Motorcycle Repair: Setting point gap, point gap, bill silver

Question
I have a 1969 honda cl450 that i just replaced the points assembly in, the bike didnt run at all before but now it just backfires every once in a while. So is this becuase i havent set the points gap? and i know nothing about this stuff so how would i set the gap.

Thanks

Answer
Curtis, check the sites below to get more education about how to set the gap and the ignition timing on your bike. I hope you checked the mechanical spark advancer, located behind the points plate. The advancer needs to be able to advance and retard, centrifugally, and there should be a light film of point lube on the point cam, where the point rubbing blocks open and close.

Setting the gap requires turning the motor over with the crankshaft bolt, while you observe the opening of the points. You want to check the gap at the maximum opening of the point contact faces. This gap needs to be about .014" plus/minus one or two thousandths. Better to use a wider gap, especially with new point installations, as the rubbing blocks will wear down a bit, when first run in. You have to maintain the gap, while repositioning the backing plate to set the timing on the left side of points. You have to have the points opening at the LF rotor alignment on the left points and the F mark for the right side point setting.

The only other potential problem area is the condensers, which absorb the arcing across the points as they open and close. If the condensers are defective or not tightly plugged into the circuit wires, then the points will arc heavily when running and that will cause a misfire at the spark plugs.

http://www.dansmc.com/bat_coil_ign.htm

http://oldmanhonda.com/MC/Rtiming.html  
Very cool with interactive instruction.

Bill Silver