Hitchcocks Forum

Hi
A new guy here, wanted to ask a question, I am working on a 1995 bullet 500. It has been sitting for a long time but I finally got it running yesterday after
1 cleaning the carb
2 adjusting the valves
3 replacing and adjusting the points and condenser
4 cleaning out the fuel tank
5 new spark plug

The bike started right up but the problem is this:

The amp meter deflects to the right instead of the left, why is it doing this and is this a problem!????

When I try to kick it over the kick start leaver seems to slips when the compression builds up or does not turn over, what would be the cause of this??

Any help would greatly be appreciated
Thanks!!

Hi Davy. The ammeter should deflect to the minus when the ignition is first turned on.. More so if you stand on the brake and bring on the brake light.

This is normal and shows the batt is discharging... Now we fire the engine and the alternator starts to charge the battery..

If the battery is fairly flat the regulator will allow more charging amps into the battery, shown by the ammeter going well into the PLUS side.

As the batt becomes more charged the ammeter needle will gradually fall back towards the centre point..

If however it remains in the plus even after a good run then it may indicate a duff regulator and or a cell gone in the battery.. check the fluid level in each cell and keeping checking over a period of days as to level change.. Measure voltage at battery terminals using a multimeter, engine running should be 13.5-14.5 VoltsDC..

If the kickstart goes down in a measured way without turning over engine then probably clutch slip..

If sometimes it catches/bites and then kinda lets go and drops down making your leg hurt then probably kick start pawl on the way out... gwilly

Gwilly, thanks for the reply
What I am referring to is before I start the engine and I am prepping the kick start and observing the amp meter, as I press down on the kick start( prior to starting) the amp meter deflects to the right into the + side, not to the - nag side ,

Following the normal procedure for start up I then depress the compression release and press down on the kick start until amp meter returns to center!

The bike fires right up and runs good.

I know the amp meter is suppose to deflect to the left (-) side and then return to center as you slowly press down on the kick start prior to starting.

I can't figure out why it's deflecting to the right instead of the left!!

It's hard to explain, just worried I've done something wrong or there is some type of problem!
Thanks again!!

Interesting, hmmm. sounds like someones changed the meter and crossed the connections.. So if you turn on the ignition and then apply the brakes or put lights on which way does the needle move? should be minus obviously...

No the amp meter stays in the center when the brake is applied and the brake light is on. When I rev it up it doesn't move or if it does its very little.

As Gwilly says, interesting. You could have a duff meter or regulator or meter not connected correctly. If you have a multimeter check the charging voltage and if ok check the current drain by connecting it in series with the +ve from the battery. This would then confirm or otherwise the ammeter reading.