The other day when I was testing things, my wife was taking her new baby out to do her business. A 9 week old Golden Retriever puppy. She came by the shop as my Black 78 was running testing my carbs and she said, “Boy does that ever sound good, and have you ever cleaned it up nice”. Guess she got tired of listening to the other one too.
I was getting tempted to do the M/C and brakes one afternoon, swap on the blue tank and side covers, put the plate on it, and ride her. LEO wouldn't check the VIN would he?
Installed, gapped new points. Set timing with test light, then timing light. Definite improvement, which makes sense. Points were pretty badly cratered in the centre.
Thanks again 5twins! But once warmed up, a slight stumble and missing again, not as bad as before though, although it did keep wanting to stall.
Still haven't got it to run well enough to fine tune mix screws/sync but Carbs run great on the 78, so I can't see how this can still be a carb issue. It is running a little rich still.
Tried 5twins propane test. Once warmed up, no manifold or other leaks. Propane in carb inlets, right carb speeds up, left carb slows down.
Weak spark maybe?
So thought might as well change the condenser while I'm at it. Maybe a slight improvement, hard to tell. Swapping condenser leads had no effect.
Pulled the plugs, left was wet with fuel, right looked rich, but they just been cleaned earlier that day. Left side shutting down for some reason. Put in a new plug and it ran, both sides, but still wants to stall.
Checked cam chain tensioner while it was warmed up.
Did all the coil tests again and everything was within specs when cold, thought I'd try again when it warms up and see if they're breaking down with heat.
So sat a spell in the thinkin’/cryin' chair and pondered.
Now I'm not a great motorcycle diagnostician/troubleshooter/tuner, and certainly not the quickest, but by process of elimination, and with all your guys help I was thinking……….
“Okay, we're a lot closer, let's do a full tune up tomorrow, and if need be, test the coils warmed up”.
Time to walk away for the day.
Next Day
Start at square one and do a tune up.
Cam chain tensioner was good yesterday.
Set Valves Intake .002” Exhaust.006”
Set points: Dwell spec 88° to 98°, got these to 92° - 23° on 4 cylinder setting on YM dwell meter.
Timing set with timing light retarded to right line of |F
|. Getting some bounce past at full advance on both sides so I guess that indicates my advance is worn. Would new springs/tightening the springs solve this?
Fired up one kick.
Started fine tuning carbs mix screws. Now I HAVE to build that manometer. Smoothed out nicely. Good enough to ride. Pulled the test tank, popped on the gas tank, didn't worry about the air boxes for a few trips around the block.
Here she is when we got home.
So Bob, please send me an application package for the
‘Cautiously Optimistic’ Club.
Still have to play with mix screws a little and sync carbs.
It's idling a little high, seems to like it there, not as smooth at 1100-1200.
Haven't retested the coils when warm, may not need to?
I recall reading where 5twins said that if your timing is retarded that far you might have to compensate by turning the idle up a bit. We'll see if fine tuning the carbs a little more helps, or if that's just the way it is.
Heading out to celebrate with a weekend of music in the park at London's 'Home County Folk Festival’, that's been running since 1973.
Oh ya, and Daddy wants a Pamco and E-advance for Christmas.