Suzuki GT380 Timing

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incredan@netzero.com - 07 Jul 2007 20:27 GMT

I just picked up a nice '74 GT380. I have set the point gap and
ignition timing turning the crankshaft counterclockwise as it rotates
when kicked over with kickstarter arm. This rotation viewed from the
righthand side of the bike looking directly at the timing plate. Now
the original owners manual booklet says to turn the point breaker cam
nut clockwise wile setting timing. Does anyone know what's up with
this. Thanks DG.

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Albrecht - 07 Jul 2007 23:44 GMT

>I just picked up a nice '74 GT380. I have set the point gap and
>ignition timing turning the crankshaft counterclockwise as it rotates
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>nut clockwise wile setting timing. Does anyone know what's up with
>this. Thanks DG.

http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/showschematic.asp?dept_id=1002227

Does the breaker cam turn clockwise or counterclockwise when the kickstarter
turns the crankshaft?

It looks to me like the breaker cam shaft is turned by the gear on the far
end.

Is the generator on the left side of the engine or the right side as the
rider sits on the bike?

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Albrecht - 08 Jul 2007 00:42 GMT

>Does the breaker cam turn clockwise or counterclockwise when the kickstarter
>turns the crankshaft?

http://kawtriple.com/tripleed/dalegt380/sm25.jpg

Yes, the breaker cam does turn backwards.

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incredan@netzero.com - 13 Jul 2007 15:06 GMT

> >Does the breaker cam turn clockwise or counterclockwise when the kickstarter
> >turns the crankshaft?
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> --
> Message posted viahttp://www.motorcyclekb.com

OK, Page 41 of the owner's manual for my 1974 model "L" GT380 shows
clockwize breaker camturning direction.
Why, I don't know because page 66 of the Clymer service repair book
for GT380, 500 and 750 solves the mystery. Don't try to remove the
breaker cam nut on a 380. There's a nylon gear drive in there and
you'll strip the
gear drive! You have to remove the timing cover/gear drive as a unit.
Of course the gear drive explains the counterclockwise turning
direction of the breakercam. DG.

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Albrecht - 13 Jul 2007 15:35 GMT

>Of course the gear drive explains the counterclockwise turning
>direction of the breakercam.

Yabbot, why turn the breaker cam backwards to engine roation?

The GT750 points plate was on the left side of the engine, so the breaker cam
turned CCW. The GT750 didn't need any silly nylon timing gear, but it did
have a silly nylon waterpump gear.

Your GT380's ignition points were probably designed for a breaker cam that
turned CCW, so they had to use the nylon gear to reverse breaker cam rotation
if they wanted to put the alternator on the left end of the crankshaft.

The ignition points used by the GT250/380/550 and GT750 were all the same, as
I recall.

There were two sets of points that were identical and a third set that was
different.

Instead of buying a kit for $30 that contained all the points, I would buy
two aftermarket Beck Arnley points and just buy the oddball Nippon Denso set
from $crewzuki.

I had to clean and regap the points and check the ignition timing every 4000
to 5000 miles. That got old after several years.

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Motorcycle Forum / General / Technical / July 2007

Suzuki GT380 Timing