Topic: Old CB twins. Oil under the alternator cover: yes or no?

[fmctm1sw]

I'm working on  a 71 CB175 and I took the alternator cover off to check the timing.  Oil pours out from the cover.  I looked at the fische for the bike and I can't see any sort of seal that goes behind the cover.  I didn't see any seals when I pulled up the crankshaft either.  I'd hate to rip this apart only to find that's the way it's designed but it seems odd to me the alternator would be covered in oil.  BTW, the bike runs the way it is.  Stripped a plug thread though 

[fmctm1sw]

May have answered my own question:  http://en.allexperts.com/q/Motorcycle-Repair-837/oil-alternator-cover.htm

Says oil is supposed to be in there.  I also noticed the 3 screws that hold the cover on have rubber o-rings on them.  The cover has a gasket as well.  I guess the only question I have now is how the he!! is anyone setting dynamic timing on these?  I tried and oil came flying out all over the place 

[Bill Vaughan]

The spitting oil is normal on these twins, but you really shouldn't end up with very much outside of the engine.  It helps to lean the bike a bit by putting a thin wooden shim under the ignition side of the center stand, forcing the oil to the opposite side of the engine.

[Green550F]

Normal for oil in there. The timing is set in a static mode. be sure to be turning the crank correctly when setting the timing so you don't add any backlash to the timing point.

[fmctm1sw]

Yeah, I got it pretty good statically.  For the plug, finding a M12-1.25 tap or chaser isn't as easy as I thought apparantly...

[crazypj]

Should be very easy to find a 12x1.25 tap
 Pretty sure I saw them in Pep-Boys as thread repair kits for Honda cars, had piloted end, 12x1.25 then larger for helicoil.
 They are about $12.00 from Victor Machinery exchange (but they have minimum order) and any fastener place will order you one.
 As last resort, Snap on do thread chaser, but, that is expensive

PJ

[lordmoonpie]

static time then dynamic time with the bike leaning at about 45 degrees. We used a fence post to achieve the perfect angle and that was good for both my old CB350 K4 and the current CB450