Forum

[Alan R]

Hi guys----------- well, here's the answer you've all been champing at the bit for}--------------To re-cap, I was cruising along at an indicated 60mph when, with absolutely NO warning whatsoever, the bike gave 2 v.loud backfires, the ignition went dead and I coasted to a halt at a local lay-by, with NO mechanical noises at all. The first, and easiest to test for is a spark----so out with the plug and NO SPARK !!.(Fuel related probs. tend to be either long, drawn-out affairs with repeated mis-firing or stuttering ( water in the fuel ) etc. OR}---- A sudden affair with the smell of petrol = a large leak/ pipe come off. )---There had been none of these indicators. At this time all the other electrics were ok so the single fuse was ok (Confirmed by visual check)--- Off came the points cover, tweak them with a screwdriver (with the ign. ON, of course !)--------- NO spark. Swap plug for NEW ONE ---NO SPARK. Using the test wire on the HT coil, clip one end to the LT input and "splash" the free end against an earth = A "CRACKLE" of ELECTRICITY. Now clip to the LT output side and "splash" to earth -------- NO crackle !!! ANSWER = Open circuit on the LT windings within the HT coil. And, as I don't normally carry a spare HT coil, now was the moment to use that mobile phone (points to ALL who mentioned that one !! )-------Therefore, in strict order of posting, the winner is }-----------TIM G, with MIDGE a close second. So TIM G, you get a night out with my missus at a Harley HOG meeting of your choice, whilst MIDGE--you get TWO nights out with my -************ etc, etc. You get the idea ?? Many thanks to you all for entering into the spirit of this little escapade. It just goes to show that it's not that easy trying to do diagnostics within a forum structure. Finally----that sun in the West ??? Well--------it looked so pretty I thought I'd just mention it !!! (Comes under the heading of a "Red Herring"). Now I'm definitely off to the pub----to see a man about a washing machine !!! Bye all--------.

[m1ks]

I preferred my answer of the valve but I suppose the true fault will do,
I was thinking ignition but expected you to have been able to bridge something with your wire as a get you home measure, I read something very similar on the us bullet forum some time ago but it was feed to the coil which the user bridged, (the theme of the pay was carry a length of wire and croc clips

[grunda 12]

great thread alan,are you going to mad mikes gathering?myself & noel and maybe a few more excentric souls will be there,see you then atb paul.

[Alan R]

Hello Guys------Hi MK1s, Secretly your kerfuffle valve WAS the real culprit and so your answer, being the most imaginative, gets the "ALAN R, 2012, DIAGNOSTIC ACADEMY AWARD" prize of >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> My latest Fully Illustrated Book}-- "Recommended Places for your Bullet to Break Down at" (Now in Paperback).---AA & RAC approved. Autographed by me this is a "must-have" item and an emerging collectable of the future !! GRUNDA 12------- Yep !! Will be there with some of the lads. I see you lot are camping it up!! -----NICE !!!------

[Alan R]

---------Actually, I did have a similar breakdown a few years back with my then Bullet 65. It was Summer---I was on the way to a local bike "bash" ( The much-missed Wheel at Worfield do near Brignorth.) when a Bee became entangled with my visor. I swiped it with my right hand when the bike just cut-out and I drifted into ------- a lay-by.(must be a Shropshire thing ??). After doing all the usual checks etc it turned out to be an "open circuit" within the feed wire to the HT coil. Using our handy clipped wire, I attached it from battery to coil and the bike started up OK ---- HOO-Ray, I CAN go to the Ball !! Eventually at home I did a much more thorough, in-depth analysis and, with the help of a Hitchcocks manual and several cross-references to a Haynes Manual we discovered a cunning device fitted by those little rascals at Chennai----an ignition cut-out switch !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Two factors at work here---a)In those days I wore an old pair of GAUNTLETS--- and b) I had forgotten that the Bullet 65 had one of those switches fitted. DOH!! --or what ??