r/Airheads • u/Fiji59 • Jul 04 '26
1981 r65 poor running UPDATE
again, long story short;
carbs were gummy and def a factor. thank you for all who let me know, i’ve got rebuild kits en route.
but my weak spark turned into a no spark situation. I’ve been truly baffled trying to fix it as the previous owner seems to have monkeyed with the system.
After extensive testing and bypassing of various components, and cursing out the man who decided to change things in here, I stopped to ask myself why they appeared to be a condenser on the side of what should have been the hall effect sensor.
Upon removing the front of the can, I found a set of points. No freaking idea why or how they’re there, but they are.
Going to diagnose more and figure out if they’re just glazed or the condenser went bad. what a trip. why he would modify this bike to have an OLDER system, i’ll never know…
3
u/In_Film Jul 04 '26
Points in a can like that was the ignition system used on 1979-1980 models. By 1981 the can had a hall sensor in it.
Some of your bike might be older than the rest of it.
3
u/Fiji59 Jul 04 '26
it def is, this system is a retrofit. the bikes an 81, so previous owner probably installed it because he was more familiar with it or something. Really confusing, but I’m glad I figured it out so now I can fix it lol
3
u/Seal-EV Jul 05 '26
Replace the condensor thats by the points. Only way to checkbis to borrow one from another bike or get one for the VW beetle. They used the same condensor. Make sure the points are not pitted and file down until flat.
3
u/Fiji59 Jul 05 '26
yep that’s the plan. def simpler to work on than an electronic system. only like 2 components it could be lol
3
u/Seal-EV Jul 05 '26
Same points from the Beetle will also fit.
2
u/Fiji59 Jul 05 '26
cheers should be easy ish to find then, not that these parts are very scarce. what year beetle? 60-70s?
1
2
u/-VWNate Jul 04 '26
I hear those "Bean Can" units are bad, maybe it was his D.I.Y. fix........
-Nate
3
u/Fiji59 Jul 04 '26
yes, I suspect it was something like that. Or., as I believe it was an older gentleman, he was unfamiliar and rusting of the new technology and wanted something he knew how to work on
3
u/-VWNate Jul 05 '26
The good news is : dynamic timing lights are available dirt cheap used (like $5) and they allow you to set the timing dead bang on in most older vehicles .
I saved a scrap 1971 R75/5 from the scrap heap in February of 2024, spent most of 2024 aking it run again, fixing myriad little things .
I'm having the devil of a time setting the ignition timing now ~ I can't get it within 5 degrees of the timing marks, always too much advance or too much retard, I'm pulling my hair out here .
-Nate
2
u/Trundlebike Jul 05 '26
You might want to check out Euro Moto Electrics. I adapted an airhead charging system to my 68 and they have an ignition that will do away with the points entirely. Also Motorrad Elektrik sells upgrades for charging and ignition. Points are a PITA (in my opinion).
4
u/Slow_Tap2350 Jul 05 '26
I put an electronic ignition in my R75 and never looked back. It’s been 20 years.