Timing

[Barry]

I avoid the heat problem by setting the timing statically when cold and then occasionally doing a strobe check at full advance. Despite warnings against static timing because of the possibility of worn advance mechanisms I find it's never wrong. Even if the mechanism was worn, once you know the relationship between static settings and full advance any such problem goes away.

Easy with points but with some ingenuity I'm sure it would also be possible to static time electronic ignition.

[ddebonis]

Great News: Timing was good. Also replaced the throttle cables. Now after I've tuned and synced the carbs, my bike is purring and the 1250-to-2000 rpm idle appears to be gone. What a relief--Thanks for the feedback Julio A! Drops to 900-1100, but that's not likely accurate.

In regards to timing, does anyone else have a white dot painted on the timing wheel? Wasn't sure what to make of that--appeared intentional...

[Barry]

In regards to timing, does anyone else have a white dot painted on the timing wheel? Wasn't sure what to make of that--appeared intentional..

Timing marks have varied between lines and dots stamped into the flywheel. It's never the OT, S or Z letter stamping that denotes the precise position of the timing but an adjacent line or dot. Most owners will have painted the dots or lines white for easy visibility.

[Julio A.]

Glad to have helped out.

As Barry have said, the timing marks are not the letters themselves, but on my bike, it was an adjacent line. I had the wrong impression and used the letters before, since the lines that was supposed to be used for reference was covered in clutch dust and rust.

Cleaning and painting the lines white made timing 100 times more easier.