Topic: NEWB Ignition timing ? I did not find under search

[wrxburton]

OK so I got a 75' CB550 K1 a month ago and it starts, runs, idles a little high but i figure 1300rpm is not to bad. now, I removed the air box, put 115 jets in and am running pretty much just two and a half foot individual exhaust runners(stock with the rusted mufflers cut off).
now I was using the Clymer Honda manual and giving the bike a proper tune up, I started to adjust my point gap(on the points cover on the right side of the engine) and the first thing you do is rotate the crank till your at tdc 1-4. when it gets there the gap should be open. Mine Is Not. it does not open till almost 18-23degrees after that. So I did what anyone would do and I tried to turn tthe points plate all the way counterclockwise till it hit the stops and it is still does not open till at least 1/8" after the tdc mark.
THE SAME WAS HAPPENING FOR THE TDC 2-4Cylinders.
I assume the ponts ride on a cam that is attached to the crank in some way. is it possible for it to slip or move? should this be the next thing to check?
 I do not know what to do from here so any help would be greatly appreciated

[Fritz]

the first thing you do is rotate the crank till your at tdc 1-4. when it gets there the gap should be open

Well, not exactly. The points should start to open at about 3-4° before TDC. But their biggest gap is several degrees after TDC, so 18°-23° seems resonable to me. Never took any measurement.

Use this part of the Honda Workshop manual to set the point gap: (page 10)
http://data.sohc4.net/SM500/HSM500550_1.pdf
http://www.sohc4.net/index.php/cb550/books-manuals-guides-2
It says "Rotate the crankshaft until the slipper on the contact breaker is coming up on the highest position of the cam lobe".