Hi OK bike is a 1973 DT3 250. Struggling to get it going. New carb, compression at 110, spark ok. So guess it’s timing. First time on a restoration so need some help.

Points are clean, set the gap but assume they are opening too early. I have read the timing guides on the site, really great thanks

However I can’t find the timing maker on the stator, pictures attached. I have the red mark on the fly wheel but nothing to correspond to. Any help welcome

Best way is to use a dial indicator.... especially the first time to verify and adjust timing tab if present.

Timing tab is not that accurate and many are bent.

Hard to see in your pictures but I put arrow at where your tab might be.



Here's a pic of a tab from one of my ignitions... should be mounted under stator coil mounting screw.

Thanks I found it.... so red line of flywheel lines up with marker on stator, is this the max breaker gap mark or the point they are just opening? Thanks for your help.

tighten the flywheel 'very' tight or you'll be chasing a broken crank key shortly after getting it going. common problem 'that'.

Points just open when marks align

I would still use a dial indicator as Mark T suggested earlier in case the marks are not correct. Well worth the effort to accurately find BTDC ( Before Top Dead Center).

Not sure is a timing issue. Bike ran a little after cleaning the points but then just stopped. I think I’ll swap out the points and condenser. There is a spark, just looks weak. Thanks for all your help guys. I am sure I’ll be asking further dumb questions on this journey! Cheers

Starting to sound like a fuel issue. You say it has a week spark, but any spark is good spark. Crank key looks in one piece in your pics so can't be that. I'd be looking in the carb next. Pull the side mounted main jet to see if fuel flows. Could pull the air filter hose off & give it a spray in the mouth of the carb & see if it runs. I use stuff called crc-556 which is just penetrating fluid but sure gets them started if there's a chance of starting. Carb jet cleaning of choke jet fixed drilling & pilot & main plus remove the center emulsion tube-needle jet as builds up around there. In saying that, it should start & run on choke if that's clear even if other bits are blocked. Timing alignment tabe will be close if it looks square on & not pushed around by someone. Close enough for now. Just get points breaking 'there' & lets see what happens. Main jet is easy to get at & clean for a start.

Thanks all, bike running!!! Still getting some kick back but starts on 3rd kick. It was the plug I the end...put a new one in to replace the first new one. Ran on choke in gear. Put the airbox on and got it idealling nicely, but then fades under load... but she,s running. Restoration can now start. Thanks for all your help.