Static Timing

So I got to the point where I was sure I had fuel, air, and spark - so what was wrong? Could it be my timing is so off that she won't consider starting (the spark happens at the wrong time in the 4 stroke cycle)? I doubted it, since it would be near impossible for that to change while I was abroad. But whatever - I was desperate.

My Clymer book tells me how to check the timing by hand. I couldn't get Lizzy started so I had to do this the "static way". All I had to do was make the gizmo as picture above...
Ok, so it doesn't look like it - but all I had was tape and nails! It lit up when the two leads were connected, so it did what it was supposed to (which isn't winning a beauty contest).

I connected one lead to the fins, and the other to the breaker points. The idea is that when the breaker points are closed - the light bulb is on and visa versa. You want to get the point where the points *just open* (and the bulb starts to dim) such that the match mark that indicates the appropriate time to fire "F" is aligned properly.

Well - the first time I connected the gizmo and rotated the crank shaft the bulb died. Okaayy... so I just had to find another. After I found the last flashlight bulb on our property and plopped it in, it popped too. What the hell?

Turns out,I was stupid. I totally forgot that I had turned on the bike initially to play with my new battery (honk the horn, turn on the lights) and forgot to turn it off! The spark plug was disconnected but the battery wasn't and was blasting my poor bulb filament to dust!

That said, I noticed that when the battery was on the points would spark when they disconnected. Hey - no need for the gizmo after all! I just watched for the lightning show as I moved the crankshaft. Turns out my timing was a bit off. So I fixed it by rotating the points slightly. I am not sure how to keep the spacing while doing all this... (ideas?) but it didn't look that bad after I cranked the screws back down.

About a minute after I accomplished that, I was on the bike kicking away. After kick 50, I gave up and went inside to sulk and read trashy books.