First BMW

[Major Softie]

I don't think you stole it, but you certainly didn't get burned either.

Have fun.

[Garnet]

" but you certainly didn't get burned either."

Not till ya try setting the points anyway.

[Duane Ausherman]

He will get the points tool and not frustrate himself like many here did.

[Ken in Oklahoma]

He will get the points tool and not frustrate himself like many here did.

I'm one of those who continues to frustrate himself. I have a reason, though it's not much of a reason. My hangup is that I'm concerned about the fact that the advance assembly has to be removed to use the points tool. The actual removal is, easy of course. But it's the putting it back that bugs me, or more specifically the sloppy fit that bugs me. Due to the slop between the advance assembly and the camshaft tab I can't be sure I'll get the timing back to where it was originally. How much slop is there typically? One degree? Two degrees? And double that when we're talking about crankshaft degrees.

Of course it's not like I don't know how to set the timing, but, presuming I had the timing where I wanted it, there's no assurance that it will still be there because of the ambiguity of the slot. Retiming the ignition seems like more work, or delay, than the work of fiddling with the points adjustment in lieu of the points adjusting tool.


Ken

[Garnet]

Well, the more you wiggle it around the more slop you create, right. Dumb answer I know.

I also know you are smart enough to always move the advance as far to the left as possible before you tighten the nut up. That is where it will end up anyway so it may as well start there. That way you are not messing with the timing, cuz that was where it was last time. I know you know this Ken, I'm just chuckin it out there for the noobs who may be to shy to ask.

[Duane Ausherman]

Ken, if I read your objections correctly, then you don't understand how it works. The points tool isn't to set the timing, but to set the gap. It still needs to be timed by rotating the points plate. After that, one can get it to within a degree or two by just resetting the gap. In that sense one returns the timing to "correct" by fixing the smaller gap that was due to wear.

Don't worry about the sloppy advance mechanism, as there is a very simple solution. As you replace it, just hold it against the slop in the direction of tightening the nut. If you held it in the opposite position, you would have no real control, as you feared. This was the shop policy and we never once found a problem with it.

[Ken in Oklahoma]

Garnet and Duane:

Yes, I am smart enough to bias the advance mechanism to the left before tightening the nut, but it hasn't been very long. And, indeed, I will bias the advance mechanism to the left when I have a need to take it off (such as to replace the points.)

I don't remember which bikes (of three runners) might have received the benefits of that particular enlightenment. It wasn't that long ago. Even though I finally followed Duane's advice and started a good log book, I doubt I would have recorded it in there either.

But, really, it is a trivial matter. I shouldn't have voiced my "concern".

Especially when I could have spent the effort instead talking about the value of countersteering as a valid instructional technique for motorcycle riding. . . . . (poking Duane in the ribs referencing a long ago rally discussion among Duane, myself, and others )


Ken

[dougie]

Yes, I am smart enough to bias the advance mechanism to the left before tightening the nut
Ken

Is the left bias simply a requirement of the mechanic, or must one also avoid using Republican points?

[Ken in Oklahoma]

Is the left bias simply a requirement of the mechanic, or must one also avoid using Republican points?

The answer is yes.

More seriously, I don't suppose it makes any difference, left bias or right bias. But since the the camshaft turns clockwise (facing the front of the engine) my inclination is to hold the advance assembly counterclockwise as I tighten the nut. Why my inclination is such, I don't have any thought out answer. The closest I can come to a meaningful answer is that, with the left bias, anything that might want to rotate the advance assembly to the right would also have a tendency to tighten the nut on the end of the camshaft, making any tendency to shift less likely than if the nut were loosened a tad.



Ken