'73 CB350-G: What's a condensor do and where is it located?

Question

I just picked up a kit that contains a pair of new plugs, points, and a condensor on Ebay. I have no idea what a condensor is or where it's located at on my bike. My Clymer manual is completely silent on the topic. Does anyone else know?

Answer 1

They are mounted under the fuel tank on the bracket that holds the Ignition Coils.

Gas Tank is rubber mounted,,,no bolts.
The rubber block at back end of tank "peels open" to expose a metal mount tab which is part of the tank.

Pull back the rubber block & lift tank UP.
Then,,slide Tank toward rear.
It slides onto a round rubber biscuit on each side of the frame.

The 2 fuel hoses need to be removed from fuel valve.
They are "same",,one to each carb,,doesnt matter which is which.

Worst Part>>there's a rubber fuel hose CROSSOVER TUBE underneath tank.,,toward the rear.
It must be removed to get tank off,,,the re-routed Under Frame to Re-Install.

Fuel will get spilled,,unless you Drain Tank.

I've done it so many times i can do it without spilling hardly any.

Best bet is to plug the hose with a pencil,,and a cap on the other side.

I'd suggest replacing All the fuel lines and the crossover--they're probably rock hard by now.
Makes them difficult to work with,,,,but theres also a danger of the cracking at some random time(if not while fooling with 'em)

Once tank is off,,condensors are easy to spot and change

Good Luck

Answer 2

The condensor keeps the points from arcing heavily.With out the condensor,the arcing would burn the points up in a very short time.

Answer 3

--All the answers so far are good.
--When the points are closed, electricity is flowing through the primary windings of the coil, through the points and then to ground. Making a complete circuit.
--When the points open, the electricity going through the primary windings of the coil, wants to keep going, to finish the circuit.
--The electricity has no where to go, so it jumps to the secondary windings of the coil.
--The electricity still wants to complete it's circuit, so if flows through the spark plug wire and finaly jumps across the spark plug's gap (making a spark) and completing it's circuit to ground.

--The condensor absorbs and holds electricty until it is connected to ground, then releases it.
--When the points start to open, the electricity flowing through the primary windings of the coil, wants to complete it's circuit.. So, some of it jumps the point's gap, creating a spark. If left to continue sparking, on each firing stroke of the engine, the points would start to get burned and pitted.
--The condensor is connected to the points (your bike has the condensor attached to the coils under the fuel tank).
--Instead of the spark jumping across the point gap, the condensor absorbs the electricity, preventing the spark.
--When the points close again, the condensor realeses what it has stored and it is sent through the points to ground.
--So a condensor is used to prevent the points from "arcing" (sparking across the gap).

Answer 4

The condenser retains voltage so you don't burn up your points as quickly. There are two sets of points and condensers under the left top of the cylinder as you sit on the bike .There are two Phillips screws holding the cover in place ! I suggest you invest in a small tool called a impact hammer to remove these screws so you don't strip out the heads of the screws.
When removing the condenser be aware of where the spade connector of the condenser condenser goes, There is a non conductive spacer in this set up

Answer 5

It is basically a capacitor, and it stores an electrical charge. It will be located close to the points & the single wire goes to the points.

Answer 6

in addition you should check the new one before you install it . It is not uncommon for the new one to be bad and you have to put the old one back. If it is bad you will have a week spark.