hi guys,
i just completed all the repairs on my 58 duoglide and thought since im at it ill give it a tune. Never had to tune it before as i have only had it for 12 months and havent got it on the road yet.

I took the points out and replaced them. My 58 Pan has been converted to a 12volt system and single point distributor. I set the gap as per the manual but when it comes to the static timing im a little stuck.

The timing parks are as follows. F     R   and a Dot. I take it that F is for front piston and R is for the rear piston. there is also a DOT after the R. What do i set the timing mark too to do the timing? F R or the Dot. Once i know where i can use the static method to set the timing although i did read a thread that said if you have manual or automatic advance it is different procedure but im not sure what type i have. Sorry for being a bit of a newby but before 12 months ago i only worked on cars so bikes are all new to me.

Well not riding a Pan but wish i was.

just thought i'd say, if you have manual advance your left hand grip would normaly rotate to advance or retard timing. but i've seen a lot that don't have the cable hooked up, the riders just retard timing by moving distributor to full retard, kick start bike, then once going they move the distributor to advance to ride off. i would first see if distributor moves around if not try to move the points cam see if its auto advance. that F & R could mean full advance and full retard i would time it off the dot as most harleys fire both cylinders together. but the new ones single fire ( makes no difference to power )

the best thing is a Compufire trigger. my friend Cow is a Pan Man and has a Compufire ignition & coil never has to touch it, but contact him at L A Cycles Hoxton Park Sydney to find out where you get them as different to cone motors as turn opposit direction. but try 14thou to 18thou  gap on points. set timming off dot.

with a 58 pan you will soon know if its advanced as she will kick back when you kick start.

good luck.

 Thanks for the reply. Makes since that it could be full retard or full advance. The bike originally had the twin points set up so I thought it was for setting the timing for the individual points but thinking about it that doesn't make since cus they would fire at the same time just one would be at the power stroke and the other not.  I will set it at the dot and see Ethan it does. Yes I know all about the kickback almost broke my foot starting it once. I got it going the other day but the timing must have been way off cus the exhaust started glowing red to and shot a half a meter flame from the end of the exhausts. I shut it down after I realized what it was doing and after. I burned my. Foot on the pipe. Hope I didn't make and internal damage.

Again thanks so much for the help. Once going. I'll get the timing light onto it to get it exact. I ahead I should set the points at .020 so I'll start there and see how it runs.

for -got  timing marks  for early  stock & S&S wheels are strike mark for full adv & dot for TDC,   1980& up are dot for full adv & strike mark for TDC,    it depends what flywheels you have  they are old bike been got @ heep's over the years allways check what it is 1st