1976 Harley very little power

[Yofrankie]

Ok so I ordered new points. However just as an addendum I went ripping around the hood backwards from r maybe 15 minutes straight. Came back popped the Tom and saw that there was smoke coming from the grate behind the points. Maybe the stator is toast as well ? Going to install the new points when they arrive see how things go and then???

[raydhd]

There is nothing electrical behind the points.

[73eldo]

Are you sure your compression gauge can read a number other than 67? I don't think any one would be ripping around the hood if it was really 67. 67 is getting into the range where it may not even run.

[Yofrankie]

My retest after torquing the head bolts down further was about 90

[tew45]

If you installed a new top end , did you gap the rings? Did you break a ring? These new top ends we get today do not have ring gap and ring breakage is common. It still sounds like a bad top end.

[tew45]

I hate to say it but it could be timing. The most cause of working in one direction,

[Yofrankie]

Ok so after some fiddling we swapped the forward and reverse connections on the generator and now it runs great forward and crappy in reverse (which I don’t care about)......so I’m not sure what to say.
Would this be doing damage to anything running it this way? I’m inclined to keep it this way unless you guys tell me otherwise.

[Lochlin]

You are good to go. Almost certainly your cart isn't timed just right. Those engines that run backwards for reverse have to be timed individually for each direction. Timing can be a SOB. If you are comfortable with it I would just let it be.

[tew45]

Since many people do not know how to set the timing on a HD cart. A timing stop will work great and will not take long to make.
Please make this a sticky if it makes sense!

TIMING STOP

I have made a mechanical stop to screw into the spark plug hole to stop the flywheel at the forward and reverse marks. It really helps for you do not have to watch through the flywheel cover hole while making adjustments. A battery and flashlight lamp can also be used to indicate exactly when the points open and the stop will time a Harley in a short time.
Timing is fixed at 25 degrees before and after TDC. This figures to be 25 degrees = .173 inches piston travel before TDC forward and reverse.

The instructions below and the photo tell how I made my timing stop. It works perfectly but care must be used to protect the top of the piston. I am looking for a ¼ inch plastic rod to insert in the bolt to help to prevent damage to the top of the piston.

Parts: 1 old spark plug
1 3/8 – 24 x 2 1/2 or 3 inch bolt

Tools needed: 3/8 – 24 tap and tap drill
Welding torch (2 part epoxy will also work)





Assembly: Break the center out of the old spark plug and grind off the top off the plug.

Drill the plug for the tap and tap for the 3/8-24 bolt.

Screw in the bolt until 7/8th of an inch sticks out of the bottom of the plug.

Turn the bolt out a half turn more.

Check in the engine for timing mark line up.

If you can see the timing mark in the hole silver solder bolt to the plug.

Re-check the marks for visibility.

File the end of the bolt until the marks are centered in the hole. Use extreme care not to hit the top of the piston very hard. You can also drill the end of the bolt and insert a plastic rod to protect the top of the piston. The distance from the spark plug seat to the bottom of the bolt is approximately 1 5/8 inch.
I welded a ½ inch washer on top to make it easier to screw in and out by hand. (See the tool kit photo).

A slip fit rod epoxy glued into the old plug at the proper distance will work as good. This tool is certainly not needed as long as you realize that timing is not needed unless points are replaced or worn. Once a year is probably all you would ever need to use it. It is just a gadget that I wanted to make to use in the field to check timing when I have problems. The time it took to make it will probably even out with time saved in around 5 years or so but I still like it!

Timing with the timing stop

Install the timing stop in the plug hole when piston is at top dead center. The timing marks will be close and the point plate can be adjusted by rocking the crank back and forth while looking through the hole in the cover. With the points set at .022 inch the point plate can be moved to allow the mark before and after to be seen through the hole equal distance before and after TDC. After the point plate has been adjusted, remove the timing stop, turn the crank shaft, and install the timing stop when the piston is around BDC. Then turn the crank one way and adjust the points to just open. Turn the crank the other way and see if the points just open. If the points open exactly when the piston touches the stop in both directions you are finished. If not, adjust the plate to allow the points to open equal distance before and after TDC then check point gap and adjust if necessary. A battery test lamp with leads will also help determine just when points open. The cart will run at top speed when the ignition timing is perfect.

[tew45]

Sorry about GEDC1802.jpg (61.0 KB)no photos.