Bad Condenser?

[conbs]

Just picked up a CA77. I rode it before I bought it and it was pretty rough, but I went about 4 miles. Started fairly easy with electric start. No smoke and it is a low miles bike in good condition.

When I got it home, it wouldn't start at all. Took the carb off and cleaned everything. The idle jet was plugged tight (.010 guitar string will clear out the gunk) and lots of varnish. Seem to be getting fuel into the cylinders now as after I cranked it for a while, I took out the right plug and it was wet. Put the plug against the head and cranked it. Weak and eratic spark.

Started the EMO tuneup. Points were set too wide. Cleaned and gapped them and went to set the timing. Hooked my light up to the points to set the timing and the light stayed on as I turned the crank all the way around. Hmmm. Double checked the points gap and it is right on. Unhooked the condenser wire and the test light goes off right at "F" like it should. Hook it back up and the light stays on.

Seems like the condenser is bad -shorted to ground. But, I tried cranking it over with the condenser unhooked and it still wouldn't start. I want to be sure before I take it out, because it is such a pain and it is also likely the original condenser.

Anyone disagree with my conclusion that the condenser is bad? Anyone know if these bikes will run with the condenser unhooked? Thanks in advance for opinions and help.

[brewsky]

If you unhook the condenser wire (original condenser setup), you lose power to the points, so it wouldn't run.

You can unhook the original condenser, run the coil wire to the points, and add another condenser (doesn't have to be original) wherever you want to on the bike. (Tap it into the same coil wire that runs to the points)

Sparking across the points usually means the condenser is bad, If the points are good and clean.

You are probably right about it being bad.

[conbs]

DOH! I was so fixated on whether the condenser could act as described I didn't even think about the power to it when it is unplugged. Ever see the episode where Homer sings the little ditty: I am so smart. I am so smart. "s" "m" "r" "t" .......

I did file the points before adjusting and I cleaned them, but will do it again just to be sure.

Thanks for the second opinion on the condenser. I will try hooking up another one to see what that will change.

[conbs]

Brewsky, I hooked up a condenser as you suggested and I had a spark plug out against the head to see if there was spark. The bike started on just the other cylinder.

Put the plug back in and had to crank it a little more than I figured, but it started and ran pretty well.

The condenser apparently was bad. (Either that or I have an intermittent problem that has temporarily gone away). The bike still has a bunch of VERY old gas in the tank and the petcock started leaking, so I will be a little while getting everything ironed out, but its great to hear the old girl run and hopefully that will improve as I continue to tinker.

Thanks, Brewsky.

[brewsky]

Good deal!

Old gas is bad even when everything else is good!

[conbs]

Well...... the old condenser is NOT bad. The bike was not running well. I went to recheck the points and noticed that the connector on the green wire that hooks to the points was almost touching the backing plate. DOH!

I had to mess with the petcock a little to get gas flow and when I did the bike started running really well. As an experiment I touched the green wire from the old condenser (it was still mounted and in place) to the points connection figuring that if it was shorted to ground the bike would die. Kept running fine. I hooked up the original condenser and sure enough it started as soon as I hit the starter button.

So... apparently my initial problem was a combination of points set too wide and a funky petcock (RetroBikes rebuild kit on the way) and when I had originally messed with the points I moved the connector on the green wire grounding it against the backing plate. If my old eyes weren't so bad, maybe I would have seen it. But take extra care when doing anything with your points so you don't waste time like I did (and feel like Homer Simpson).

Brewsky, thanks again for your help. We were on the right track.

[brewsky]

Glad you tracked it down.

After being 1/2 way stranded before on my 750 by a bad condenser, I try to keep an extra one with me on a trip.

I ended up having to ride about 30 miles on 2 out of four cylinders, and I could feel the bike cussing me all the way!