Perplexed

[Eljeef]

A Dream is supposed to fire on the exhaust stroke (Type II) engine.
Since the pistons rise and fall together, and there is only one set of points, it is called a "wasted spark" system, and the plugs fire on both compression and exhaust.
Have you checked the timing?

Hi. I adjusted the timing based on Paperslammer's tutorial.

[Eljeef]

Jeff, I don't think you can alter the timing 180 degrees by changing the points. Does the bike have spark? If not, make sure you attached the wire to the points correctly, it must be insulated from the points base with the plastic washers and collar.

I think it is put together properly. Here are a few pics to see if they are assembled correctly.
, ,
Loud Mouse asked if I had 12 volts going to the points with the ignition key in the correct position. Well, there is only one position that I get any voltage at the points and that is around 4 or 5 volts as I turn the starter over. Otherwise there is no voltage (until I hit the starter button). I changed the condenser and traced the wire all the way from the points back through the condenser down the wiring harness, up through the ignition (which I then disassembled, cleaned, applied dielectric grease to the contacts and reassembled) The wiring seems fine. I'm stumped. :(

[LOUD MOUSE]

I'd say ya have a wiring problem somewhere for sure if the only time ya have voltage (low at that) when ya try to start the engine. ..........lm

Jeff, I don't think you can alter the timing 180 degrees by changing the points. Does the bike have spark? If not, make sure you attached the wire to the points correctly, it must be insulated from the points base with the plastic washers and collar.

I think it is put together properly. Here are a few pics to see if they are assembled correctly.
, ,
Loud Mouse asked if I had 12 volts going to the points with the ignition key in the correct position. Well, there is only one position that I get any voltage at the points and that is around 4 or 5 volts as I turn the starter over. Otherwise there is no voltage (until I hit the starter button). I changed the condenser and traced the wire all the way from the points back through the condenser down the wiring harness, up through the ignition (which I then disassembled, cleaned, applied dielectric grease to the contacts and reassembled) The wiring seems fine. I'm stumped. :(

[Eljeef]

I'd say ya have a wiring problem somewhere for sure if the only time ya have voltage (low at that) when ya try to start the engine. ..........lm

Yeah, although I hate to hear the painful truth. Any ideas where to look?

[LOUD MOUSE]

Start with a wiring diagram.
Open the head light bucket so ya can see all the wires in there.
Look at all wire connections and compare what ya see with the diagram.
Wire colors are a help but also look for loose/corroded/broken/in the wrong place wires and ya should find the problem.
Don't ignore any wires that are in/on that bike. .........lm

I'd say ya have a wiring problem somewhere for sure if the only time ya have voltage (low at that) when ya try to start the engine. ..........lm

Yeah, although I hate to hear the painful truth. Any ideas where to look?

[Eljeef]

Start with a wiring diagram.
Open the head light bucket so ya can see all the wires in there.
Look at all wire connections and compare what ya see with the diagram.
Wire colors are a help but also look for loose/corroded/broken/in the wrong place wires and ya should find the problem.
Don't ignore any wires that are in/on that bike. .........lm


All right. The headlight bucket is already off. I'll continue looking tomorrow. Thanks for the direction. Jeff.

[conbs]

First check the voltage at your battery for a baseline. Try taking the points completely off the bike and checking your voltage again on the hot wire that attaches to the points. If you have the same voltage on the unattached wire for the points as your battery - hopefully 12 - then the problem has to be in the points themselves or the way they are attached to the plate. Years ago I had a new set of points that was grounded internally. Took me a while to find that one.

A problem anywhere else on the bike if you simply changed the points would have to be coincidental - which it could be but is not very likely. The higher percentage for finding the problem is looking at whatever you did right before the problem started.