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[TimG]

Thanks again guys.


Alan R - thanks for the kind offer of assisitance, but I am in Norf Lunnon, a fair way from you, and (dis)gracefully employed - which explains the lack of time to spend on Higher Things such as Enfield electrics...I did read up the Wikipedia stuff, was great but as you say, a good deal of rot is talked about condensors. In fact most sites I looked at skipped lightly over what it is they actually do, apart from muttering vaguely about "controlling back EMF".


Gwilly - many thanks for your advice. I will say that the only previous run-in I had with a condensor was in a Morgan 3 wheeler I built from a pile of (very) rusty bits. Half way into a journey said condensor burned out and I came to an undignified halt with no sparks. Hmm. May replace the existing condensor with our hosts' new one when it arrives and see if it makes any difference. I want to do all I can this weekend, as I am totally in line with Alan R's ideas on spelling...


Cheers


TimG

[Norm]

 Tim ,


  You are close, first I would with a test light check that I had power to the points,I know you have power to the coin, set the bike with the points open turn the ignition on, and see if you have power to one side of the points, if you do then put a screwdriver between the points, carefull not to touch the points cam, and see if the needle deflects.  If the needle deflects and it won't deflect in normal operation, either the points are dirty or they are not closing enough to make contact

[TimG]

Righty ho.


I now feel a bit of a twit and proud of myself simultaneously! 


Our hosts as always did me proud and delivered a set of points and condenser yesterday morning. Never having so much as cleaned a set of points before, I bit the bullet and stripped out the old set. Apart from some slight pitting, couldn't see anything wrong, but replaced them with the new set anyway and - to misquote Catweazle - everything worked!


Took bike for a shakedown, it felt a bit flat and misfired a bit above 60, tweaked the points gap and all was soopa. Nice engine noise, slow even idle...Hertfordshire lanes never looked so good!


I feel a bit silly as it took me so long to track down a very basic fault, but proud that I have fixed my first electricity problem.


MANY thanks to those who supported me and came up with such helpful suggestions. I couldn't have done it without you guys!


Now to put in some more miles....


Cheers


TimG 

[Gwilly]

yeees result, best pleased for you tim, it does make life feel good when you achieve something through your own efforts. Another bond with the bike. Don't forget to check the oil level again, (if you did an oil change)  oh and mine misses a little sometimes at 60mph but then i change into top gear and it all evens out nicely all the best gwilly.

[Norm]

 Now Tim,


       You have to refit the old condensor to prove if it was faulty or if it was the points. If it was only the points then you will be able to carry around a brand new condensor just in case.lol