Advance unit....can't remove..help

[moosehead]

1978 R100/7

Been rebuilding this "barn find" over the last few months and at a point where ready to crank...turns over nicely, oil pressure comes right up BUT...NO SPark.

Got fuel but no spark. Zeroed down to the points. Coils checked out but points are really pooched. It was a mess under the cover. It had spent a few years out in the elements I think so pretty rusty mess in the points area So got a good used set of points was going to pop them in but I can't budge advance unit off the crank nose to put in new points...they must be rusted right tight!

Tried a little heat and some judicious taps on the advance unit but no budge.Used small amount of PB Blaster as well. Man never seen these stick like this before.

SO, any ideas/thoughts/advice to get the advance unit off? ??

PS: I did find a used Omega electronic ignition on the web (Kijiji) and was going to install on this bike. To get it going I might just put it on now but would still like to get a new set of points in place and running with them first.
Been lots of fun and work up to this point and got "the fever" to get her running.

[Kurt in S.A.]

I'm sure this isn't your first rodeo, but you did remove the 10mm nut, right?

Kurt in S.A.

[moosehead]

Yep.

I've never encountered one as tight as this one. Hard to get any purchase behind the unit. Heat is also hard to get there but since the current points are already doomed I thinking more heat and some vibration may crack it loose...hopefully. Trying to save the adnave unit as want points backup to the Omega electronic...when in doubt heat and a bit of "vibration" work. Sure don't want to f$#&& up the crank nose..

Maybe a Moosehead and bedtime will put me in a better frame of mind about this.

[moosehead]

OK, removed...finally. Judicious use of a little more heat, PB Blaster, a few vibrating taps to the shaft and success.

The shaft was rusted down whole length of advance unit so was pretty solidified to say the least. Never seen that one before.

Cam (on advance unit) pitted and rusted so will clean it up to see if still OK and will mount new/recycled set of points to see if can light a fire in the belly of the beast. Then, if see fire, the new electronic ignition will be installed.

Off to the rodeo

[mattcfish]

OK, removed...finally. Judicious use of a little more heat, PB Blaster, a few vibrating taps to the shaft and success.

The shaft was rusted down whole length of advance unit so was pretty solidified to say the least. Never seen that one before.

Cam (on advance unit) pitted and rusted so will clean it up to see if still OK and will mount new/recycled set of points to see if can light a fire in the belly of the beast. Then, if see fire, the new electronic ignition will be installed.

Off to the rodeo

Good thing you're getting an Omega. A pitted points cam will cause the points to ware out faster. I hope you didn't bend that nose. It doesn't take much. It can be bent back, but you'll need a dial indicator to get it right.

[Airbear]

Well done, Bob. When I set up my Omega I included a toggle switch so I could flick back to points in the event of the Omega failing. This happened last week - I've been losing spark intermittently when the engine gets hot - haven't sorted out why yet - but very glad for that toggle switch.

[moosehead]

Yep the shaft on the advance unit is badly pitted after cleanup. Have a spare unit somewhere but where that is is beyond me right now. You`d think I would learn to put old parts away in some organized fashion but no, that would take the fun out of the hunt...ha ha

I don`t think I damaged the nose of the cam. Only light taps on the front (with nut on to save thread) and little pry and off it came. However should check it out with dial indicator as suggested.

The new elecronic unit I got through buy-sell site came in its original box marked Ullis Motorladen (Germany). Looks like the Omega but processing box much bigger. Stephen B mentioned this unit as possible replacement for the Omega so think it will work fine. Got it for about half the price they were asking for on the Ulis site.

Still want to get the bike fired up on points system then convert it. Like Airbear`s idea to be ablr to switch back and forth if need backup.

[moosehead]

Well done, Bob. When I set up my Omega I included a toggle switch so I could flick back to points in the event of the Omega failing. This happened last week - I've been losing spark intermittently when the engine gets hot - haven't sorted out why yet - but very glad for that toggle switch.

Charlie, I was thinking of putting a switch in line with condensor hook up. Is this what you did? Good idea for instant back up.

I remember GSPD did something like this as well. I'll search back and see it it I can find it.

By the way, where the hell is GSPD???.....women....they work their magic n'est pas?

[mattcfish]

By the way, where the hell is GSPD???.....women....they work their magic n'est pas?

Where indeed....????

[Airbear]

Charlie, I was thinking of putting a switch in line with condensor hook up. Is this what you did? Good idea for instant back up.

I remember GSPD did something like this as well. I'll search back and see it it I can find it.

By the way, where the hell is GSPD???.....women....they work their magic n'est pas?

Ah yes, I miss GSPD too. I wonder if he is pushing a pram these days.

I did fit the switch as GS suggested - mine is a 3-way (Omega / off / points) mounted on the frame just to the rear of the coils and I can reach it by lifting the seat. The wiring is pretty simple - the Omega is sending an on/off pulse back to the coils, just like the points/condenser system, so there is one extra wire if you retain the points system. I'll see if I can find my sketch diagram and post it.