Hitchcocks Forum

Hello, can somebody please help me? I have a 2004 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Trials. On the way home the other day from the gym, the bike broke down. It has complete electrical failure.

The ammeter does not move at all. The lights do not come on. The indicators don't work. Nothing electrical works. The horn doesn't work. The bike does not start at all.

I have checked the battery with am ammeter, which is a fully healthy battery, I have checked the fuse which is fine. I can't see a broken wire, the connectors all look connected on the coil, regulator and rectifier. The wiring looks in place in the head light. The ignition barral looks in good order from what I can see. I however haven't checked all the connectors pins for corrosion. I'm hoping I don't have to, as that is a big job. And I'm not the best with electrics.

So anyone with any insight, please help.

First thing is to check the battery earth to the frame

I think on my bike that is a black wire that is screwed into the rear of the rear light. Which has a simple ring end which is simply screwed to the metal rear of the light?

If that is the case, then it is securely fitted.

Out of interest, whilst checking over and cleaning up what I beleave to be the earth on the rear light( not that it looked like it needed any cleaning up at all to me). I had to take apart the rear light. I have just noticed the rear light bulb has completely gone. Both filiments. Would this course the problem I am having?

David, what Norm is talking about is the main earth wire which will go from the battery negative to the frame. All the other components will get their earths from the frame somewhere which I think is one of the wires you are talking about. For everything to have failed it must be the batt to frame wire.

Which should according to the wiring diagram. The main earth should be after the battery negative terminal? Do you know of a photo?

I feel like a complete twit. I have just removed the battery, to find out what looks like the main earth wire connector has completely snapped off. With the battery in situ the offending wire looked like it always did giving it a visual inspection. What a numpty I am. Sorry guys.

Thanks for your help.

David, give up the gym membership, owning a bullet will keep you fit on it's own and you can use the money you save to improve your bike!
REgards, Mark

Plus one for Norm's suggestion. I had the same thing, I found the earth wire at the battery was not properly soldered into the connector and had actually come out.

David - Same thing happened to me on my 2002 Bullet 500ES - fortunately not on the road....The earth lead is quite difficult to see on my bike - hidden behind the battery carrier. What I did was to get the local auto electrical specialists to make me a slightly longer one with properly crimped terminals (no one uses soldered joints these days); this enabled me to route the cable more satisfactorily.