Sunnbobb's Cheapo Tools 101 - Make a Timing Sight Glass
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- sunnbobb
- Facebook Admin
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- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:09 pm
- My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/sunnbobb/
- Location: LaConner, WA
Sunnbobb's Cheapo Tools 101 - Make a Timing Sight Glass
Poor old No Quarter needs some Geritol. She doesn't have any roll on power, at least, not like the other 1100's I've ridden. The other day, she was smoked at a stop sign by a rice burning 4 wheeler. How embarrassing.. not for me, but for the bike.
So we sat and had a nice chat. I asked the questions, and No Quarter answered, albiet I had to ride it to get the answers.
I decided she may be suffering from a lack of advance. I mean, she runs great, but you have to hold the throttle wide open to maintain 70mph, and the pipes are all carboned out. Everything else in the ignition system is either new or high end, and she purrs right along. but no giddiup in her giddiup.
Before I go through all the motions of removing a swing arm to get at the advance unit, I thought it prudent to check the timing - to see if she is advancing (or not). To check the timing, I need to take the inspection cap off and peer down into the case. With a timing light in one hand, and the throttle in the other, I can to watch the timing mark move (or not) as I work the throttle up to 3K.
All fine and dandy, except I remember the day I forgot to put the timing inspection cap back on. I also made certain I would never do that again - my punishment - two hours cleaning the oil that came out of the case and went on the bike, the floor, the wall, the tool bench, the car, the tool storage bin....
Honda makes this great little timing inspection tool that allows you to look at your flywheel without having oil go all over the place. It costs about $15, screws into the case in place of the stock cap, and works about as well as that oil level window they put under the exhaust on the right side of the engine. That is to say, barely. But if barely is what Honda wants, who are we to question.
I did not have the time to order one of these cute viewports, so I decided to make one. Besides, few things are more fun than spending 45 bucks worth of labor to make a 15 dollar tool. Right?
My final design works just like the Honda one. Oil splashes against the portal, but hey, we Goldwing guys know what it is like to peer through a small clear window with oil splashing against it. We never question the training that Mother Honda has bestowed upon us. We are experts at peering through small oil soaked windows looking for something that may or may not be there. All the practice we have put in viewing through that little window pays off. Seeing a timing mark through the window is cake compared to finding the oil level while you lay on the floor. We can see it. Barely. But we do.
Here is the basic recipe for making a home brewed Timing Mark Viewport.
Skill level: Basic familiarity with Materials fusion (mixing epoxy) Tool proficiency equivalent (TPE): Baboon or Otter.
Ingredients:
1 preferably used timing inspection cap
1 plastic magnifying glass
1 application of jb weld or epoxy of your choice
1 400 grit sand paper
Tools required:
Drill Press
fine toothed hand saw
3/4" drill bit
Drill a hole right through the middle of the inspection cap. rock the bit around and clean out the inside of the cap as best you can.
Cut the small magnifier out of the handle of the Magnifier thing a ma job.
Sand the surface of the cap removing any raised edges, and preparing the surface for epoxy.
Epoxy the magnifier to the cap. allow 24 hrs to set up.
Mark the timing marks on your flywheel with a dab of white paint. You may now screw the cap in place of the OEM cap and watch your flywheel to your hearts content.
So we sat and had a nice chat. I asked the questions, and No Quarter answered, albiet I had to ride it to get the answers.
I decided she may be suffering from a lack of advance. I mean, she runs great, but you have to hold the throttle wide open to maintain 70mph, and the pipes are all carboned out. Everything else in the ignition system is either new or high end, and she purrs right along. but no giddiup in her giddiup.
Before I go through all the motions of removing a swing arm to get at the advance unit, I thought it prudent to check the timing - to see if she is advancing (or not). To check the timing, I need to take the inspection cap off and peer down into the case. With a timing light in one hand, and the throttle in the other, I can to watch the timing mark move (or not) as I work the throttle up to 3K.
All fine and dandy, except I remember the day I forgot to put the timing inspection cap back on. I also made certain I would never do that again - my punishment - two hours cleaning the oil that came out of the case and went on the bike, the floor, the wall, the tool bench, the car, the tool storage bin....
Honda makes this great little timing inspection tool that allows you to look at your flywheel without having oil go all over the place. It costs about $15, screws into the case in place of the stock cap, and works about as well as that oil level window they put under the exhaust on the right side of the engine. That is to say, barely. But if barely is what Honda wants, who are we to question.
I did not have the time to order one of these cute viewports, so I decided to make one. Besides, few things are more fun than spending 45 bucks worth of labor to make a 15 dollar tool. Right?
My final design works just like the Honda one. Oil splashes against the portal, but hey, we Goldwing guys know what it is like to peer through a small clear window with oil splashing against it. We never question the training that Mother Honda has bestowed upon us. We are experts at peering through small oil soaked windows looking for something that may or may not be there. All the practice we have put in viewing through that little window pays off. Seeing a timing mark through the window is cake compared to finding the oil level while you lay on the floor. We can see it. Barely. But we do.
Here is the basic recipe for making a home brewed Timing Mark Viewport.
Skill level: Basic familiarity with Materials fusion (mixing epoxy) Tool proficiency equivalent (TPE): Baboon or Otter.
Ingredients:
1 preferably used timing inspection cap
1 plastic magnifying glass
1 application of jb weld or epoxy of your choice
1 400 grit sand paper
Tools required:
Drill Press
fine toothed hand saw
3/4" drill bit
Drill a hole right through the middle of the inspection cap. rock the bit around and clean out the inside of the cap as best you can.
