Cigarette paper....

[Motu]

I got my son to help me set the ign timing on his TL125 this evening.After explaining why the points opening was so critical,I got him to feel the cigarette paper out of the points as I brought the crank up to the marks.

It's so much easier to explain how the ign system works when you have points.I guess he will be the only kid in his generation who knows the real reason we have cigarette paper,and how to use it.

[Ocean1]

Lots of alternative uses. Used to be the official watersiders union definition of "raining" was 3 visible spots on a fag paper.

[Warr]

Done plenty of points in magnetos ?? on old british machines thru to older japers with points and never used a cigi paper sorry.
Used a multi meter on the ohms scale when it goes from a short (0 ohms) to the resistance of the primary windings, the points have opened :)
So still no use for cigi paper

[surfer]

Yep, I've been told about the ciggy paper trick. It's a good one. Mind you I haven't used it on my bike as I never seem to have any around when I'm setting the points.

Good to be reminded of it though.

[tri boy]

One of the main advantages with lightly dragging the cig paper through the points was that it picked up any remaining filings, or dust that remained on the points faces.
Minute metal filings can damage the surfaces very quickly, and your back to square one.
Although i prefer to set the gap with feelers gauges, and rely on DTI's etc when required on two strokes. The Cig paper is as valuable to correct job finishing as correct emery grade is to spray painting.
Motu knows his papers by the sounds of it.:doobey:

[ManDownUnder]

Way to go Motu. Too much rip and replace going on out there now - too few with the skills, understanding, and the touch for machinery.

The old joke about doing up the bolt till it breaks then back a bit is (supposedly) funny... but get your average bod to do up a bolt till it's about to start breaking...

I'm doing the same for my little man where possible too. Amasing how fast the litle buggers pick it up too huh?

[FROSTY]

Points --what are points motu??? are dem the things next to the engine in my van ??

[What?]

Aye - setting points is the reason I took up smoking. Once CDI's came along, I gave it up.

[limbimtimwim]

This is a blue or yellow paper set?

[Kiwifire72]

Papers very good in a machine shop especially on A mill getting that tool right on the edge of your work

[Ocean1]

Papers very good in a machine shop especially on A mill getting that tool right on the edge of your work

Yup, just don't hold 'em too tight eh?

[jim.cox]

Papers very good in a machine shop especially on A mill getting that tool right on the edge of your work

Useful for cleaning the pads on my sax or flute too

[Ixion]

One of the main advantages with lightly dragging the cig paper through the points was that it picked up any remaining filings, or dust that remained on the points faces.
Minute metal filings can damage the surfaces very quickly, and your back to square one.
Although i prefer to set the gap with feelers gauges, and rely on DTI's etc when required on two strokes. The Cig paper is as valuable to correct job finishing as correct emery grade is to spray painting.
Motu knows his papers by the sounds of it.:doobey:

Yeh, gotta use Zig Zag papers to set points.

THe DTI mention prompts me to ask a question that is bugging me.

The GT500 has magneto ignition, with a CDI (loosely speaking). Now, the manual for both the T500 and the GT500 says to set the timing using a DTI. Good oh, got the DTI and the spark plug adaptor thingy, and on the T500 it's a piece of piss. Fag paper between the points , wind the motor clowly forward until the DTI shows the correct height BTDC, and adjust the points until the fag paper just slips out.

And a multimeter would work also (except that would be wanking) , just turn on the ignition and set the points so the circuit opens at the right place.

BUT. How do I do this on the GT500 ? No points! Theres a pulse coil, which triggers the spark. But it will only generate a pulse if the flywheel is moving past it at a reasonable speed . Which makes it impossible to pick up the piston position. I can probably pick up the pulse on a meter, but with the flywheel moving, it's going to be past the actual ignition point by the time I can switch visual focus fromt he meter to the DTI.

How does one do this ? Obviously, the problem must be the same on all CDI ignition engines.

[tri boy]

T500's were from the dark side of town for me. (Hogpacca has since flown the coop, an was the local expert years ago).
i'm picking the best way would be to use ohm swing as the dial in point in conjunction with the DTI.
A ph call to Suzi NZ, and ask to speak to Mr Peck, may throw some more candle power on the subject.
A slotted pick up base would only be as reliable as the loctited screws holding it.
Maico motocross bikes with 1/2 sheared allen keys may jog ones memory about slightly incorrect ign timing. (F**k they could kick):pinch:

[Ixion]

T500 is easy, it has points. GT500 , no points. Ohms is constant, just the resistance of the pulsar coil.

I think Suzuki just overlooked it. X7 which uses the same magneto, they say use a degree disk.

[Motu]

This is a blue or yellow paper set?

I got the papers out of my wife's toolbox - she had both yellow and blue,I prefer yellow,so used them.

Another trick I used on the CDI bikes and bad access points is to use a small transistor radio set to static and held near the flywheel - as the trigger trips the coil the radio will click.....two hands,ears and eyes all needed for that one.The multimeter method means you have to have an eye on the needle and the timing marks at the same time.Ciggy paper and radio method use another input so you can watch the marks and feel or hear the firing point.With battery points ign I prefer to use a light....you don't need to look at it,just peripheral vision will pick it up.

A 382 single filament bulb and bulb holder with two wires and alligator clips - I made mine 35 years ago and it still works perfectly.