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[Norm]

Well Papa I can assure you that Electras are not one of those

[Thack]

Sorry, papasmurf, but I think you are wrong, and Frank and Norm are correct.



You only have to pull the clutch in if you are in gear. If you are in neutral, you don't need to pull in the clutch.



At least, that's how it was on my '06 Electra X and is on my '14 B5. It's also the same on my Versys.



I've never found a bike that requires the clutch to be pulled in if the bike is already in neutral. Not saying there aren't any, just that I haven't found one. In any case, our Enfields aren't amongst them.

[Thack]

Just to back up something Frank said earlier: I can confirm that the clutch switch is NOT connected to the ignition circuit (or even the ECU) and has NO effect on the spark. All it does is provide an earth for the starter solenoid if the neutral switch isn't already doing so.

[Frank]

If tedmunds temporarily connects the positive of the battery to the TCI fuse there is £10 on the table here that will go to charity if it then doesn't spark. If it does spark it will also go to charity if it makes any difference whether the clutch is in or out.

[Thack]

Hey, papasmurf, I bet you are thinking of the sidestand.



For some utterly bizarre reason, when the sidestand is down the engine will turn over but not fire. (If RE had any sense they'd EITHER suppress the starter as well when the sidestand is down, OR kill the ignition if the bike is put in gear with the sidestand down, like modern Japanese bikes.)



I confess to having been caught out by this myself.

[tedmunds]

IT'S ALIVE....... first thing I tried was a direct feed from battery to TCI fuse, nice solid click from solenoid - still no spark on kick or electric start. So I decided to take chain case off again, inspected all connections and clean up, I checked pulse pick up which was nice and tight but I decided to bend it in about 1/8 of an inch. Put case back on a gently kicked it over making sure it didn't foul and all was clear. So I tried the electric start and I had a spark. Refitted tank and seat and she fired up straight away and running lovely. What i can't understand is how the pick up had moved as I hadn't disturbed the chain case before I lost spark. Anyway looks like I have a spare coil and TCI , plus side is I know a lot more about my bike now. Also I would like to thank everyone for your input and advice, without which I would have gone insane. Thank you Tom

[Norm]

Glad to hear it Tom, and a spare TCI and coil are cheap insurance because long as you carry those with you, you will never need them

[papasmurf]

Thack Subject: Electra X 2007
Hey, papasmurf, I bet you are thinking of the sidestand........................................................................... I am NOT thinking of the sidestand.
The engine not starting unless the clutch is pulled in has been a common feature of motorcycles in the UK for years.
I have lost count of the number of "born agains" I have seen caught out by it.

[Thack]

Papasmurf: so I, Frank and Norm think you are mistaken, and tedmunds has just confirmed it. At least when it comes to the Electra X and the UCE.



Which bikes do you have in mind that need the clutch pulling in before they will start, even when they are in neutral? Name us a couple of models - I'd be interested to add this new snippet of knowledge to my memory banks.



Thanks.

[Norm]

Thack I can confirm that the E/S Bullets are the same but they weren't fitted with a sidestand, because if they were the factory would have had to fit a sidestand switch. Start in neutral or if in gear, pull in the clutch