As I have to much time and started reading about setting up ignition I realised that no matter how much I search I can not find a video showing how to use a strobe light to do timing on a motorcycle or how it works. I have a general idea. I am assuming that you connect the strobe light to first ignition coil so it flashes when spark plug fires however how does that show anything? I mean it is not like you can see flywheel timing marks when engine is running. I know that general idea is to make the sparkplug fire just before piston reaches TDC. So can some one explain step by step how it is done and how to understand the results?
Thats right......i think, When the plug sparks, the strobe does flash and you can actually see the timing marks for that brief flash of the strobe. If I remember correctly! Anth
Ok you can see the timing marks so how does that help you? One way I can think off is there is a marker on case. When strobe flashes and flywheel marks are showing you just look if it aligns to that mark. If it does you are at stock setup (what ever that is). If flywheel marker shows up before the case marker it is retarding the ignition by x degrees (distance from marker). When after marker it is advancing it by x degree.
Problem is when it is advancing or retarding so much that flywheel marker is outside the glass windows
Ok then all nice I guess if instead of flywheel pickup's were moved it is the same rule just instead of adjusting flywheel you adjust pickup's. Strobe would flash a bit earlier then mark as pickups are firing earlier.
Top tip... Just have a look at the Haynes Manual for your bike - it will show you everything that you need to know...
I use a strobe light on my TR6 (car) but that has points ignition. I used to use one on my Commando and Rocket 3 also. The crankshaft pulley at the front of the engine is marked for top dead centre and then degrees either side. The strobe I have has a connector that fits around a plug lead and 2 leads that connect to the battery to power it. You fit it to No1 cylinder. Before you start on the timing you must set the points gap correctly. The rocket three had three sets of points that could be moved independently. The TR has one set and 6 lobes on the cam. Start the engine and shine the light on the pulley and then move the base plate to get the marks to line up at the correct degrees (Usually a figure before top dead centre. As far as I am aware modern bikes with electronic ignitions cannot be altered its all done in the magic box ECU and is varied all the time dependant on all the inputs that go into it
