Hitchcocks Forum

Hey Gang, I have a Bullet 500 from 2000. I gave it a pretty thorough spring clean the other day and it was running fantastically until last night when I switched on the lights while riding at very low speed and the engine cut. Now when I turn the ignition the ammeter does not show anything, there are no lights and no horn. When it initially happened the bike would start and idle very poorly before I got the revs up and then it seemed to be fine, it was sufficient to get home at least. I haven't tried starting it since in all honesty, I work long hours but I just stuck a multimeter on the battery terminals and it is showing 12v round abouts. Does this ring any bells at all? What have I done to my bike? I can't stress enough that although I have a relatively firm grasp of the mechanics, I have no experience whatsoever of the wiring side of the bike and profess a distinct newbie status. Any advice on checks I could run or even the very very basics would be firmly appreciated. Frann

If standard, a year 2000 Bullet will have a single fuse located in the L/H toolbox, wired directly from the battery + connection. I wonder if a short on the headlight bulb has caused it to blow?

Midge Sir, you are a gentleman and a scholar to coin a phrase. The rear light has blown a bulb and turning on the lights must have blown the fuse. You are no doubt realising my declaration of status was well founded, many many thanks. Lift sharing with the weather like this is unnatural and cruel