Electronic ignition advance.

[ME 109]

How does the ignition advance work on a post '81 airhead with electronic iginition?
Have I answered my own question..........electronic advance, or does it have a mechanical advance mechanism?

Reason I'm asking is that my RS is breaking down towards the top end of rpm, about 6500 >

Of course it could be caused by quite a few other things too........

Valve settings OK.
I don't think float level because the breakdown can happen very quickly from low rpm, before the float bowl/s would have time to lower significantly?
30 yo coils?
I don't think it's 'one side' breaking down.

All advice, and thread degradation most welcome.

[Deleted User 72]

All advice, and thread degradation most welcome.

That's good, 'cause you sure got it comin'! But not from me, I paid in advance.

I don't know anything about your question. I'm a points kind of luddite.

[dougie]

Jeff - I am sure you have the same Hall Effect bean can as I do. There are spring loaded mechanical advance weights in it.
I just replaced the advance springs in mine with some from Motobins. Fiddly job, but cheap.
The weights could be sticking from grunge and grime, I cleaned mine out and gave them each a small drop of light oil.
Have you checked your ignition timing with a strobe light?

[ME 109]

Haven't checked timing yet.......That's a good way to find out, isn't it Doug!

So it sounds like a mechanical advance, springs and things.

[dougie]

Haven't checked timing yet.......That's a good way to find out, isn't it Doug!
So it sounds like a mechanical advance, springs and things.

Read my post again - I added a bit (advance weights in my brain are sticking).

[ME 109]

30 years and 250,000 klm is excellent reliability from an automotive part, if indeed the bean can is the problem.

Timing light first, Z in the window at 3,000 rpm I think is the deal.
And if Z is in the window at 3000, can one assume that the bean can is operating as it should?

[ME 109]

I don't know anything about your question. I'm a points kind of luddite.

A pointless response Native, none the less.

[dougie]

30 years and 250,000 klm is excellent reliability from an automotive part, if indeed the bean can is the problem.
Timing light first, Z in the window at 3,000 rpm I think is the deal.
And if Z is in the window at 3000, can one assume that the bean can is operating as it should?

Z is the important one and it should be centered in the window at full advance (about 3000rpm).
And it shouldn't be dancing too much.
S should be showing at idle.
Isn't it 4 am there?
I know - sleep is for wimps.

[ME 109]

Isn't it 4 am there?

Well.......it was.

9:00 am Doug. But I did get up 3 hours ago.

My RS has behaved itself for a couple of years now...........very little to 'fix'

Although I did break the wire gear shift lever linkage a couple of weeks ago and had to ride home 180 k's through the mountains!
Ya know yer can change gear by hand using the short lever attached to the tranny!
I made it home with about ten gear changes. (and still beat the GS's over the mountain )

[dougie]

Ya know yer can change gear by hand using the short lever attached to the tranny!

Thought about that once. Figured I could dig a hole in the sole of my boot to fit over that little gearbox lever.