No spark, help please

Some background.
71 Commando 750
Points style ignition.
Sitting for 18 years. I had it started last week and it ran fairly well. Leaking profusely from the points cover. I shut it down, resealed the cover and now no spark.
I think it is in the timing. I set the left cylinder to the 27 degree mark on the compression stroke. Placed the advance unit so that the points on that cylinder are just ready to open.
I did not move the points adjustment on the plate and marked it before removal. Unfortunately I did not mark the advance unit.
Correct me if I am wrong but even if the advance unit is not indexed correctly it should still have spark?
My electrical background is zero. But it ran before I took it apart, so it stands to reason that it is something I disturbed.
Battery is good.
I dont know where to go.
Pretty dissapointing.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks in advance. MikeM

What do you mean you "resealed the cover"?

MikeM said:

I did not move the points adjustment on the plate and marked it before removal. Unfortunately I did not mark the advance unit.
Correct me if I am wrong but even if the advance unit is not indexed correctly it should still have spark?
My electrical background is zero. But it ran before I took it apart, so it stands to reason that it is something I disturbed.

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Yes, even if the timing was out, you should still be getting sparks, so you need to go back over what you have done.

swooshdave said:

What do you mean you "resealed the cover"?

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The gasket was leaking. I pulled the large cover on the right side and resealed it.

MikeM said:

swooshdave said:

What do you mean you "resealed the cover"?

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The gasket was leaking. I pulled the large cover on the right side and resealed it.

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I am going to assume that there may be oil coming from behind the points, as that seal is commonly damaged (either through age or not using the proper tool to replace the timing side cover). So you may have oil on the points (not good).

Did you check continuity on all the wires from the points cavity up?

MikeM said:

swooshdave said:

What do you mean you "resealed the cover"?

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The gasket was leaking. I pulled the large cover on the right side and resealed it.

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MikeM said:

Leaking profusely from the points cover.

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That's the timing cover, rather than "points" cover.

The "points" cover is the smaller circular cover that actually covers the points housing.

L.A.B. said:

MikeM said:

swooshdave said:

What do you mean you "resealed the cover"?

Click to expand...

The gasket was leaking. I pulled the large cover on the right side and resealed it.

Click to expand...

MikeM said:

Leaking profusely from the points cover.

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That's the timing cover, rather than "points" cover.

The "points" cover is the smaller circular cover that actually covers the points housing.

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Sorry, yes it was the timing cover that was leaking. I also replaced the leads to the points. My parts supplier had a new lead. I have power as the indicator on the head lamp goes on but no spark. I have no clue where to start looking.
Might be time to drag it to the shop.

MikeM said:

I also replaced the leads to the points. My parts supplier had a new lead.

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That's certainly one of the first things things to check, as you may have connected it incorrectly.
Did you disconnect the terminals from the points sets, if so, can you be sure you refitted all the insulating washers correctly?

L.A.B. said:

MikeM said:

I also replaced the leads to the points. My parts supplier had a new lead.

Click to expand...

That's certainly one of the first things things to check, as you may have connected it incorrectly.
Did you disconnect the terminals from the points sets, if so, can you be sure you refitted all the insulating washers correctly?

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Yes I did disconnect the terminals from the points. The insulating washers are the plastic washers that go over the threaded terminals?
I will recheck those. They went back in the way they came out. Back to square one and I will recheck everything again.
Thanks MikeM

MikeM said:

Yes I did disconnect the terminals from the points. The insulating washers are the plastic washers that go over the threaded terminals?
I will recheck those. They went back in the way they came out. Back to square one and I will recheck everything again.

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OK, double check the ring terminals are fitted against the points spring and are not in contact with the nut or stud (manual C39, fig. C50)?

L.A.B. said:

MikeM said:

Yes I did disconnect the terminals from the points. The insulating washers are the plastic washers that go over the threaded terminals?
I will recheck those. They went back in the way they came out. Back to square one and I will recheck everything again.

Click to expand...

OK, double check the ring terminals are fitted against the points spring and are not in contact with the nut or stud (manual C39, fig. C50)?

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A stupid mistake on my part. I put the terminals on top of the insulators instead of the under them. I now have spark. Thanks for the heads up.
Too bad I dont have time to finish up and start it now. I will let you know what happens.
Thanks again. You and this board are a wealth of info and help.
Thanks LAB
MikeM