Lubricating mechanical advance, how to remove timing plate?

[nezzer]

I have owned my bike for 15 years and have never lubricated the mechanical advance. I figure its time. The manual says I need to remove the two screws holding the plate on. On my bike (1980 special), these two screws are recessed into some sort of retainer, and the heads don't look like anything removable.


There is a closeup of one of the "screws". None of my metric sockets hold it tight. It looks slightly marred up already but I have not even attempted to turn it.

To me, it looks like this screw had its head melted in from the factory. My bike is running great right now and the last thing I want to do is park it because I was an idiot while doing some elective maintenance. Any suggestions on what I am dealing with here?

Here is a big picture of the whole area.

[kboehringer]

Originally Posted by nezzer

the heads don't look like anything removable.
SNIP To me, it looks like this screw had its head melted in from the factory.

Neezer,
The bolts are special items installed at the factory. When installed, the heads snapped off once proper torque was reached. This is some sort of emissions thing to keep your bike at the factory setting.

It's easy to remove the bolts. Punch the center of that little remaining nub and drill the "head" off of them. Then, once the pick-up plate is removed you can easily grab the remaining shafts of what remains of the bolts with something like a small vise grip and easily back them out. After you lube the advance mechanism just install some metric socket head cap screws.

Mark the location of the pick-up plate and the pointer so they can both be put back exactly where they were.

NOTE: someone has repaired the pick-up wires on that bike.

KURT

[motoman]

Easy way to lube assembly......use the plastic straw on a spray can of lube and squirt some between the housing and where plate rotates.

[TADracer]

One more thing. When you take the mechanical advance mechanism off the end of the crank, if you disassemble it make sure you install the reluctor exactly the same way and not 180 degrees out.

[nezzer]

Thanks guys. That helps.