I'm new-ish. Been tinkering a bit. I've won a few battles.

[davesdreamin]

And lost a few.

So here's the scoop. Got my Dream a few months ago. It started when I got it. Then it died after riding up a dusty hill to a lookout.

I discovered the air filter wasn't attached. Then I cleaned the carb more than a few times, refurbished the old air filter following paperslammer's post which was great and got the bike going again.

I rode it a mile from where I was working on her to my house and then parked her because it was late. I was all geared up to ride her the next day and didn't get more than 50 yards before she was actin up again. It was kind of sputtering and didn't have much power. Not sure what that means.

So there's the backstory.

I have spark on both plugs.
Could I have a condenser, coil or rectifier problem and still get spark? How do I test those components for functionality? Do the coils need to be replaced frequently?

I saw a youtube video for checking the coil but couldn't really deduce which part was the "pignose" going to my coil.

I have compression.

So I'm thinking it's a gas thing.

Any ideas?

I don't have Bill Silver's book but I do have an original shop manual which has been somewhat helpful. I've heard that Bill's book is nice to have.

This is long-winded. I'm a newb and it shows.
Thanks in advance.

Btw, here's my Dream.

[cadman]

Rectifier converts AC voltage from the alternator to DC voltage for the battery. It is not the problem. If you have spark at the plugs probably not the coil.

My guess is fuel. Probably need to remove the carb and clean again. Typically these bikes that have set for long periods get lots of bad stuff in the tank - mostly rust. Clean the carb and tank then install a small fuel filter in the gas line and see what happens.

Long shot is points and timing but if it ran okay before they would be way down the list.

[davesdreamin]

Could plugs fouling play into there too? Or would that be more of a timing thing?

I'll give the gas tank a clean. I was going to use "the works."

Do I need to take the petcock completely off for that or can it stay on?

Thanks.

[mike horvath]

Dave,
I'm not sure about the Dream, but if your fuel cock has the removable bowl at the bottom, there is a screen inside that will need to be checked and probably cleaned. If it were me, I'd abstain from removing the entire valve assembly, figgering it'd leak once installed again...my luck. Hope your experience about discovering your air filter disconnected after riding on a dusty road doesn't create a problem for you.
Have you cleaned the carb jets? Notorious shellacking closes off the orifices or greatly reduces the fuel flow. Keep at it...you'll get it.

[cadman]

Could be fouled plugs but removing them is an easy check.

There is a small drain screw in the bottom of the carb float bowl. You can remove it to see if gas is getting to the float bowl.

[conbs]

I agree with Cadman on checking the fuel flow. Let it run long enough that it would more than fill the bowl. You apparently have about 30 seconds of gas and you need to make sure you have more than that.