Hitchcocks Forum

Okay, got the idle problem solved on my new, (used Bullet), now my concern is when riding with the headlight on my amp meter stays in the negative, with headlight off needle moves to the plus, is this normal? Shouldn't the needle at least read in the plus with the headlight on at higher RPM's? My bike also has electronic points unit and I have not found a proper adjustment procedure or specification for setting, it seems a little sluggish and wondering if timing needs advanced possibly?

Wally we would need a bit more info as to what model because some run the headlight directly off the alt. You also need to check with an ammeter what is going into the battery from the alt. Best way to set the timing is to strobe test it, anything else is a bit of a guess

Sorry Norm, my bike is a 2002 Bullet with electric start. As far as timing, how will the strobe connect and where will I find the timing marks to read using it, any suggested timing?
Thanks.

Hi Wally, get an old CD, mark 2 lines at 28 degrees apart. on the first line drill a 3/16th inch hole about 2 inches from the centre. on the second line which is on the left drill another hole at about 1& 1/4inch from the centre. Bring the motor to TDC compression stroke place the disc on the centre of the rotor nut with the hole 2 inches out vertical and with a white marker/paint put a spot on the stator and without moving the disc also put a dot on the rotor using the inner hole on the left. These are your marks. Then using a timing light on the plug lead, run the motor and as the revs come up the marks should line up. If not adjust the points plate as needed

Wally, as for the headlight it will be running directly from the alternator. Something bizare goes on in the loom and because the headlight is fed from the alternator and not from the battery I would have thought it shouldn't show a discharge but for some reason it does. With a multimeter check what volts are going into the battery at about 2000rpm and if it is ok just ignore the ammeter. If it bugs you there is a fix to put all the power into the battery and run the headlight on D/C from the battery

Hi Wally, just to back up Norm there are two useful articles in the technical notes to the left side of the screen...
complete with pictures.. charging checks and strobe timing.. should help.... gwilly

Thanks guys, I will time it this weekend, looking forward to it. As for the amp gauge, I have checked voltage produced going to the battery and all is good, I will try my best to ignore the meter, may be tough to though.

Wally,
just treat the ammeter as an indicator that you headlight is on but you usually can see it. It is probably only indicating power flow ( I don't have any bikes here at the moment wired that way to check) but as it isn't drawing any power from the battery, except for the tailight it won't be a problem.