This one will test you

XSAndy · Posted: September 26, 2008, 8:10 pm Post subject: This one will test you

Have 81 SH with points. (Australian model) Have all the info on setting timing with and without timing light. All pretty simple really. That is until I tighten the large screws on the right side backing plate! When I do this the timing advances. No sign of rotary movemnet in the backing plate. Could it be warped? Have tried retarding so that when I tighten the timing comes good but I can't retard it enough to achieve this. May be a screw poking too far through the plate somewhere so that it causes warping when I tighten? Do I need to pull the lot apart to check this? Has anyone seen this before? Can the plates warp over time?
Currently sharing the timing error to get as close as poss to correct but there must be a better way. What do you guys think? (What's that?.... yes I can hear the whispering... Boyer who????...) maybe there are some battles you just don't need. Smile

tacoswild · Posted: September 26, 2008, 9:40 pm Post subject: Re: This one will test you

Mine does this some too. I try to only loosen the screws a little, leave it tight enough that to move the plate you need to put a screwdriver on it and tap it with a hammer or wrench. That helps get it right with less tries, but are you saying that no matter where you set it the timing ends up too advanced? That would suggest your gap is too big or I've also seen the post that holds the one contact that doesn't move get bent out or in and that wacks out the original geometry and screws up the adjustment range.

Retiredgentleman · Posted: September 26, 2008, 10:48 pm Post subject: Re: This one will test you

There's no reason for the plates to warp. Good idea to take them off the bike and inspect the back of the plates. I found it necessary to file the plates on my 78SE in order to expand the adjustment range.

beatpoet · Full Member Joined: Jan 05, 2008 Posts: 33

This is what I do... Leave the screws as tight as possible while still being able to barely budge the backing with a screwdriver.

I usually take 3-4 passes at the timing, tightening each bolt just a little bit, then checking the timing again.

I think that the rotational force of the screw is actually what moves the backplate...

tacoswild wrote:

Mine does this some too. I try to only loosen the screws a little, leave it tight enough that to move the plate you need to put a screwdriver on it and tap it with a hammer or wrench. That helps get it right with less tries, but are you saying that no matter where you set it the timing ends up too advanced? That would suggest your gap is too big or I've also seen the post that holds the one contact that doesn't move get bent out or in and that wacks out the original geometry and screws up the adjustment range.

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