The CT Shop wrote:
Dan,
 What method do you use to test the condenser?
Generally if you look at the points with the bike running they should be nice and grey with a good "fluffy" spark. If they look kinda blue and the spark is arcing that suggests a bad condenser.

I'm lucky - my buddy has a bike shop with a capacitance tester, so we checked against spec (0.22-0.28 MFD).

There is another method, but I think you'll need an old analogue multimeter: see this thread on smokstak.com; or maybe this page on eHow.com; or google "test condenser".

BTW, if the points have a yellow tinge that suggests oil contamination. One valuable tip I learned was to make sure your feeler gauges are really clean when you're gapping the points - otherwise you'll contaminate them. Giving the points a blast of contact cleaner might be a quick fix - just make sure you don't get any on the little felt that keeps the little points cam lubricated.

Cheers,

Dan