This should be happening when the timing mark on the flywheel is aligned with the timing mark on the crankcase."

Here is the thing. I hooked up the ohmmeter as instructed and the reading on the ohmmeter stayed the same... no change at all even when I could actually see the points open. Anybody know the meaning of this?

[zx12r]

the points could be dirty, not making a electrical contact, try cleaning them and see if you get a reading. does your meter have a continuity test, when you touch the leads together it beeps, if it does you could use that to see if the points are making a electrical contact.

[Steve F]

Did you remove the condenser (disconnect it) from the circuit first?

[SD750F]

When checking resistance with any meter, you should first check to see of your are in the right range setting or if your probes are good. You do this by touching one probe tip to another and your should read 0.0 ohms. This is what you will see with a short. Same as the points closing. If you do not have this near zero ohm reading or are well outside the maximum resistance allowed by the specification, then you have open points or the points have carbon build up on their contact faces that are acting like a resistor.

Scott

[Tim in Ohio]

Thanks for the input guys.  One thing I should mention, when I remove the spark plug, put it in its boot and hold the end against the frame, I do get blue sparks.  So take that into consideration.

[oldbiker]

With a cheap analog meter you will have great difficulty to tell the difference between 1 and 3 ohms. I regard the instructions given as silly as most people do not have a meter with enough low range accuracy. Even a cheap digital meter is pretty good for the job but I still prefer a simple bulb set up for timimg.

[tbpmusic]

........ but I still prefer a simple bulb set up for timimg.

There you go !!

bill2