Timing Question

[Toolmaker Tim]

Ok, I have the new diaphrams in the bike, the carbs balanced, but it still ran like crap. I went ahead and started messing with the timing after I checked the pickup wires, TCI, coils and put on new NGK plug caps and plugs. I kept advancing the timing and blipping the throttle intil it was smooth. Went back and resynced the carbs and gave it a run. The bike has never pulled harder than it does now, so..... Is having the timing advanced 5 degrees something that others have had to do? I seem to to recall someone having that in their signature. I guess the proper question is whether others have had to diviate from the stock timing setting. Just curious.

[bikerphil]

I run both mine up a few degrees, seem to be quicker in the low RPM range but I lose some top end. I also have to run at least 89 octane.

[petejw]

hi tim, just keep an ear out for any pinging, if it starts 2 ping u could try a higher octane fuel or just bump down the timing a cpl of degrees.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Tim,

Glad to hear the new carb vac. slide diaphragms are working well!

Are you sure that your timing indicator needle/pointer hadn't gotten bumped or moved accidentally or by PO? Have you checked the timing plate indicator and needle alignment with a dial gauge thru the spark plug hole to verify TRUE TDC? The Needle/indicator could be off...5 degrees isn't much really. IIRC, the static BTDC timing for idle was 10 degrees, but I think it was retarded by 5 in the later years, again for emissions, and I, too remember reading about folks tweaking theirs a bit more advanced!

T.C.

[Toolmaker Tim]

Right now the bike is starting with a touch of the button, so whatever I did is working. I am not hearing any pinging, so thats a good thing with the crappy gas we have around here. I wonder if themarine blend of Stabil would help. They advertise that it will stop problems that are caused by ethanol in gas that is used in outboard engines.