Subject: Re: Coil, Regulator and Points (Recap)Bruce

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Bruce,
I replaced the caps and plug cables about four years ago using the NGK caps. It worked well but my symptoms lately have been a missfiring, especially on the left side and eventually to the point of no Idle at all. I dissassembled the VHB 29's first, cleaned them and reassembled them but the symptom continued. Also, the pilot and main jets numbers were unreadable so I ordered new 45 and 145 jets so I don't cross them up since the fit interchangeably and I can't tell them apart. Another lesson learned the hard way but this was only a $14.00 lesson The last time the points were adjusted and cleaned was 1998 about 5000 miles ago so I feel like the are in need of something and since these parts are cheap I went ahead and purchased them. I replaced the gaskets on the VHB's as well and set the screws as close to spec as possible. I already switched the coil and regulator so when the jets arrive I will reassemble everything and if the problem continues I will beg for the next logical
step in diagnosis. The thing I fear the most is the unknown which is setting the points. All advice is welcome.
Thanks

Bruce Giller <bgil-@mitre.org> wrote:
John,
The shotgun approach to solving such problems usually just does not
work all that well and you end up spending lots of money on parts you
don't need. Can you describe the failures you've had on the bike ?
Many times it is quite difficult discerning between ignition and fuel
related causes for the same problem...even for the experts. And even if
you have the esteemed EBT mechanical abilities, diagnosing the problem
is a skill that requires a thinking brain and knowledge of how things
are supposed to work. All this expertise will let your systematically
test the various systems (fuel, ignition, charging, etc.) which will
lead you to a successful fix. Guzziology is a great book for these
bikes along with the Official repair manual (which assumes lots of
mechanical knowledge but does explain quite a few things).

As to the items you want to change; coils rarely go bad but if you have
a new coil, go ahead and replace it (draw a picture of the wire
connections in case your memory isn't all that great). Regulator can go
bad (at a slightly higher frequency than coils) and can be replaced by
just putting the same wires on the same connectors.

Now, points do wear out because of use. Here you need to pull the cap
and rotor off, remove the points from the distributor (one screw holds
it down, I think), put in new points, and set the gap (rotate the engine
until the points' rubbing block is on one of the high points of the
distributor cam, with a .018" feeler blade set the gap and then tighten
down the screw. rotate the engine a few more times and check gap again).
Then you will have to set the engine timing since the point gap affects
the timing.

If you have 148k miles on it, I'd also check the condition of the
plugs, the plug caps (should fit tight on the plugs and a resistance of
5k ohms or less), the plug wires (are they old, brittle, cracked? Can
be replaced with Packard 440 wire which any good auto should should have
and Moto International sells new end connectors), distributor rotor and cap.

Bruce

'72 Eldo

John, Ooohhhh, now I see. 148k would concern me as well. I have already been in your predicament with just 20k on my bike. Just from
changing things, tweaking things, according to some advise here, and continuing to look over the Ambo periodically I have been able to have a
reliable bike, finally. These puppies do take a lot of patience and committment but they reward you handsomely. Bob

----- Original Message -----
From: John Sutton
To: Loopfram-@topica.com
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 1:03 PM
Subject: Re: Coil, Regulator and Points (Recap)

Bob,
I am having symptoms of failure in both ignition and carburation so I am going to replace parts throughout these systems in order to get the bike in a reliable situation. Frankly I can't trust the
machine for any rides beyond my neighborhood at present. Also, the bike has 148,000 on the ticker so I feel that some of these are destined to fail so while everything is apart it seemed like a
good time to replace these items since they have been sitting around in their boxes brand new.

