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Re: Where to start. Advice please..

Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2020 9:22 pm
by Dansey
Thanks for the advice all. Some photos to hopefully help identify and prompt any other actions.

Re: Where to start. Advice please..

Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2020 4:34 pm
by Adrian
That's a pretty standard 4 speed 500 kick start Bullet, the "basic" model. Looks like you've caught it in time, the alloy will polish up and the chrome might have got a bit pitted in places but won't look too bad after scrub with some wire wool and chrome polish.

What's the story behind the non-UK front number plate, any clue from the previous owner? It does look like an official export model, only with a custom seat, aftermarket silencer and Lucas 564-alike tail lamp.

If you get a duplicate V5C for the bike based on its current registration you might find out a few more details of this bike's history, I think might tell you if it was an unofficial import.

Unfortunately the DVLA sting you for £25 if you didn't get the new keeper slip off the old V5C.

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-log-book

A.

Re: Where to start. Advice please..

Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2020 9:35 pm
by stinkwheel
Looks fine, that'll clean up no bother.

As per the original owners manual, if you brush everything down with praffin and a soft paintbrush then rinse off with cold water, it's amazing how well the alloy comes back up again to a dull patina without having to polish anything.

I'd check the oil's circulating, give it some fresh fuel, charge the battery, evict any mice from the air filter and have a go. It'll probably fire up fine. Once it's somewhat warm, do an oil and filter change.

Re: Where to start. Advice please..

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 10:22 pm
by Dansey
So I have been tatting tonight.. Still not got her going as the battery is not holding any sort of charge and the local shop was without the battery I needed it seems. While at it, I have invested in new plugs and oil as regardless I will need these.

However, I have pulled the oil this evening and my gosh it smells of fuel. The filter looks horrific and certainly in need of a change so adding that to the list too.

There also seems to be a lot of play on the throttle cable which makes a clicking noise when being located into back into the housing. On close inspection it seems to be slipping the groove inside. All needs taking apart but struggling with screw heads so not exactly winning at the moment..

The other end of the cable inside the carb is no easier to access with the top of the VM28 holding on for dear life..

Happy days..

Re: Where to start. Advice please..

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 1:09 am
by stinkwheel
Apply some gentle heat to the lid of the carb with a hairdrier or even hot/boiling water (with it off the bike) and it should undo with a minimum of effort. Not a naked flame for obvious reasons.

Re: Where to start. Advice please..

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 3:49 pm
by Dansey
Thanks Stink ! That did the trick and I have since cleaned the carb and refitted.

Oil filter arrived from the UK along with a few other bits so I have tided up and replaced perished manifolds and throttle cable. The deep clean on the carb has also fixed the sticky throttle. New battery, spark plug, oil change and petrol - she is still resisting to run.

A little out of my depth on all of this but any suggestions on where to go next ? The spark plug is not firing from what I can tell (took it out and held against the engine while kicking it over).. a basic multi-meter in hand is showing 12v at the points which appear clear (not pitted) and I have tested the HT lead on its own for connectivity.

Not entirely sure what I am checking for on the coil and do not really want to be throwing parts at it for no reason.

All help greatly appreciated !

Re: Where to start. Advice please..

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 5:49 pm
by RoSy
Clean all the terminals on the ignition side, and check the battery earth is good to the frame. My Enfield looks to be a similar model to yours and a bad terminal stopped mine from starting.

Re: Where to start. Advice please..

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 7:49 pm
by black fingernail
You need a meter with ohms on it and a beeper or light for continuity testing.
Check for continuity, the wire between the coil and points, then check that the points are working properly, actually springing shut and opening with the correct gap (14 - 16 thou or .35 - .4 mm new money).
With the points closed, with the ignition turned on, pull them open and look for a little spark, if there is a big splashy spark, the condenser is duff.
If that checks out ok, do a resistance test on the coil, with the coil disconnected from everything (preferably on the bench) put an ohm meter on the two small terminals, ( the primary windings), make a note of the readings, then connect between the small terminal and the plug wire hole, (the secondary windings), make a note of these.
Unfortunately, I don't know what the exact readings should be, but as a rule of thumb, the primary windings want to be between .7 to 1.7 ohms, the secondary windings should be between 7,500 to 10,500 ohms.
The correct readings are important and should be somewhere on the interweb or a better brain than mine will be along shortly to tell us, but if you cannot get any readings on either winding, then it will prove that is the problem.
Sorry it's a bit long winded, but I hope it helps.

Re: Where to start. Advice please..

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 9:18 pm
by Dansey
Tiny / very weak spark when slowly pulling the points apart and then only sometimes depending on speed and distance of that separation. I get more of a spark when pushing the top point all the way back to touch the screw behind it.. The points look okay but maybe I need to pull it apart and clean them ?

Enjoying the experience, but my gosh this old bird is frustrating..

Re: Where to start. Advice please..

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 11:10 pm
by Adrian
Oil filter arrived from the UK along with a few other bits
Where are you, Dansey? Forgive me if you mentioned it earlier.

A.