Topic: Ignition timing won't adjust

[DavePhipps]

Weird problem today.
I set my point gap and went to set the timing. I founf the points opening a bit early on 1-4 and late on 2-3. So I started to adjust the timing on 1-4 and no matter which direction I turned the base plate I couldn't affect when the points opened. 2-3 adjusts a bit but not much.
Any clue what the cause of his can be? I'm baffled

[DH]

try moving the entire plate up/down or back and forth.
Some plates have sloppy fitting tolerances, and permit the plate to  move in directions other than strictly clockwise/counter clockwise within the mounting area of the cranckcase.

[Spiider]

Every time you move the plate reset your point gap...something I found out the hard way.
Also, try to increase or decrease the point gap, it has a much greater affect on the timing than moving the plate back and forth.

I found at .014" I couldn't get it set, now I use 0.012" and have lots of adjustment. Maybe you will be the opposite but you have to experiment a bit to see what your bike is happy with.

I use a timing light. Static timing gets you close, but a timing light is excellent to fine tune the timing.
For the $50 you can't go wrong. Run the timing light off a second car battery and connect the ground of the battery to the ground of the bike.



 

[Trav-i]

Also too, if the points are those cheap aftermarket ones then you probably won't ever get them right.  Especially the 1-4 side as the base is made wrong.  Also +1 on what everyone has said up to this point too.

Travis

[CoachDoc]

I agree with Spider. Sometimes I've had to adjust the gap slightly in order to gain adjustment range with the plate. Give it a try (small increments).