1963 fastwin 18

[hawk232]

Re: 1963 fastwin 18

not really sure why i didnt try this before. i put a timing light on each plug wire and found out that i wasnt getting anything through the bottom wire. I think I am just going to replace both coils, even though they look ok, and the points and condensers all at one time. I am tired of fighting and ready to go riding!!

edit: found the reason that the coil wasnt firing!! one of the wires rubbed on the flywheel and tore it up!! i fixed the wire and it now fires on both cylinders.

 

[hawk232]

Re: 1963 fastwin 18

progress!! i think i may have found why it was missing intermittently at idle. the armature plate was loose, i tightened it up per joe reeves instructions and it doesnt seem to miss at idle anymore!! also saw that someone installed the ring that the armature plate actually bolts too incorrectly, it was upside down...


my original problem still persists, though it seems to be better. i have a video below but the sound quality is far from the best. the sound it is making when it kicks back and finally dies at the end sounds as though you were coughing lightly. it will occasionally do it at idle, but it seems to be worst just above idle.... here is the vid.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 1963 fastwin 18

I'm thinking you need to synchronize your carb. Open the choke so you can see the throttle plate. Adjust the throttle cam on the armature plate so that as you turn the armature plate by throttling up, the throttle cam roller just makes contact with the throttle cam as the mark on the throttle cam goes by. In other words, the throttle plate in the carb should just start to open when the cam roller hits the mark on the throttle plate.
Good luck,
JBJ

 

[hawk232]

Re: 1963 fastwin 18

jbj thanks for the advice! Mine is deffinatly out of adjustment if the roller isnt supposed to make contact until the mark on the cam... it doesnt appear to be adjustable though, and there is a pretty stiff spring holding the roller against the cam. If you wouldnt mind shedding some light on how to adjust the roller to make contact and the point marked on the cam, i will give it a shot first thing in the morning.

edit: I just went and looked at the motor and think i may have an idea. Correct me if im wrong, but it appears that you would actually adjust the CAM to a position that has the throttle plate closed a hair BEFORE the mark... correct??

thanks!

 

[backyard mechanic]

Re: 1963 fastwin 18

The manual will help you determine all the correct settings and how to adjust/set them. Here's one I haven't seen questioned yet. Step one is always do a compression test.

When you took the flywheel off was there a lot of oil under there? Could be the upper crank seal is shot and that will cause erratic continuity as the oil drowns out the spark.

To set the timing before you set the flywheel back on... Use a ohm meter to determine when your point setting (.020) on the first set just opens. At EXACTLY 180 degrees from that... set your second set of points so they too JUST open. (Remember to test the points so they are not grounded or shorted out before you hook up the wires and always replace the condenser.

I loved working on these old engines. They are die hard motors and always run provided there is compression, fuel and fire.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 1963 fastwin 18

jbj thanks for the advice! Mine is deffinatly out of adjustment if the roller isnt supposed to make contact until the mark on the cam... it doesnt appear to be adjustable though, and there is a pretty stiff spring holding the roller against the cam. If you wouldnt mind shedding some light on how to adjust the roller to make contact and the point marked on the cam, i will give it a shot first thing in the morning.

edit: I just went and looked at the motor and think i may have an idea. Correct me if im wrong, but it appears that you would actually adjust the CAM to a position that has the throttle plate closed a hair BEFORE the mark... correct??

thanks!

Correctomundo!
I believe there are two 5/16" bolts, one of which will adjust the throttle cam itself. It's the bolt closer to the port side of the motor.
Hope it helps,
JBJ

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 1963 fastwin 18

Yes, you loosen and adjust the cam from from underneath.

In the video it appears the armature plate is vibrating back and forth due to the wires seemingly moving back and forth? It movement seemed excessive to me.

 

[hawk232]

Re: 1963 fastwin 18

Compression was earlier in the thread, it's 105 and 100. Will look into the timing, that's a good writeuo you did, thanks!!

I thought the armature plate was moving alot too!! Not sure why... Wires are moving as a result of the armature plate moving.

 

[hawk232]

Re: 1963 fastwin 18

alright, i synced up the carb and it seems to have fixed the problem! I also took off the armature plate AGAIN and found what was making everything vibrate so bad and fixed it. i just got back from about 2 hrs of riding and it only coughed about 5 times in the whole ride. it has never ran better!!

my hypothesis on the problems:

the sporadic miss was being caused by the loose armature plate and the cough was being caused by the throttle cam being adjusted incorrectly!!

thanks to everyone (especially jbj for the advice and joe reeves for the writeups)!!!