Cut the small magnifier out of the handle of the Magnifier thing a ma job.
Sand the surface of the cap removing any raised edges, and preparing the surface for epoxy.
Epoxy the magnifier to the cap. allow 24 hrs to set up.
Mark the timing marks on your flywheel with a dab of white paint. You may now screw the cap in place of the OEM cap and watch your flywheel to your hearts content.
I found the end of the internet
---- Bradshaw Bikes custom polishing for your wing. Visit us on facebook!
1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
1983 gl1100 mint restoration "Kristen"
1985 Aspencade..pondering.
---- Bradshaw Bikes custom polishing for your wing. Visit us on facebook!
1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
1983 gl1100 mint restoration "Kristen"
1985 Aspencade..pondering.
- chewy999
- SUPER BIKER!!!!
- Posts: 3214
- Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:21 am
- Location: Haddenham, Cambs, UK
Re: Sunnbobb's Cheapo Tools 101 - Make a Timing Sight Glass
Great tip, but it just confirmed what a lot of people, hopefully not to many here, knew already, I'm officially a baboon!!!!!
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
- Roady
- Member Relations &_Graphics
- Posts: 11957
- Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:35 pm
- Location: Port St. John, FL
Re: Sunnbobb's Cheapo Tools 101 - Make a Timing Sight Glass
Very cool , and a great story for first thing in the morning (where's my coffee?).
... wondering what you discover with No Quarter ...
... wondering what you discover with No Quarter ...
- CYBORG
- Moderator
- Posts: 24552
- Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:52 pm
- Location: Muskegon mich
Re: Sunnbobb's Cheapo Tools 101 - Make a Timing Sight Glass
I got one just like it sitting on my desk. It was made for me be another member about a year ago. Sorry, I don't remember the members name, (hopefully he will chime in). Now we need a periscope type device so we can sit on a stool with a beer, and watch the timing mark go round and round
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
- chewy999
- SUPER BIKER!!!!
- Posts: 3214
- Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:21 am
- Location: Haddenham, Cambs, UK
Re: Sunnbobb's Cheapo Tools 101 - Make a Timing Sight Glass
Why would you want to do that if you already had a beer?CYBORG wrote:Now we need a periscope type device so we can sit on a stool with a beer, and watch the timing mark go round and round
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
- CYBORG
- Moderator
- Posts: 24552
- Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:52 pm
- Location: Muskegon mich
Re: Sunnbobb's Cheapo Tools 101 - Make a Timing Sight Glass
Multi tasking Chewy, Multi tasking
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
- chewy999
- SUPER BIKER!!!!
- Posts: 3214
- Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:21 am
- Location: Haddenham, Cambs, UK
Re: Sunnbobb's Cheapo Tools 101 - Make a Timing Sight Glass
Your not a woman are you? 'They' always say they are better at multitasking than us mere mortals. That's only because women can't do one job properly!!!
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
- NCScooter
- Gold Member
- Posts: 1100
- Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 4:55 pm
- My Album: http://ngwclub.com/gallery3/index.php/w ... ter?page=1
- Location: Lovely Fayetteville, North Carolina
Re: Sunnbobb's Cheapo Tools 101 - Make a Timing Sight Glass
Lovely How-To. Do you have the whole TPE scale with examples listed somewhere on this site?
I need to remember to keep my expectations tiny so I don't end up so whiny.
1976 CB400f
1977 GL1000-The Breeze
I'm so special, my short bus only has two wheels!
1976 CB400f
1977 GL1000-The Breeze
I'm so special, my short bus only has two wheels!
- sunnbobb
- Facebook Admin
- Posts: 21272
- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:09 pm
- My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/sunnbobb/
- Location: LaConner, WA
Re: Sunnbobb's Cheapo Tools 101 - Make a Timing Sight Glass
Roady, turns out I believe it to be the vacuum advance. I took the tube off of the carb and sucked on it. I could feel the advance mechanism moving through the tube. It was not really moving at first, but broke free after a few tries. All of a sudden I have power like never before. Off comes the swing arm and I will go in to lube the mechanism.
I found the end of the internet
---- Bradshaw Bikes custom polishing for your wing. Visit us on facebook!
1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
1983 gl1100 mint restoration "Kristen"
1985 Aspencade..pondering.
---- Bradshaw Bikes custom polishing for your wing. Visit us on facebook!
1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
1983 gl1100 mint restoration "Kristen"
1985 Aspencade..pondering.
- rod willis
- Silver Member
- Posts: 920
- Joined: Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:16 pm
- Location: Sonora,Ca
Re: Sunnbobb's Cheapo Tools 101 - Make a Timing Sight Glass
Sunnbob the 1100 runs full adv. and it retards when the vacuum drops if
I remember right
Rod
I remember right
Rod
rod willis
1976 GL1000
1976 GL1000
- sunnbobb
- Facebook Admin
- Posts: 21272
- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:09 pm
- My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/sunnbobb/
- Location: LaConner, WA
Re: Sunnbobb's Cheapo Tools 101 - Make a Timing Sight Glass
I did not know that.
I found the end of the internet
---- Bradshaw Bikes custom polishing for your wing. Visit us on facebook!
1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
1983 gl1100 mint restoration "Kristen"
1985 Aspencade..pondering.
---- Bradshaw Bikes custom polishing for your wing. Visit us on facebook!
1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
1983 gl1100 mint restoration "Kristen"
1985 Aspencade..pondering.
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