Today's Job!

[T350guy]

Allan at the time I had no idea where the points harness actually went and it does indeed snake around the rear doesn't it. I do have to ask why Suzuki did that when a shorter route would have been better. The misfire wasn't a constant one it would just show up after approx 10 miles or a little less. It had to be dirty points or a bad condenser, bad points it was. Many years ago and I mean many I had a misfire at the same rpm on my CB 250 Honda, turns out to be a bad point that bounced.
My 72 Kawasaki H1B has points and I am always setting the timing on the ol gal..I am fairly quick doing it now..lol..never has let me down must say but doing those points every 1000 miles or so is a pain..and when the timing does change you can tell.
I remember doing my points on my 77 GT 750 back in the day.. fairly simple but I just got to the stage I don't want to be fooling around anymore, I just want to ride the Ol gals..Hence Accent Iggys.
My buddy Paul runs points on his 75 and he had been touring with his years ago..He loves the points.

[tz375]

Nothing to get your head around. Points are simple and they do the job, soo did my slide rule and abacus. Did they have to be replaced/ probably not, but there are alternatives.

I like Windows XP and Office 2000 and Microsoft tells me they won't support either and I need to buy a new PC to run their bloated software, so I do understand where you guys are coming from. I have lots of sets of points and boxes of parts that I should sell or re-cycle.

Yesterday I finally took the steel and aluminum to the re-cycle depot - all 280 pounds of it. The yard looks better already

And to me, that's where points belong.

[oldjapanesebikes]

I like Windows XP and Office 2000 and Microsoft tells me they won't support either and I need to buy a new PC to run their bloated software, so I do understand where you guys are coming from.

Keep the old computer and bin the OS - a fresh LINUX install will make it seem like new again ! I'm partial to Ubuntu but just installed a copy of Mint on a machine out here for a cousin on a very old XP machine and quite like it.

[Suzsmokeyallan]

Talking of Windows, I've been through them all from the 3.1 to the latest 8 version. Sometimes they get it right with small issues and some times they get it really wrong with constant issues.

For sheer ease of use and most stable out the box, I found Windows 98 was the best of the lot. For the best of that base OS that started with 95, Vista was the culmination of why you should not try to over fix something.
The current Windows 8 leaves me lost at times, its like you are constantly chasing places to put the cursor on just to make what were previously simple actions happen.
Sometimes it feels like Windows 8 is trying to morph into a Mac, not a good thing if you have had Windows and its relentless update patches ingrained into your mind for many years.
As for IE and its never ending NEW versions, they should have killed that dead horse years ago. Use anything but IE and you will be much happier with your PCs performance.

Richard, did you remember the few small parts we talked about a while back,, I'm still interested in them. I hope you did not throw them out in that last batch clearance.

Ian the misfire was not constant, it would go for a day or two just fine, then drop a cylinder for a few seconds, then all would be good again until the next time. There was never any pattern, nor could you sense when it would happen.
The points wires are a long twisted route under the engine, thats why the next gauge up is a good upgrade when replacing the wires; that and some PVC sheathing.

I find the points to be quite stable once everything is in good shape, keeping the felt lubed I've managed to maintain the gap clearance within spec for close to 3000 miles. Given what they are I can live with that anyday.

[GT750Battleship]

All good,but for how long ? Have just got my old girl sorted today with points,but it took two old sets to get one good set ! Things were badly pitted & it became obvious to me the only way was to swap the good bits around between them to make the bike run.So folks that's the last time I ):;&@4 around with them ! Accent Electronics on order !!

Cheers,
Roger

Four Wheels Move The Body
Two Wheels Move The Soul

[tz375]

Allan,
I started with CPM and then DOS based PCS and every version of Win Doze. Win 98 wasn't bad but I came to prefer XP - it's more NT like. Vista & ME were disasters for sure. & is OK in XP mode. I'd be happy with something that looks like Win 3 in simple boxes where I can find things.

That's the problem with growing old - I just want to do what I want to do and I don't want a load of software taking up time and mental space telling me to do something that isn't what I want to do. This stuff isn't rocket science. It's just a tool. I may just have to follow Ian's advice and go Linux. Time to rebuild the last PC with some upgrades and maybe load Ubuntu on that and see how it goes.

Back to the point(s)
Electronics are not 110% perfect either but they are far more reliable and using DYNA as an example, they take little load and use really light wires.

I swapped a Newtronics over from one bike to another recently and was appalled at the crappy connections and miles of extra wires, so I spliced it into a stock harness with new connectors plus new leads to the triggers. Next time I should look at wiring it above the crankcases to keep the wires away from the oil and hot exhausts.

I used the stock Coil to Side panel wiring and added a 4th lead into that socket and then put a matching plug from Vintage Connections on the lead from the triggers. That eliminated the extra harness and still allows the bike to be retrofitted with 3 wire points as a plug and play.

