[awilder1015]

Hey all,

My engine hadn't been running very well recently, so I decided to clean up the points. In doing so, I also replaced the beat up screws used to lock the points down with metric hex bolts. I tried to kick start the bike, and there was an incredible resistance. It turns out that replacing the bolts was a mistake, they were too long, and actually hit the spark advancer right behind the points plate. I took the bolts back out, and put the old ones back in, and I could kick it no problem. But I couldn't get it to start. It would only make a loud bang every couple kicks, no running. I figured I really messed up the points, so I decided to drain the oil, take off the stator cover, and get the timing just right with a new set of points. However, I couldn't get the new points anywhere close to being right. thinking that there was a bigger issue, I took the points plate off, and removed the spark advancer. This is when I realized that the little pin that holds the spark advancer in place had been pulled out of its hole! apparently, when I tried to start the bike with the points plate bolts that were too long, I widened up the hold that the pin goes into and destroyed it.

This is where I need help. I just rebuilt this engine only 100 miles ago after the cam chain tensioner broke and bent some valves, and I had only rebuilt the engine 500 miles before that. I REALLY don't want to take this engine apart again to replace the camshaft after this stupid mistake. Is there any way I can fix this without taking the engine apart?

Thanks a lot for your help!

 

[awilder1015]

Update!

I filed down the metal where the pin had been pulled out of its hole, and I was still able to use pliers to push the pin back into what was left of the hole. The spark advancer didn't go on super easy, it was bent up a little bit too, but I was able to get my ignition set right.

I'll fill it with oil and gas it up tomorrow, hopefully it'll fire up!

In the future, I might get some metal epoxy to rebuild the pin's hole.

 

[frogman79]

"Might" be a good idea, since the vibrations from the engine will probably wallow that advance unit on the camshaft and cause the pin to wear in its hole, thus screwing with your timing.

Lesson learned for not forcing things when they don't want to move. Any unnecessary resistance in an engine should be cause for alarm. Did the same thing on MY 450 with the screws, however the engine wouldn't turn at all.

 

[outobie]

if it were mine I'd pull it again and replace the cam or properly fix it. that's the sort of issue that ends up leaving you stranded on the side of the road when the pin finally works its self free from the vibrations.

It may not come out but the odds that it will are stacked against you

 

[captb]

It can make more work if the timing changes. Back in the day my friends new 72 SL350 couldn't keep up with my 68 CL350 so we bumped his timing up, a bit too far I might add, the piston looked like the one in the pic. Honda still fixed it under warranty thou. The later SL350s were lite weight but were a dog without putting on a CB/CL head, cam and bigger carbs.