Yup the top end's on and it's time to set the timing. Use the piston stop to find TDC and calculate and mark 19° BTDC. Hook up a plug and give it a kick, no spark. Hit'er again, no spark. Once more and there's spark. Hmm, that's not the way spark is supposed to work. Still beggars can't be choosers.
Hook up a timing light and the check the timing, too far advanced. Off with the flywheel and twist the stator into a more favourable alignment. Button it back up and give'er another kick, no spark. Hit'er again, no spark. And again. And again. And again. And again. Slowly it dawns on me that there is no spark -- I may be the sharpest tool in the shed but only if the shed contains really dull tools!
First check is to substitute in another black box, still no spark. Next I do the continuity checks: charging coil OK (green and white wires), pick-up is open circuit (red and white wires). Back off with the flywheel and I start poking at the wiring. I scrape off the epoxy covering the wiring: red wire has continuity but there's nothing through the pick-up, cold solder? Poke, scrape, poke some more and all of a sudden there's continuity through the pick up. But, every time I tap the pick up, the resistance changes. Button it back up and I have spark again and the timing is just a wee bit retarded.
So I am going to change the pick up out as a precautionary measure, I have a new Piaggio one to hand, and reset the timing and it's back to the races. What can I say, in every life a little rain must fall.
Less Hoo more Hooey
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It get's better.
Fit the new pick up and it is ever so slightly longer. Yes, it's rubbing against the flywheel magnets. So there I am, doing something I thought I never would, filing a PICK UP for goodness sake! Not surprisingly, the old pick up shows signs of having been filed as well.
Good food in India but scooter parts, not so good.
That all sorted, timing set and it's time to fit the fan shroud. No go there either. When I tighten the shroud "backing", it drags on the flywheel. Off comes the flywheel and I'll shave a mill from the diameter tomorrow at work.
Repeat after me, "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!"
PS: This is all apropos of "upgrading" the engine to take an Li crank and an SIL electronic system. Some day I will be smiling about all this but not today ;-)
Fit the new pick up and it is ever so slightly longer. Yes, it's rubbing against the flywheel magnets. So there I am, doing something I thought I never would, filing a PICK UP for goodness sake! Not surprisingly, the old pick up shows signs of having been filed as well.
Good food in India but scooter parts, not so good.
That all sorted, timing set and it's time to fit the fan shroud. No go there either. When I tighten the shroud "backing", it drags on the flywheel. Off comes the flywheel and I'll shave a mill from the diameter tomorrow at work.
Repeat after me, "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!" "Leave it stock!"
PS: This is all apropos of "upgrading" the engine to take an Li crank and an SIL electronic system. Some day I will be smiling about all this but not today ;-)
Found another pick up, so I'll fit that one this weekend and I'm back on schedule!
As an aside, I am looking for a passenger foot rest bar as well and I phoned the chap in England who supplied my electronic kit. Turns out he accidentally sent me a 60 mm stroke crank instead of the stock 58 mm. That means I am now at 153 CC and it should have a bit more kick in the bottom end. Won't happily rev as high though. It's going to be interesting.
As an aside, I am looking for a passenger foot rest bar as well and I phoned the chap in England who supplied my electronic kit. Turns out he accidentally sent me a 60 mm stroke crank instead of the stock 58 mm. That means I am now at 153 CC and it should have a bit more kick in the bottom end. Won't happily rev as high though. It's going to be interesting.
Pick up is in, ignition timing set, flywheel snugged down, and the left side shrouding is on. Will have to trim the right side shroud a hair so the plug can be got at, thankfully I have touch up paint. Might need a wee bit of rubber to keep the shroud from rattling as the head is a little taller.
Then just finish the carb hook up, get and fit the exhaust and we are off to the races.
Then just finish the carb hook up, get and fit the exhaust and we are off to the races.