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Timing an Electronic Ignition

  • Thread starter Thread starter Caferob
  • Start date Start date
C

Caferob

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I found a few youtube videos where they only adjusted it when it was installed. That being said, I figure I would just check to make sure its still good.

Anyone have any tips on how I can double check?

I have a timing light, but I saw a guy ad a jumper from the coil wire to a test light and turned the crank, the light going on to show timing then adjusting the little blocks from there.
 
Best to do it running..gets it spot on the first time that way. And you dont have to make all the MacGyver bullcrap to do it. Time 1/4 and 2/3 to the F mark and then run up the RPMS and observe the governor adjust to the fully advanced marks at around 4500 RPMs. If the governor doesnt advance then remove everything and clean and lube it.
 
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chuck hahn said:
Best to do it running..gets it spot on the first time that way. And you dont have to make all the MacGyver bullcrap to do it. Time 1/4 and 2/3 to the F mark and then run up the RPMS and observe the governor adjust to the fully advanced marks at around 4500 RPMs. If the governor doesnt advance then remove everything and clean and lube it.
Click to expand...

Will do and thank you for helping me!! What your saying is half english to me, I dont really understand the governor part.
 
The "governor" part he's talking about is the mechanical advance mechanism behind the timing plate. It's basically just a spring and weight system that advances the timing as RPM climbs.
 
I have a Martek 440 and the stock coils it looks like. I checked it out and the point on the plastic part of the martek is just a hair back from the line on the plate its attached to. Obviously have no place to point the timing light and searching around it seems these hardly ever need to be adjusted. Im just going through the motions and making sure the ignition is all good before grabbing a jet kit for the carbs.

Any suggestions or things to make sure this things timed correctly?
 
Caferob said:
I have a Martek 440 and the stock coils it looks like. I checked it out and the point on the plastic part of the martek is just a hair back from the line on the plate its attached to. Obviously have no place to point the timing light and searching around it seems these hardly ever need to be adjusted. Im just going through the motions and making sure the ignition is all good before grabbing a jet kit for the carbs.

Any suggestions or things to make sure this things timed correctly?
Click to expand...
there
has to be a mark to compare to the high voltage ignition spark unless you do the timing using a piston stop which is exceedingly difficult.
the mark will probably not have an led flasher.
 
From a Honda 750 but should still be the same timing proceedures.

Martek440a-94e69b8f60108e2ed6e436bafef6e52e.jpg





Martek440b-89923d31520bb0a418f131cb8b7209f4.jpg
 
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Set it up like he instructions say and start it . Then adjust using your timing light. You should see the timing mark on the engine thru the window in the base plate so you just time it by moving the pickups just like if your moving the original timing plate to get the marks lined up. The inner oval on the base plate here is what you look thru and should see the timing mark on the cases. If the molded in line is pointing close to the case mark than start it and point the timing light into the oval and then you move the base plate to adjust. The re arent any "blocks" on a Martek as they are sealed units, so just move the base plate by loosening the mounting screws and thats it.


2011_05200001.jpg
 
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Chuck,

Thats the thing, I dont see a "hole" to shine the timing light through. But ill take a look at the attachments in a few as I am about to head to the garage.
 
Should be the oval like the picture shows

EDIT....post up some pics of what you have there....that will help us see the dilema.
 
not too sure why its sideways
 

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What year bike and CCs is it?? Some had a metal plate with the timing on it that bolted in behind the OEM timing plate and some had a mark molded into the cases themselves. If your bike has the metal plate then the ignition would be askew to account for the timing marks orientation.
Looks like the indicator is pointing at what "appears" to be the timing mark though. Year and model will help and I can do some searches. But in any case you have the install instructions if you should need to pull it and take a peek.

EDIT....Went back and found another thread you started and noted you mentioned a 78 1000.

EDIT 2..I updated this post s I thought the ignition was setting in sideways..but upon a closer look its the picture itself thats sideways.
 
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1978 GS1000, so the lines should be lined up with eachother? The notch is a fixed notch. Ill try lining them up today and see what happens.
 
The little pointed indicator the outer ring on the ignition should point at the timing mark on the engine cases itself. Just like in the picture above in post eight
 
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So i matched the lines and the bike ran a little ****tier. I put the point from the martek just a shy to the left of the mark on the plate and the bike runs much better.
 
Robert, most bikes want to be timed at full advance. If you are lining them up while it is not running, then that is at full retard.

You time a Norton Commando at 3500 rpm or over. Those bikes will run backwards across the floor at those RPMs, and you really have to restrain them.
 
850 Combat said:
Robert, most bikes want to be timed at full advance. If you are lining them up while it is not running, then that is at full retard.

You time a Norton Commando at 3500 rpm or over. Those bikes will run backwards across the floor at those RPMs, and you really have to restrain them.
Click to expand...

Thanks Paul! Got it. I did try and adjust the Martek while running and it seemed to run better at the setting I stated BUT I was not revving the engine. Since my Martek is shot, Im getting the Dyna S soon and will follow their instructions unless anyone has any tips or tricks.
 
I got the Dyna in the mail and am installing it now. It obviously has the "view hole" to run a timing light through. I've ran the wires and it seems a little different than the marktek. Ill have to take some photos and get them up!
 
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