ETA: It is possible to put the plate on backwards. My friend did it to my CB750. I've learned to not let him wrench on my bike.
I've used a timing light with my electronic ignition, and while doing it, I noticed that I could get it almost perfect just by listening to the bike as I moved the plate while it's running.
you can do it.
maybe take a small marker - turn the plate to the left and right to get a feel for the sound, then mark a spot to the left and to the right where you first start to hear a negative difference in the way it runs. Split the distance perfectly, and you will be damn close, if not exactly right.
That's how I did it, then I decided to just buy the stinking light, and to my surprise, I was almost exactly right.
You sure you didn't set the valves "backwards"?