Timer control cable routing and brackets

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FL54
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Timer control cable routing and brackets

#1

Post by FL54 »

My Panhead never had timer control cables in the handlebars. I've ordered the appropriate parts i.e. cable, plunger, rollers etc. but I'm not sure of how the control wire is routed after it exits the hole in the handlebars. Also, what is the correct bracket to hold the control cable and wire near the timer?
Thanks for any help/pictures.
FL54
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old.wrench
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Re: Timer control cable routing and brackets

#2

Post by old.wrench »

fl54
Looks like the boss for the relay and timer control wire bracket has been removed from your case.
You'll need to get creative to provide a mount to secure the timer control wire.
Might be able to fab a bracket that uses the timer mounting bolts to secure it.
There are a couple of real good pictures that show the factory mounting method in the forums "knowledge base" or "pictures" section.

Geo.
FL54
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Re: Timer control cable routing and brackets

#3

Post by FL54 »

Thanks George.
I saw a picture in the KB of a '59. There aren't any holes in the case for a bracket. I'll try to find some in "pictures."
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Re: Timer control cable routing and brackets

#4

Post by steve_wood »

In the picture below, you can see the boss below the horn. Looking at the circuit breaker cover, at about the 1:00 position, you can see a silver screw. That's what holds the clamp that holds the advance/retard cable.

Image
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Re: Timer control cable routing and brackets

#5

Post by PanPal »

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-Panhead- ... 93&vxp=mtr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



You can see the boss that has been removed from your motor case pictured on this listing for cases selling on ebay.
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Re: Timer control cable routing and brackets

#6

Post by panhead »

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Re: Timer control cable routing and brackets

#7

Post by Bigincher »

Man, that kinda sucks.

You can buy replacement relay bosses, to weld back on and restore the case. You can buy one and put it on the shelf, and wait for the day you tear the motor down to bare bones and split the cases.....! :shock:
I don't think that will be anytime soon, of course. That would be hard to do to a perfectly fine running motorcycle.

Like George says, you'll have to get creative. Let us see what you come up with, it might help someone else.........
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Re: Timer control cable routing and brackets

#8

Post by old.wrench »

fl54,
Your motor might have had a magneto on it at one time.
Guys would saw the relay mounting boss off the case so the bottom of the mag would clear.
Other guys would saw them off to "clean up" the motor and then run an auto advance timer.
With the value of a pair of good un-molested cases now a days, I haven't heard of anyone doing that for awhile now.
FL54
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Re: Timer control cable routing and brackets

#9

Post by FL54 »

I'm thinking George is right. I'll have to fabricate a bracket that bolts on top of the inboard timer hold-down bolt and bends up over the generator and bolt the cable clamp to it.
FL54
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Re: Timer control cable routing and brackets

#10

Post by FL54 »

Oldwrench;
You may be right. I got this bike as a basket case about 40 years ago and in one of the boxes was a magneto. It may have been the PO's plan to mount a magneto before he gave up altogether.
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Re: Timer control cable routing and brackets

#11

Post by old.wrench »

fl54,
I found those pictures of the the timer control wire connection. They are in the "gallery" section under "technical pictures".
Here is a link to one of them - https://hydra-glide.net/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=64

there are a couple more good ones in there too.
edit: oops, I see Panhead already posted that link :)

A helpful (I hope!) tip for you when you get to thinking about fabbing up your bracket - if you stick a short "test piece" of wire in the pre-drilled hole in the timer adjuster screw where your timer control coil inner wire normally goes, it will show you the proper height and angle at which to fabricate your bracket. With an all-stock parts condition it puts the control coil about 7/8" above the case/generator.
Here's another thought - you might even find it helpful to re-drill the hole in the timer adjuster screw so that it angles down towards the case/generator instead of up and away. My reasoning behind that idea is it would keep your fabricated bracket shorter and tighter to the case/generator and a little less obvious. Good Luck to you!

By the way, if you decide to re-drill or modify the timer adjuster screw and you want to keep your original one as-is, Colony Machine makes a real nice repop replacement. Just like the original!

Geo.
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Re: Timer control cable routing and brackets

#12

Post by awander »

I just finished researching the routing of the spark advance control coil, and this is what I found(I think it;s correct!)

The coil exits the tins on the left of the steering head(as does the throttle coil), and then is held to the left front downtube by a clip that mounts to the extension on the left front lower tank mount. (Palmer says in different places that it should go on both the right and the left of the steering head. Left seemed to work better for me)

Then it continues down a short way along the downtube, and then goes above the mousetrap bracket, behind the LF downtube, between the front cylinder and the front exhaust header, to the bracket that is mounted to the relay boss on the case.
FL54
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Re: Timer control cable routing and brackets

#13

Post by FL54 »

Thanks to all who replied. I'm thinking that the best course of action is to wait until the coil and other parts come in before I start this little project. That way I can thread the coil through the bars and route it as described in Palmer's to determine the best way to mount my improvised bracket to avoid binding on the coil. I have an old air cleaner/carb support bracket that may be about the right size to do the job. I'll paint it black and hopefully only the aficionados will know it's not stock. I'll post some pics when I get er done.
Thanks again to everyone for their help.
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Re: Timer control cable routing and brackets

#14

Post by RUBONE »

That looks like a Police generator on that bike. Does it have the big three post regulator as well?
FL54
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Re: Timer control cable routing and brackets

#15

Post by FL54 »

Roger that Rubone. Fan cooled Police generator and 3 post regulator.
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