I've read a bunch of threads on timing for the cone shovels here and other places, but I can't find an answer to my question. I have a 74 shovelhead with circuit breaker timing and mechanical advance assy. Engine has been apart prior as it has unique engravings on crank wheel. I got it about a year ago, was not running but engine felt tight with good compression. Had to run oil lines, fuel lines, fix wiring, voltage regulator etc. Got bike to start (kick only) without adjusting timing. Then set timing in accordance with manual. Had problems kickstarting so set timing according to shovelhead.us method where advance mechanism is held in full advance, front piston is put at advance location according to line etched on wheel. Verified front piston on compression by watching pushrods, both are slack and piston is on the way up rotating engine in operating direction. Set points gap at .018, put new NGK R5670-5 gapped at .03. Got bike to start reliably and have been rising a few hundred miles. The timing plate ended up being rotated almost as far as it would go clockwise(advanced), which gave me hesitation. I checked many times that timing was set according to instructions. I even turned the plate with bike idling. Strongest idle was always with plate turned clockwise a lot. Noticed some pinging under load, so rotated plate back a little ccw, rode again, pinging, rotate ccw... did this about 3 times. Today I went riding after rotating the plate a bit ccw (plate is close to middle of adjustment slots now)
Hardly any pinging except when I really lugged it. Bike died at a couple of stops, seemed idle needed to be increased.
This is my question- is it logical for the timing to be correct as far as no detonation but for idle to be a little weaker? Or is this indicative of a crappy advance mechanism, intake leak, or some other problem? I have replaced o rings on intake when I was getting bike ready to fire. Bike still starts well and runs well throughout rpm range.
I'm not sure of other engine work done. Compression feels high as I'm 200# and sometimes struggle to kcik through compression strokes. I'm pulling heads in next couple of weeks as they are seeping oil so putting James fire rings in. I plan to check stroke and bore at that time. Am I over thinking this and should I just retard timing to prevent pinging and turn the idle up slightly and ride the fucking thing? Thanks
Hardly any pinging except when I really lugged it. Bike died at a couple of stops, seemed idle needed to be increased.
This is my question- is it logical for the timing to be correct as far as no detonation but for idle to be a little weaker? Or is this indicative of a crappy advance mechanism, intake leak, or some other problem? I have replaced o rings on intake when I was getting bike ready to fire. Bike still starts well and runs well throughout rpm range.
I'm not sure of other engine work done. Compression feels high as I'm 200# and sometimes struggle to kcik through compression strokes. I'm pulling heads in next couple of weeks as they are seeping oil so putting James fire rings in. I plan to check stroke and bore at that time. Am I over thinking this and should I just retard timing to prevent pinging and turn the idle up slightly and ride the fucking thing? Thanks
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