Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125750
By"odBrabr ~ w Z W ...J U ~ U INEXPENSIVE TIMING TOOL With the boom in the motorcycle field, it seems that someone is always coming up with a new idea to peddle to the multitudes of home mechanics. A prerequisite for any such product is that it must do a much better job than what is already available, or it must do the job just as well and sell for quite a bit less. One thing that bugs most riders is setting the ignition timing on their machine, those that feel they have the knowledge most often do not have the proper equipment so they must take it into the dealer and pay him to do it and those who are afraid to tackle it must do likewise. With the acceptance of the two-stroke into the American motorcycle fraternity, the matter of setting the ignition has become simpler, but the equipment has become more expensive. To do a first·rate job, a rider realizes that he should have first of all, a dial indicator which retails for anywhere from $20 to $30 which is quite a parcel of bread to tlle privateer. Then he should have some method of determining when the contract points open, this means either an ohmmeter or the popular "buzz·box" which means another investment of $10 to $20. This kind of an outlay could-pay for many trips to the dealer. I try not to use this column to tout new products, but once in a while something comes along that I feel is a boom to the home mechanic and I like to give it a plug and explain how it works. This happens to be the case with a little item called MICRO·TlME manufactured by Compu Industries in Glendale, California. This ignition timing device sells for $15.95 and comes complete with a continuity-type light for telling when the contracts open. Basically it is similar to the handle or spindle of a micrometer with each tum of the spindle equal to 50 thousandths of an inch. To save the rider the trouble of figuring his timing in millimeters to thousands, it comes with two handy' little instruction books, one tells how to operate the tool and the other gives the timing specs for almost any machine on the market already converted for use with the tool. As these specs are true distance and are only accurate when the spark plug hole is directly over the center of the piston, they have also included a formula that can be used when the hole is at an angle as on many four-strokes. . One of the 'things that appealed to me was the fact that it is a very iiurable tool and it does not require the tender loving care of a dial indicator, it can be thrown in the tool box with the rest of the tools and taken to the races without fear of damage. Being somewhat of a cynic, I figured I would test it for accuracy against the dial indicator to see how close it would come. My experiment was on a Kawasaki F-3, and it was a fairly simple ,procedure as I will outline here. After I had set it with the MICRO-TIME, I went back and checked it with a dial indicator and there was only a difference factor of 1/10Oth of a millimeter which ·is very, very .close. They are being distributed to the mo,orcycle industry by the Flanders Company of Pasadena and if you should happen to pick one up, here is the procedure for setting your timing. Always remember to clean and adjust your points before you begin any timing drill. 6.l Consult the specification book to find the proper reading, in this case for the F-3, the 4.) With the piston positioned well below top dead center, install the MICRO-TIME in the spark plug hole. Align the zero (0) on the barrel scale with one of he four scribe marks on the shaft housing. it makes no matter which one you use, just the easiest to see. Now push the plunger down into the cylinder hole with your finger so that just a little of the shaft protrudes as shown. book says .1 OS". I then turned the dial down the appropriate number of turns. As each complete turn equals .050 inch, this meant two complete turns and eight more tic marks on the barrel scale which corresponded to .008". 7.) Install test light supplied with the unit, hook one clip to ground and the other to the contacts. Now slowly rotate the engine forward until the piston stops against the plunger. (My God, don't use the kickstarter). This is the correct position Before Top Dead Center for ignition timing so the light should go out or dim at the precise moment that the piston stops against the plunger. If this is not the case, adjust the backing plate until it does, remove the Mica-time and you are ready to I go. 5.) Rotate the engine forward in the direction of running as shown and the piston will push the plunger up. When the piston has reached TDC, the plunger will stop giving you a true indication of TOe. (On machines where the engine cannot be turned over by the mainshaft as shown here, do not use the kickstarter, but block the rear wheel off the ground and engage top gear and rotate the About the only 'sticky wicket' I could find about this unit was that on some four-strokes. the plug hole angle is rather radical and the piston coming up to locate TOC might bind the shaft rather than push it up. I n this case I would recommend locating the piston close to TOe with a small screwdriver first before rear wheel.) Go past TOC, then back up to 3.) Next take a small screwdriver and adjust the tension on the nylon screw as shown here. Set it so that it holds the plunger in position, but so that it will slide under pressure. installing the MICRO-TIME so that it won't quite a distance BTDC and set the plunger lock screw (large knurled set sCrew I. On _4-stroke engines, make sure the piston is on compression stroke. have to move it very much. The factory is also planning to make an attachment for the unit that will allow you to Sf!:t 'the- ignition timing when you have the cylinder head removed. dealers and.distributors you can now have your very own 1.) MICRO-TIME comes packaged in a neat hot hats little container complete with operating instructions and a decently complete set of timing instructions and specs for motorcycles; snowmobiles, minibikes and small engines, for complete price list, write to: both 2 and 4 stroke. cycle news products box 498 long beacrl, ca 90801 or call advertising department (213) 427-7433 2.) First you must determine which thread size fits your particular machine, to order, MICRO-TIME comes equipped to fit a 10mm or 18mm plug hole or by merely removing the adapter collar as shown here. it will fit 12mm or 14mm, so it has ali motorcycle sizes. send color desired and basic...aclJaQQl