Timing '81 XS1.1H

[Athedra]

Tried to set my XS's timing tonight. Placed the timing light on her and no matter which way I swing my pick-ups, she stays on 20 degrees. (20 degrees mechanical, and 22.5 degrees digital)

Anyone out there that can tell me how to set the timing on a '81 XS1100H? And what should it be? Note that all the manuals shows I must have a little plate indicating where it should be. I dont have a plate there, just two markings on the casing itself. I am working on the upper casing mark now.

[DGXSER]

Hmmm...This is what you should see, kind of crap picture from flash but it should look familiar.



Also, make sure you are removing the vacuum advance line and plugging it when timing is being checked.

[Athedra]

Similar yes. The timing mark tab you have bottom left is non-existent on mine. I have two marks (Looks like someone hit it with a screw driver on the casing) roughly where you have the tap and one i'd say about 12mm (half inch) below it towards the bottom holding screw.

[Guy_b_g]

PO strikes again!

[Athedra]

Opened up and compared my mechanism to yours. there is a huge difference. My inner section screws is not tabs like you have, they are part of the adjuster mechanism with slots. My plate is not a solid disc like yours. Mine has holes in it. Comparing your pc to mine shows that my vacuum system is much lower on the right side. If I had to take a picture of it I would get most of the vacuum system into the picture on the same angle you took yours.

Will try and get a camera to it tomorrow and take a picture for you. I need to open up to check my wiring in there anyway, so will take a picture at the same time.

[DGXSER]

Couple more pics that may or may not help.




This one is taken from the side, you can see the vacuum mechanism at the far right and the shaft form it through the picture



HTH

[Athedra]

If i look at my system on the second pic where you show the vacuum system, the screw on the left is slotted. The three main screws around the outside is slotted, making it possible to rotate the mechanism i'd say about 30 degrees.

My vacuum system is also not as "fancy" as yours. Mine is a small round system. I am also getting the impression that my pickup casing area is alot bigger that yours. Looking at the area you took the picture from, you have just a round cap you remove, where as mine is a fairly big cover that gets removed. It is a round section with a added area that covers my vacuum system.

I am seriously starting to suspect that I have a different motor in there. Alot of things mentioned about year models on the threads are different to mine, yet all my papers indicates it is a '81 xs1100H model.

What would be tell tale signs on the motor of what model it is? I bought it as a project, and dont know what the previous owners has done to it. To the clever guys out there, My engine number starts with 2H9 and first registration was in March '81 South Africa.

[CatatonicBug]

My engine number starts with 2H9 and first registration was in March '81 South Africa.

What are the other numbers after that? The 2H9 actually covers MANY models, and you need the next few digits to figure that out. 2H9 goes all the way back to '78 in Europe, and as late as '82 (yes, there was an '82 XS11) in Europe.

[Athedra]

only numbers I have on the motor is 2h9-022299

[CatatonicBug]

only numbers I have on the motor is 2h9-022299

That makes it a '79 European model. Not an H.

[Athedra]

k, so it is a '79 xs1100 european then. That helps more than you would ever know. Thanks.

[CatatonicBug]

If i look at my system on the second pic where you show the vacuum system, the screw on the left is slotted. The three main screws around the outside is slotted, making it possible to rotate the mechanism i'd say about 30 degrees.

My vacuum system is also not as "fancy" as yours. Mine is a small round system. I am also getting the impression that my pickup casing area is alot bigger that yours. Looking at the area you took the picture from, you have just a round cap you remove, where as mine is a fairly big cover that gets removed. It is a round section with a added area that covers my vacuum system.

In looking at pictures of the various models, I now see what you mean about the "slotted" areas. This picture shows the slots, yet in the drawing for the same item (on an SG), it shows only round holes for mounting.



The '81 models (H, SH, LH, RH) have no "governor" under the PU coils (replaced by a "Rotor", P/N 4R0-81673-10-00), while the other models all have one. Like this:

[dbeardslee]

If you don't trust your timing plate or pointer, and you really want accuracy, it's easy enough to mount a degree wheel over the timing plate. Here's a thread that will show you how to do it on the cheap. $2 Degree Wheel

[Athedra]

Yes the first picture is the system I have, note that it was found that South Africa is 2years behind the rest of the world, I am now the proud owner of a '79 XS1100 european, and not a '81 XS1100H as thought. Not that bigga problem for me, just makes my spares so much more harder to find. I did find a set of chicken teeth on one of the older bike shops shelves.

Anyway, now that we know what I have, and what mechanism I have in there, anyone know how to adjust this and what it should be. Thanks for the degree wheel, but I am fortunate enough to work in a workshop with all the fancy thingy's which includes a digital ignition timing light system megoly thingy. (As the senior mechanic explained it to me).

What should the degrees be on, and is it suppose to have the timing tab (As shown in the other pictures), or is the markings on the casing correct?

[dbeardslee]

I don't know what the differences are on a '79 and a '79 european, but on my '79 it's supposed to be set to 10 degrees BTDC. There should be an 'F' mark on your timing wheel that corresponds to 10 degrees BTDC.