Hitchcocks Forum

Hi all,
After being without the electric start for a good while on the bullet 65 it has become important to fix it (a slightly faulty kicking leg). Upon dismantling the normal stuff to get at it ie clutch ,stator off rotor off, inner chain case off I put in the new sprag clutch with all the other cogs etc, put back on the inner chain case . I fitted the electric starter back on and fitted a new relay to be on the safe side. I then fitted on the cogs behind the rotor without the chain and clutch on at this stage just to prove to myself that everything was in order sprag clutch wise. On fitting the battery to give me power to the starter motor I pressed starter button and the motor went , the sprag engaged and sent the cog in the right direction, here lies the problem, took my finger off the starter button and the starter kept running,turned off the ignition quickly and the starter still kept running and it only stopped when I disconnected the battery. ??????
David W

Sounds like a jammed solenoid.

Hi guys--------yes, I'd agree with that diagnosis.... DAVID W, basically the solenoid is a mechanical switch operated by electricity(from the ignition key----then start button).... through to an Electro-Magnet ie}-- The Solenoid.....Usually it consists of a piece of thick copper plate attached to a round steel bar (or plug) which moves freely within the hole of a coiled wire...and is held "open" from a pair of contacts by a spring.....These contacts are where the battery leads connect to, whilst the other, smaller leads are from the ign.key, then starter button and go to earth...Sometimes the steel bar can get physically jammed in either the "On" position or indeed sometimes the "Off" position... Generally it'll be rust particles and old grease mixed OR}--- the contacts may have welded together...... Was this new one a RE genuine spares or a pattern part ?? If new then try and get a replacement/refund.....Similar shaped and sized one from any of the Japanese bikes are a better quality and value for money..... Have a look on e-bay ...£10 to £20 max...

Phew, well thats given the sprag and your old heart a bit of a work out... ha ha.

Its usually at a moment like that, the good lady pokes her head in to the workshop.. Hows it going hon??

Agree with Barry, has to be solenoid. Not been used for ages probably gunked up inside...

Thanks guys,
The relay was new from our hosts just last week, interestingly the old one on swapping them over does the same thing !!!!!
DAVID W

----------- in that case you may have a trapped / nipped wire that's putting a feed in to the solenoid, and by-passing the starter button ..(assuming all was well before you dismantled ??)....

Are you sure you have the wiring correct. If the solenoid, once activated, is then supplying it's own activating power..... If you follow that.

Thanks all
I'm not sure if I should have but I have tapped solenoid with a knocking stick and lo and behold my kicking leg looks as if it can have a rest. Everything seems to be working as it should. What would we all do without this forum.I will be out and about again tommorrow!!!!!!!
DAVID W

---------- YEP !! that's the Mechanics traditional fix-it method.....But be aware that it's happened once so might happen again.....Get a Jappo one and rest easy at night !!---------------------- Try this----------http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-old-H ... -/29099085