Topic: quick question about setting point gap

[egar]

I know this has been on the threads before, but how often should I check my point gaps for adjustment? I've logged about 250 miles since getting the bike on the road last October.

PS - Right now the bike is dead. I rode it to work every day and the battery was dead last Saturday. I tried to charge it but I think my neighbor's trickle charger isn't working right anymore. When i plug the charger in, you can feel it hum, but there aren't even any sparks when i touch the leads together. I charged the bike for a good 12 hours and it was still dead, so I think I'll break down and buy my own charger and see if that's the problem.

As far as why the battery is dead, I've been reading that maybe the voltage regulater needed adjustment. I had an extra one in a box (used but in better shape) and used a shop manual to make the adjustments. Of course I have to get the bike juiced back up to see if my handiwork has helped....

[TwoTired]

The point gap/adjustment should be performed every 3000 miles.

I saw in my Harbor Freight catalog that you can get a digital voltmeter for as little as $5.
Item number 90899-2RMA  or  Item number 92020-1RMA

If you can afford as much as $10, you can get one from this list.
http://order.harborfreight.com/EasyAsk/harborfreight/results.jsp?ts=Sat%20Jan%2014%2012:52:54%20PST%202006

Knowing the voltages of the system under various conditions is key to troubleshooting.  You can diagnose a dead/bad battery with this tool.  And, also determine if a battery charger being used is providing the proper power to charge a battery.

After you have a fully charged battery in the bike, you can use the meter to determine if your charging system is behaving properly or in need of repair.

If you don't know what the voltages should be, measure and report them with your question to this forum, and we can guide you on corrective action needed.

Cheers,

[egar]

Thanks much! I bought a nice little Sears motorcycle charger today for $30 and the battery is already showing signs of life. My neighbor's charger was definitely dead. I also took the headlight switch apart and fixed the headlight. I now have high and low beam. What a treat.

[egar]

Guess what? I took the headlight switch apart again and figured out what I did wrong. I was missing a brass U shaped piece that makes the connection between the main wire and the hi and low wires. My new switch works great. I did lose the ball bearing that make the light "click" - too small to find once I dropped it - so I improvised with a tiny piece of rounded plasic I sliced from one of those cross shaped spacers you use to install tile. Pretty clever, eh? Meanwhile, the new battery charger brought the bike to life again and I celebrated by taking a night ride. The headlight is not very good compared to my Shadow. Don't think I'll do that again.

[oldbiker]

Egar, you are obviously a fast learner. I said if your fingers were small enough you could fix your switch.