[Alan H]

I love all these versions of windoze! Bring back DR Dos!! Better than MS Dos every way - until MS bought them out.
I started on 'Windows', without a number - that really was pants. Then it went to 3.1, 3.11 for workgroups, 95, 98, XP, ME, 2000, Vista, 7 and 8 as well as NT server in several versions.
I haven't sampled 8 yet and hope it never happens - I hate 7 and would just like to go back to XP which was the first one that tended not to fall over several times a day when using PLC programming tools.
Previous to that I had a Tandy TRS80 and several Sinclair QLs on Basic, C, C+ and Superbasic before 'graduating' to Amstrad 512DD and Commodore PET. Then Intel stuck their nose in and it all went to bollocks!

I keep telling you young 'uns - this technolology crap will never catch on.
Gas lighting was OK for my grandparents and it should be OK for us today!!!
So what if a few houses blew up, put that down to bad luck.

You never saw the Lone Ranger or John Wayne googling 'catching outlaws' did you?
I rust my case.

[tz375]

My selective memory managed to block out the Trash 80s. I remember trying to do spreadsheet analysis on a Commodore and they were so limited. What about WANG Word Processors. They were the thing to have in business before they disappeared without trace.

I'm going back to punch cards and tape I think.

Or what about HP95 (?) programmable calculators with little magnetic card readers? I managed to skip that generation and waited for something a little faster.

Now I have a so called Smart phone and it's as dumb as a brick but a little lighter. It basically handles all my contacts and has a phone in it - not a huge leap forward over a Palm Pilot of Treo, but it has all sorts of pay as you go "apps" where I get to pay even more outrageous fees to get more of something I don't really need. But we do it because we can.

Now where's the ankle grinder and gas axe, I have work to do.......

[Alan H]

You've missed the point tz, computers are female. They do exactly as you tell them - if they want to.
I did the palms, PDA's and other stuff. Despite the camouflage, I'm not quite so fuddy duddy.
Intercourse apps, I can't be arsed with them, although the water level is handy to set the caravan level.

But there again.................
Resistance is futile.

[tz375]

7 of 9, or a 10 depending on which scale you are using

[Suzsmokeyallan]

When I choose to carry it, the cell phone rings or I use it to talk to people. I cant be bothered with all the apps I'll never use, or a keypad I can't see properly without reading glasses. As Alan H would probably say, "sod that lot"

So meet my Bandit girl, shes a blast.

[Alan H]

Four jugs and a silencer up her arsienda.
Hmmm, different. I'm beginning to see you in a different light Allan.

[ConnerVT]

When I choose to carry it, the cell phone rings or I use it to talk to people. I cant be bothered with all the apps I'll never use, or a keypad I can't see properly without reading glasses.

I love my smartphone. With the Sena SMH10 in my helmet, I put a destination I've never been to before into Google maps navigation, crank up some tunes, and let out the clutch. The nav breaks into my playlist long enough to tell me where I'm to turn next.

[pearljam724]

When I choose to carry it, the cell phone rings or I use it to talk to people. I cant be bothered with all the apps I'll never use, or a keypad I can't see properly without reading glasses. As Alan H would probably say, "sod that lot"

So meet my Bandit girl, shes a blast.

That is an extremely cool pic !

[rbond]

Windows ME was my favorite back then, very little problems from it, Win 95/98, not so good. XP, did pretty good, Win7 does really well. Overall I prefer Linux, Ubuntu was very good untill they switched desktop to 'Unity'. It is OK when you get used to it. Mint is pretty good also. Using that at home with a dard drive swap tray. Can switch to any OS in seconds without a dual boot install. On to points! Used to be a believer in points for road trips, that you could fix on the road in the middle of nowhere. CDI? you were screwed if it died. In my case, (GT500) choice of ignition is mute. It has Suzuki's PEI on it. Most trouble I had was connections on stator plate coils, did have one CDI box go out though... One used one from ring-ding, I was on the road again. See my thread for homemade CDI on this forum. In my case I can replace a fried CDI fo $10.00. On the road if it dies, I have the used OEM also on board, just swap connecting wires and TA DA!!! I got sparks. If I had a choice of points or electronic now, give me CDI. IMHO as we get older the fun of spinning wrenches is getting less. I also used to do a lot of small engine work at home (one job does not cut it), later took on washer / dryer repair, and for the last ten years or so PC work. The small engine stuff just petered out, don't miss it too much, a little now and then is fine. Messing with a drive chain is getting to be a bit of a chore, at present I am looking to buy a BMW R65 or a Moto guzzi V7, both shafties with electric starts. Left side kicking is getting old....... I do love my two stroke twin, it does have to be a Suzuki though. As a general rule getting old is a bitch, the alternative however is something I can pass on....... Maybe a GT185 would fit the bill, just have to still mess with a chain drive, I will take it!