3haw-@bluefrog.biz wrote:

John,
First of all, why do you want to replace any of these parts? Have they failed? Are they about to fail? Bob

----- Original Message -----
From: John Sutton
To: Loopfram-@topica.com
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2003 8:42 AM
Subject: Coil, Regulator and Points

I have the mechanical abilities of an Eastern Box Turtle. Should I attempt to replace my Coil, Regulator and Points myself and if I attempt to what red
flags must I be aware of.
Thanks

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<DIV>Bruce,</DIV>
<DIV>I replaced the caps and plug cables about four years ago using the NGK caps. It worked well but my symptoms lately have been a missfiring, especially on the left side and eventually to the point of no Idle at all. I dissassembled the VHB 29's first, cleaned them and reassembled them but the symptom continued. Also, the pilot and main jets numbers were unreadable so I ordered new 45 and 145 jets so I don't cross them up since the fit interchangeably and I can't tell them apart. Another lesson learned the hard way but this was only a $14.00 lesson The last time the points were adjusted and cleaned was 1998 about 5000 miles ago so I feel like the are in need of something and since these parts are cheap I went ahead and purchased them. I replaced the gaskets on the VHB's as well and set the screws as close to spec as possible. I already switched the coil and regulator so when the jets arrive I will reassemble everything and if the problem
continues I will beg for the next logical step in diagnosis. The thing I fear the most is the unknown which is setting the points. All advice is welcome.</DIV>
<DIV>Thanks Bruce Giller <bgil-@mitre.org> wrote:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">John, The shotgun approach to solving such problems usually just does not work all that well and you end up spending lots of money on parts you don't need. Can you describe the failures you've had on the bike ? Many times it is quite difficult discerning between ignition and fuel related causes for the same problem...even for the experts. And even if you have the esteemed EBT mechanical abilities, diagnosing the problem is a skill that requires a thinking brain and knowledge of how things are supposed to work. All this expertise will let your systematically test the various systems (fuel, ignition, charging, etc.) which will lead you to a successful fix. Guzziology is a great book for these bikes along with the Official repair manual (which assumes lots of mechanical knowledge but does explain quite a few things). As to the items you want to
change; coils rarely go bad but if you have a new coil, go ahead and replace it (draw a picture of the wire connections in case your memory isn't all that great). Regulator can go bad (at a slightly higher frequency than coils) and can be replaced by just putting the same wires on the same connectors. Now, points do wear out because of use. Here you need to pull the cap and rotor off, remove the points from the distributor (one screw holds it down, I think), put in new points, and set the gap (rotate the engine until the points' rubbing block is on one of the high points of the distributor cam, with a .018" feeler blade set the gap and then tighten down the screw. rotate the engine a few more times and check gap again). Then you will have to set the engine timing since the point gap affects the timing. If you have 148k miles on it, I'd also check the condition of the plugs, the plug caps (should fit tight on the plugs and a
resistance of 5k ohms or less), the plug wires (are they old, brittle, cracked? Can be replaced with Packard 440 wire which any good auto should should have and Moto International sells new end connectors), distributor rotor and cap. Bruce '72 Eldo > John, Ooohhhh, now I see. 148k would concern me as well. I have already been in your predicament with just 20k on my bike. Just from > changing things, tweaking things, according to some advise here, and continuing to look over the Ambo periodically I have been able to have a > reliable bike, finally. These puppies do take a lot of patience and committment but they reward you handsomely. Bob > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: John Sutton > To: Loopfram-@topica.com > Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 1:03 PM > Subject: Re: Coil, Regulator and Points (Recap) > > Bob, > I am having symptoms of failure in both ignition
and carburation so I am going to replace parts throughout these systems in order to get the bike in a reliable situation. Frankly I can't trust the > machine for any rides beyond my neighborhood at present. Also, the bike has 148,000 on the ticker so I feel that some of these are destined to fail so while everything is apart it seemed like a > good time to replace these items since they have been sitting around in their boxes brand new. > > 3haw-@bluefrog.biz wrote: > > John, > First of all, why do you want to replace any of these parts? Have they failed? Are they about to fail? Bob > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: John Sutton > To: Loopfram-@topica.com > Sent: Monday, October 27, 2003 8:42 AM > Subject: Coil, Regulator and Points > > I have the mechanical abilities of an Eastern Box Turtle. Should I attempt to replace my Coil, Regulator and Points myself and if I
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Subject: Re: Coil, Regulator and Points (Recap)Bruce

Author: John Sutton

Date: Oct 31, 2003, 7:41 AM

Post ID: 1715058690

Entire thread: