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Timing Issue R 75/5; R 60/7
- cbclemmens
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Timing Issue R 75/5; R 60/7
Has anyone seen this before? With it happening to 2 of my bikes, it must have happened to someone else. Does anyone know how to fix this?
Re: Timing Issue R 75/5; R 60/7
I have tried three different back plates and different points with same results. I found the points marked Noris were the best. Snowbum says there were defective points years ago but they should be out of the supply chain by now.
My final solution was to install a crank driven EME hall effect timing unit. Set it once and forget it. I removed the advance cam from the points and keep it in the tool box for backup.
I'm not sure about the engine dying. I'd usually check the tightness of the grounds at the ignition coil.
-Randy
- schrader7032
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Re: Timing Issue R 75/5; R 60/7
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2
Fast. Neat. Average. Friendly. Good. Good.
- srankin
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Re: Timing Issue R 75/5; R 60/7
One of my friend's bike had the condenser in the point system go bad and it caused major problems. Perhaps the points are fine but the condensers are not? I admit in my old chevy days, I would save a few bucks on not buying a new condenser when buying new points. This stopped the day I had a "good" condenser go bad and spent a lot of time scratching my head. Yep, it looked good, no moving parts what can go wrong, LOL.
While there was a batch of bad points on the market a long time back, you are most likely correct, they have made their way out of the supply chain, so I don't think this is your problem. Not unless some other source has opened up.
I am sorry to say, it has been a long time since I messed with points so I cannot give you a step by step guide to setting them.
Not to be a jerk but someone mentioned getting rid of them altogether. I didn't on my 77 R75/7 and swore some while making adjustments in parking lots while on trips away from home when the gap changed and the timing went out and pinging started. After the few and frustrating times points failed and I purchased my 78 RS, I went to a point free system and since then have never had to set or adjust timing in the miles I have put on it. The 77 was traded in for a 83 R80RT with electronic ignition, best thing BMW ever did was to upgrade. The 78 I purchased used and converted the system first thing.
I will ask at my friend's airhead shop if he has any ideas as to a solution to your problem.
- srankin
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Re: Timing Issue R 75/5; R 60/7
I don't know but another thought came to mind, is there anyway, the wires to the points are shorting out?
Does the bikes have the nail style key into the top of the headlight? I have heard that those wear or get out of adjustment causing ignition cut out.
Good hunting, St.
- cbclemmens
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Re: Timing Issue R 75/5; R 60/7
Someone indicated that might be a pointless ignition system that would fit these engines. I could go for that. Is that off a later model bike? Is there an after market "bolt-on" available? Please if anyone knows where I could look I would be very grateful.
Craig
- schrader7032
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Re: Timing Issue R 75/5; R 60/7
http://largiader.com/articles/ignition/
There's another type called the Alpha...Motorrad Elektrik offers it. Snowbum also has a bit on other ignitions:
https://bmwmotorcycletech.info/Ignition.htm
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2
Fast. Neat. Average. Friendly. Good. Good.
- srankin
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Re: Timing Issue R 75/5; R 60/7
Please refresh my memory and perhaps give a bit more information.
Does the bike run now? If so, is the current issue setting the timing?
You mention the bike died, I agree a jumped tooth on the timing chain can kill the engine. I kind of think the BMW timing chain system and gears are pretty robust so unless you have a lot of miles on, or something drastic happened, I wouldn't think you jumped a tooth. I could be very wrong just adding my two cents worth.
So, agin not to be a jerk, if you are using a strobe timing light and cannot get the timing mark to retard to the timing mark in the correct position in the window, yet, it lines up and is good on static check. The problem may be as simple as your idle RPM setting. To set timing the bike has to be at idle, now I have run into various camps who have various ideas as to what the proper idle RPM should be, I won't go there except anything over 1000RPM is NOT idle for airheads. At that RPM or higher, you will be chasing your tail trying to get the timing correct.
Now one way to check timing with a light is to advance the RPM to 3000RPM and see where the full advance mark lines up.
To be honest, if the bike is running fine, and is not pinging under acceleration and load, the timing may be right where it is supposed to be.
Sorry for the long winding ramble. Cheers, and I hope you can get on the road soon. St.
- cbclemmens
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Re: Timing Issue R 75/5; R 60/7
- cbclemmens
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2021 2:21 pm
- Location: Apollo, PA
- Been thanked: 6 times
Re: Timing Issue R 75/5; R 60/7
Craig