I was leaning toward something being found to be incorrect when you went through everything. As you said, the circuit is pretty simple, really no black magic going on. I am surprised that you had so many condensers fail. Maybe the condensers that we have just aren't like they used to be, as Gorminder alluded to. While you are into it, I recommend that you measure the spark plugs. I found one that was working, but was bad using an ohm-meter. I guess that I'll be the only guy that still has points now that you are going solid-state!
-
Required reading for all forum users!!!
Welcome!
Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.A note to new registrants...
All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.A Special Note about Email accounts!
DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.A note to old forum members...
I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.
Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...
-
Returning Visitors
If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.
If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.
Likely duff brand-x caps.
G
Guest
Guest
Plugs tested all good.
Dyna fitted, timing set. Run it on the bench, all plugs firing and checked advance. Sounds luvverly and crisp. Take it for a twenty mile run tomorrow and see what happens.
Dyna fitted, timing set. Run it on the bench, all plugs firing and checked advance. Sounds luvverly and crisp. Take it for a twenty mile run tomorrow and see what happens.
G
Guest
Guest
I am going to question something that nobody else has mentioned so far.
The title says it's a 1980 550. On our side of the pond, none of the 1980 bikes had points or kick starters.
Does your bike have a kick starter, as well? It might be a 1979 model that was first sold (and registered) in 1980.
The title says it's a 1980 550. On our side of the pond, none of the 1980 bikes had points or kick starters.
Does your bike have a kick starter, as well? It might be a 1979 model that was first sold (and registered) in 1980.
G
Guest
Guest
It has points and a kickstart.
The PO had this one and another a year younger. He spent 20 years trying to get them going to no avail and sold them, one to me one elsewhere. I think during that time he swapped over some of the parts and ended up mixing up the parts from both ignition systems. I got the bike running before rebuilding but didn't ride it (he had the cam for opening the points 180 degrees out).
The bike was registered in 1980, but could well have been manufactured in 1979, will check VIN numbers.
The PO had this one and another a year younger. He spent 20 years trying to get them going to no avail and sold them, one to me one elsewhere. I think during that time he swapped over some of the parts and ended up mixing up the parts from both ignition systems. I got the bike running before rebuilding but didn't ride it (he had the cam for opening the points 180 degrees out).
The bike was registered in 1980, but could well have been manufactured in 1979, will check VIN numbers.
G
Guest
Guest
If it has points AND a kick starter, it's definitely a '79 bike.
That said, it might have come off the assembly line as early as August, 1978. :shock:
That said, it might have come off the assembly line as early as August, 1978. :shock:
G
Guest
Guest
Took it out for a ride and WOW. What a difference. Even better, loads better than when the points were working properly. Did 40 miles and loved every inch. First twenty taking it easy, listening to the engine waiting for it to start missing. The second twenty riding like a loon and keeping the revs up to see if it broke.
Got home and noticed a strange wire hanging down at the back.
It was then I noticed that my back light and numberplate were missing. I knew I shouldn't have jumped that humped back bridge. Got it running brilliant and now am waiting for a number plate and light.
so yes, it broke. Just not where I thought it would.
I am not sure life wants me to ride this bike. :lemo::smile:
And anyone considering fitting a Dyna ,DO IT TODAY.
Seriously you will not regret it.
I have come to the conclusion that it was either cheap crap Chinese points/condensors or the the condensors could have been a bigger capacity. Maybe one day I will go back and look again, but not this summer too much riding to be done.
Got home and noticed a strange wire hanging down at the back.
It was then I noticed that my back light and numberplate were missing. I knew I shouldn't have jumped that humped back bridge. Got it running brilliant and now am waiting for a number plate and light.
so yes, it broke. Just not where I thought it would.
I am not sure life wants me to ride this bike. :lemo::smile:
And anyone considering fitting a Dyna ,DO IT TODAY.
Seriously you will not regret it.
I have come to the conclusion that it was either cheap crap Chinese points/condensors or the the condensors could have been a bigger capacity. Maybe one day I will go back and look again, but not this summer too much riding to be done.
Funnily enough I just too started getting weird problems after tweaking my timing on one side. Its been running fine since I timed it about 1500 miles ago but I noticed it had slipped a couple degrees on one side so I thought I'd tweak it and now I cannot get it running right. It seems to get worse as the bike warms up. The points on that side were also quite badly burnt up so I suspect a condensor. 2 things to consider based on experience -
I've had problems before with condensors failing when they get hot.
I've also had problems with poor quality points and its difficult to know what youre buying, pattern points are a bit of a lottery these days! (this might explain the varying timing)
Anyway I always planned to put a dyna on at the next points change so Im not going to mess around, Ive just orderd a Dyna kit
I've had problems before with condensors failing when they get hot.
I've also had problems with poor quality points and its difficult to know what youre buying, pattern points are a bit of a lottery these days! (this might explain the varying timing)
Anyway I always planned to put a dyna on at the next points change so Im not going to mess around, Ive just orderd a Dyna kit
Last edited:
Today's update
voltage at coils..... 12.7 volts. Relay mod done on coils.
Primary coil resistance 1+4.....3.9 ohms
2+3.....4 ohms
secondary coil resistance
1+4..........16.13k ohms
2+3...........15.29k ohms
have bought myself a Dyna DS2-3 and get rid of the points so I can ride the bike instead of banging my head against it.
Fitted the Dyna, doing the timing and found the auto advance jammed and not working. The rotor which came with the Dyna is 28.71mm long. The one on the bike is 27.91mm long. So the by was clamping the advance preventing it operating. ( I am making a spacer to make it possible to fit it to the bike, the sensors are working with the discrepancy in length).
It would seem I have the advance of one type of timing and the points plate of the other. It goes back to a question I asked earlier, are the parts interchangable? Was this causing the problems I was experiencing?
I will update on the Dyna when is fitted.
btw there are 2 dyna kits ds3-1 ds3-2 because there are 2 types of cam lobes. theres about 3mm difference in length I think. So I guess you got the wrong kit. Dyna will supply a replacement cam lobe /rotor if needed (been speaking with them to get the right one identified for my bike)
G
Guest
Guest
I did email Dyna and they were really helpful. I emailed the place I bought the Dyna from and they were really helpful. I used knowledge gained from here and all 3 of us pointed to the same kit, the DS3-2. The difference in height is 0.030". Luckily I have a lathe and a mill so I made myself a new 19 mm "nut" with the cut outs for the dogs for rotating the engine and all is good.
I don't blame Dyna for the wrong part, I think the OP mixed a load of parts up from the two bikes he had and subsequently sold. Maybe there is another guy in the UK having the same issues with their ignition as I did due to the swap over. Who knows. Haven't been out on the bike again yet as getting over a bad stomach bug, but hoping to this weekend.
And AJH go for it, don't waste your time, just fit the Dyna.
I don't blame Dyna for the wrong part, I think the OP mixed a load of parts up from the two bikes he had and subsequently sold. Maybe there is another guy in the UK having the same issues with their ignition as I did due to the swap over. Who knows. Haven't been out on the bike again yet as getting over a bad stomach bug, but hoping to this weekend.
And AJH go for it, don't waste your time, just fit the Dyna.
G
Guest
Guest
I would just like to say a huge thank you to everyone who posted, your suggestions and thoughts were very much appreciated. Cheers guys.
But we don't know what was wrong! aargh! 
but hey,, I love my electonic ignitions and you'll bank all the future time you'd have to adjust/replace the points even if you'd fixed em this time.
but hey,, I love my electonic ignitions and you'll bank all the future time you'd have to adjust/replace the points even if you'd fixed em this time.
