[cs1976]

Now then, any suggestions for keeping my bike from dying in the rain?  (I'm assuming it was the points getting wet) Anyone else have this problem?

[1Blackwolf1]

  CMW sells a nifty rubber boot that slides on over the distributor cover.  Seems to work well, my bike didn't die when I got caught in the rain.  I think it cost around $9.00.  Will.

[Chasfield]

Also check that HT lead and plug cap are in A1 condition. Make sure that plug cap is of a type that seals nicely onto the spark plug.

[Slider]

Also check that HT lead and plug cap are in A1 condition.

HT?

[Merrill]

pull the points cover and check for
signs of moisture, if rain did invade the
points a thorough drying will be required.
/
if all is well there, you have eliminated
one possibility. There is a problem, it
should be identified.

[cs1976]

Thanks for the advice guys. Dried it out and rode it to work. One more question, would replacing the points with electronic ignition help as well, or will the same happen if the E I gets wet?

[Chasfield]

Slider

HT lead = High Tension lead = high voltage ignition lead from coil to plug.

The one that makes your hair stand on end.

Chas

[Slider]

The one that makes your hair stand on end.

Oh... yeah. I've been there before.

[Merrill]

Chad, I don't know about the short term
effect of an electronic ignition as it pertains
to your situation, but you don't want water where
water does not belong.
/
If the E- ing. helped it would be temporary at best.
/
Sounds odd, but one of the reasons i purchased
this bike was to get back to that basic design
/
I see folks ( l'll take a beating here) buy these bikes,
then leap on that evolutionary trail. They're on
their way to reinventing the Honda.
/
Points work great, 6.5-1 compression works great.
every aspect of these machines complements
the other. Farthest I'd go is free flow filter,
free flow exhaust, and one of those gorgeous
amal carbs. Motor wise i'd tie it up right there.
.
of course this is just me, and I've already screwed up
a lot of good machines just for the sake of a few more ponies.
/
You could seal the cover and wire with a thin, clean, narrow
bead of clear silicon after making sure all was dry and teh
timing was spot on.

[PhilJ]

Merrill is spot on here. Why take a 22 hp engine and prod it into a 24 hp engine. Just doesn't compute for me, but then I'm not 25 or 30 or God forbid even forty anymore, damn I just depressed myself. Hell go for it guys, you only live once. I can see it now a 50 hp Bullet 500.   

[cs1976]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chad, I don't know about the short term
effect of an electronic ignition as it pertains
to your situation, but you don't want water where
water does not belong.
/
If the E- ing. helped it would be temporary at best.
/
Sounds odd, but one of the reasons i purchased
this bike was to get back to that basic design
/
I see folks ( l'll take a beating here) buy these bikes,
then leap on that evolutionary trail. They're on
their way to reinventing the Honda.
/
Points work great, 6.5-1 compression works great.
every aspect of these machines complements
the other. Farthest I'd go is free flow filter,
free flow exhaust, and one of those gorgeous
amal carbs. Motor wise i'd tie it up right there.
.
of course this is just me, and I've already screwed up
a lot of good machines just for the sake of a few more ponies.
/
You could seal the cover and wire with a thin, clean, narrow
bead of clear silicon after making sure all was dry and teh
timing was spot on.



Nuff said, sounds good to me. Thanks again for all the help.

[cs1976]

Forgot to do that quote thing!

[clamp]

9 dollar for a rubber boot?   We used to use a rubber glove on the Austin mini's it was perfect ,--5 fingers for 4 plug leads and an HT perfect.

   you need to dry it out and spray it with some silicone spray every where HT leads up the plug cap in the points every-eh-ere-.   vasaline ia good insulator sealer.

     The Army used to make petrol engine water tight for total submersion with grease all over the plug leads and distributor cap.

[The Garbone]

Well, my RE is still new enough I have yet to dicker with the points but I do have a lot of experience with my 1949 Tractor.   For the first few years I owned it I ran it as the stock 6Volt system with the points and stock distributor.    This was fine and I only had to monkey with them once a years or so to keep things smooth.   Well after a 3 years I had to replace them and then adjust them once more a year later.  It gets tiring.

I went out, converted the old beast to 12v and put a petronix coil and solid state ignition in it.    That was 5 years ago and I have yet to tinker with it since. 

Of course when I am mowing deep grass under load it does not clatter and sputter like a old antique, just sorta hums along like a modern engine.  This change in sound probably will not be noticeable on an RE since it has the exhaust note and valve clutter that override all else.  When my points go they are going,  IMO if solid state does not change the look or sound of the bike why not.  Some things are better left in the past,  and having to monkey with bad points at 11pm in the rain is one of them.